AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL __, 2004
Registration No. ____________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
____________________ |
Form S-3 |
REGISTRATION STATEMENT |
UNDER |
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
____________________ |
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED |
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) |
Missouri |
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43-1916803 |
(State of incorporation) |
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1201 Walnut Street |
Kansas City, Missouri 64106-2124 |
(816) 556-2200 |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including |
area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices) |
Jeanie Sell Latz |
Executive Vice President - Corporate and |
1201 Walnut Street |
Kansas City, Missouri 64106-2124 |
(816) 556-2936 |
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, |
including area code, of agent for service) |
____________________ |
Copy to: |
Steven R. Loeshelle, Esq. |
Dewey Ballantine LLP |
1301 Avenue of the Americas |
New York, New York 10019-6092 |
____________________ |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public
If the only securities 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, please check the following box.
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.
____________________
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
____________________
Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be Registered (1) |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (1) |
Amount of registration fee(2) |
Senior Debt Securities |
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Subordinated Debt Securities |
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Trust Preferred Securities and Related Guarantees (3) |
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Common Stock, no par value (including associated preferred share purchase rights) |
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Warrants |
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Stock Purchase Contracts |
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Stock Purchase Units (4) |
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Total |
$500,000,000 |
$500,000,000 |
$63,350 |
(1) There are being registered hereunder such presently indeterminate principal amount or number of Senior Debt Securities, Subordinated Debt Securities, Trust Preferred Securities, shares of Common Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $500,000,000. Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities are collectively referred to as "Debt Securities." Debt Securities also may be issued to a trust in connection with the issuance and sale of Trust Preferred Securities and later distributed upon dissolution and distribution of the assets thereof, which would include such Debt Securities for which no separate consideration will be received. An indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock may also be issued upon settlement of the Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units or warrants. Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, and General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3, which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum aggregate offering price of all the securities listed, the table does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered, proposed maximum offering price per unit or proposed maximum aggregate offering price.
(2) The prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement also relates to $148,200,000 of securities remaining available to be offered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-87190 and for which a registration fee of $13,365 was paid.
(3) Includes the obligations of Great Plains Energy Incorporated under the respective trust agreements, the applicable indenture, the related series of Debt Securities and the respective Guarantees, which include Great Plains Energy Incorporated's covenant to pay any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the trusts (other than obligations pursuant to the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities or other similar interests), all as described in this registration statement. No separate consideration will be received for the Guarantees and, pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933, no separate fee is payable in respect thereof.
(4) Each Stock Purchase Unit consists of (a) a Stock Purchase Contract, under which the holder, upon settlement, will purchase an indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock and (b) a beneficial interest in Debt Securities, Trust Preferred Securities issued by trusts or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, purchased with the proceeds from the sale of the Stock Purchase Units. Each beneficial interest will be pledged to secure the obligation of such holder to purchase such shares of Common Stock. No separate consideration will be received for the Stock Purchase Contracts or the related beneficial interests.
Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, the prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement may be used in connection with the securities remaining unsold under Registration Statement No. 333-87190.
Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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 is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, Dated _______, 2004
PROSPECTUS
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
$648,200,000
Senior Debt Securities
Subordinated Debt Securities
Trust Preferred Securities and Related Guarantees
Common Stock
Warrants
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Great Plains Energy Incorporated may offer and sell from time to time up to $648,200,000 of these securities. This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities. We will provide specific information about the offering and the terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The supplements may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell these securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the related supplements before you invest in these securities.
The common stock of Great Plains Energy Incorporated is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GXP." The last reported sale of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on April 12, 2004 was $33.10 per share.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1201 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106-2124 and our telephone number is (816) 556-2200.
Investing in securities involves risks. Please see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 6.
____________________
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
NOR HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS DETERMINED THAT THIS
PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
____________________
We may offer and sell these securities through one or more underwriters or agents. We will set forth in the related prospectus supplement the name of the underwriters or agents, the discount or commission received by them from us as compensation, our other expenses for the offering and sale of these securities, and the net proceeds we receive from the sale. See "Plan of Distribution."
The date of this Prospectus is ______________, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About This Prospectus |
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2 |
Cautionary Statements Regarding Certain Forward-Looking Information |
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3 |
Where You Can Find More Information |
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4 |
Great Plains Energy Incorporated |
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5 |
Risk Factors |
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6 |
Use of Proceeds |
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10 |
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges |
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10 |
Description of Debt Securities |
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10 |
Description of Trust Preferred Securities |
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21 |
Description of Guarantees |
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38 |
Relationship Among Trust Preferred Securities, Debt Securities, and Guarantees |
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41 |
Description of Common Stock |
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43 |
Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units or Warrants for Stock |
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45 |
Book-Entry System |
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46 |
Plan of Distribution |
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48 |
Legal Matters |
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49 |
Experts |
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50 |
Recent Developments |
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51 |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) using a "shelf" registration process. By using this process, we may offer up to a total aggregate dollar amount of $648,200,000 of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. We may offer any of the following securities: senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, each of which may be convertible into our common stock, trust preferred securities and related guarantees, common stock, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units. We may also offer warrants to purchase debt securities or shares of our common stock. If we issue and sell trust preferred securities, we will amend the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part to include each trust issuer as a registrant for purposes of issuing and selling trust preferred securities of that trust.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail on descriptions of the matters discussed in this prospectus. Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the information contained in the documents we refer to in this prospectus under "Where You Can Find More Information."
References in this prospectus to the terms "we", "us" or other similar terms mean Great Plains Energy Incorporated, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. We are also referred to in this prospectus as "Great Plains Energy" or "the Company."
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 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.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING
CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Statements made in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents described under "Where You Can Find More Information" that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the registrant is providing a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from provided forward-looking information. The following factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents described under "Where You Can Find More Information", could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking statements:
* |
Future economic conditions in the regional, national and international markets markets, including but not limited to regional and national wholesale electricity markets |
* |
Market perception of the energy industry and the Company |
* |
Changes in business strategy, operations or development plans |
* |
Effects of current or proposed state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments, including, but not limited to, deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry and constraints placed on the Company's actions by the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 |
* |
Adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to, air quality |
* |
Financial market conditions and performance including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on the Company's pension plan assets and costs |
* |
Ability to maintain current credit ratings |
* |
inflation rates |
* |
effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments |
* |
impact of terrorist acts |
* |
increased competition including, but not limited to, retail choice in the electric utility industry and the entry of new competitors |
* |
ability to carry out marketing and sales plans |
* |
weather conditions including weather-related damage |
* |
cost, availability and deliverability of fuel |
* |
ability to achieve generation planning goals and the occurrence of unplanned generation outages |
* |
delays in the anticipated in-service dates of additional generating capacity |
* |
nuclear operations |
* |
ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities in non-regulated businesses |
* |
performance of projects undertaken by the Company's non-regulated businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities, and |
* |
other risks and uncertainties. |
This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all possible factors.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, and proxy statements and other information with the SEC through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and these filings are publicly available through the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). You may read and copy such material at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain copies of such material at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus the information we file with them. This means that 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 included in and an important part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. Information that we file later with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus will automatically update and supercede this information. We are incorporating by reference into this prospectus the following documents that we have filed with the SEC and any subsequent filings we make 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 securities described in this prospectus is completed:
* |
Our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2004 |
* |
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (the "2003 Form 10-K/A") |
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the SEC relating to our securities. As permitted by the SEC's 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 securities. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are also available at the SEC's Public Reference Section or through its website.
Great Plains Energy's website is www.greatplainsenergy.com, and KCP&L's website is www.kcpl.com. Information contained on the companies' websites is not incorporated herein except to the extent specifically so indicated. Both companies make available, free of charge, on or through their websites, their annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the companies electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. In addition, the companies make available on or through their websites all other reports, notifications and certifications filed electronically with the SEC. You may obtain a free copy of our filings with the SEC by writing or telephoning us at the f ollowing address: Great Plains Energy Incorporated, 1201 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106-2124 (Telephone No.: 816-556-2200) Attention: Executive Vice President - Corporate and Shared Services and Secretary, or by contacting us on our website.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
Great Plains Energy, a Missouri corporation incorporated in 2001 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is a public utility holding company registered with and subject to the regulation of the SEC under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (35 Act). Through a corporate restructuring consummated on October 1, 2001, Great Plains Energy became the parent company and sole owner of the common stock of Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L). Each outstanding share of KCP&L stock was exchanged for a share of Great Plains Energy stock. As a result, Great Plains Energy replaced KCP&L as the listed entity on the New York Stock Exchange with the trading symbol GXP. In connection with the reorganization, KCP&L transferred to Great Plains Energy its interest in two wholly owned subsidiaries, KLT Inc. and Great Plains Power Incorporated.
Great Plains Energy does not own or operate any significant assets other than the stock of its subsidiaries. Great Plains Energy's direct subsidiaries are KCP&L, KLT Inc., Great Plains Power Incorporated, Innovative Energy Consultants Inc. and Great Plains Energy Services Incorporated.
KCP&L, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. KCP&L serves almost 490,000 customers located in all or portions of 24 counties in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Customers include over 430,000 residences, over 55,000 commercial firms, and almost 2,500 industrials, municipalities and other electric utilities. Missouri jurisdictional retail revenues averaged 58% of KCP&L's total retail revenue over the last three years. Kansas jurisdictional retail revenues averaged 42% of KCP&L's total retail revenue over the period from 2002 through 2003. KCP&L's retail revenues averaged 87% of its total operating revenues over the period 2002 through 2003. Wholesale firm power, bulk power sales and miscellaneous electric revenues accounted for the remainder of utility revenues. KCP&L is significan tly impacted by seasonality with over one-third of its retail revenues typically recorded in the third quarter. KCP&L's total electric revenues accounted for approximately 49%, 54% and 66% of Great Plains Energy's consolidated revenues in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.
KLT Inc. is an intermediate holding company that primarily holds, directly or indirectly, interests in Strategic Energy, L.L.C. (Strategic Energy), KLT Gas Inc. (KLT Gas), and affordable housing limited partnerships. Strategic Energy provides retail electricity services in several electricity markets offering retail choice. KLT Gas explores for, develops and produces unconventional natural gas resources, including coalbed methane properties. In February 2004, the Company disclosed its intent to exit the gas business. Effective the first quarter of 2004, Great Plains Energy will reflect KLT Gas as discontinued operations in its consolidated financial statements. KLT Inc. indirectly held a majority ownership in DTI Holdings, Inc. (Holdings) and its subsidiaries, Digital Teleport, Inc. and Digital Teleport of Virginia, Inc. (DTI). DTI provided telecommunications access and connectivity to s econdary and tertiary markets. On December 31, 2001, Holdings and its subsidiaries filed separate voluntary petitions in the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, which cases have been procedurally consolidated. In December 2002, Digital Teleport entered into an agreement to sell substantially all of its assets (Asset Sale) to CenturyTel Fiber Company II, LLC (CenturyTel), a nominee of CenturyTel, Inc. The Asset Sale was approved by the Bankruptcy Court in 2003 and closed in 2003.
Innovative Energy Consultants Inc. is an intermediate holding company that holds an indirect interest in Strategic Energy.
Great Plains Energy holds its approximately 89% indirect interest in Strategic Energy through KLT Inc. and Innovative Energy Consultants Inc. Pursuant to a letter agreement dated February 9, 2004, Great Plains Energy agreed to purchase through Innovative Energy Consultants Inc. an additional 11.44% interest in Strategic Energy. With this purchase, Great Plains Energy will indirectly own over 99% of Strategic Energy. The remaining 0.00001% interest in Strategic Energy will continue to be held by SE Holdings, L.L.C.
Strategic Energy provides retail electricity services by entering into long-term contracts with its customers to supply electricity. In return, Strategic Energy receives an ongoing management fee, which is included in the contracted sales price for the electricity. Of the states that offer retail choice, Strategic Energy operates in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Strategic Energy is targeting expansion into Connecticut and Maryland in 2004, as well as expansion into additional utility territories in Ohio and Texas. At December 31, 2003, Strategic Energy provided retail electricity services to a diverse customer base totaling over 6,800 customers representing approximately 48,000 commercial, institutional and small manufacturing accounts. Strategic Energy also provides strategic planning and consulting services in the natural gas a nd electricity markets. Strategic Energy's total revenues accounted for approximately 51%, 42% and 28% of Great Plains Energy's consolidated revenues in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.
Great Plains Power Incorporated focuses on the development of wholesale generation. Management decided during 2002 to limit the operations of Great Plains Power Incorporated to the siting and permitting process that began in 2001 for potential new generation until market conditions improve or the Company makes further changes in its business strategy. The siting and permitting process is currently focused on two potential new generation sites. Great Plains Power Incorporated has made no significant investments to date.
Great Plains Energy Services Incorporated was formed in 2003 to provide services at cost to Great Plains Energy and certain of its subsidiaries, including KCP&L, as a service company under the 35 Act.
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risk factors described below, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, before making an investment in the securities. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing our company. Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results, and are often beyond our control. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect us.
We are exposed to commodity price risk.
Certain of our subsidiaries engage in the wholesale and retail marketing of electricity and, accordingly, are exposed to risks associated with the price of electricity. We routinely enter into contracts to purchase and sell electricity in Strategic Energy's normal course of business. In addition, KCP&L purchases power as part of its load management operations. KLT Gas invests in natural gas properties and sells natural gas, the value of which is impacted by fuel prices. Additionally, since less than 1% of KCP&L's revenues include an automatic fuel adjustment provision, we are exposed to risk from changes in the market prices of coal and natural gas used to generate power.
We manage one form of our exposure to commodity prices through the structure of our commercial contracts for purchase and delivery of coal, KCP&L's predominant fuel source. About half of KCP&L's delivered cost of coal is for rail transportation. We enter into long-term freight contracts to reduce the degree of variability in the delivered cost of coal. We also manage coal price risk in some cases by using short- and intermediate-term fixed price contracts. We also manage commodity risk by establishing risk limits and entering into contracts to offset some of our positions to balance energy supply and demand at Strategic Energy and to protect ourselves from volatility in the price of natural gas at KCP&L and KLT Gas. We do not, however, hedge the entire exposure of our operations from commodity price volatility. As a consequence, our results of operations and financial positio n may be materially impacted by changes in the cost of electricity, gas and coal.
We cannot assure future dividend payments.
As a holding company with no significant operations of our own, the primary source of funds for payment of dividends to our shareholders and our financial obligations is dividends our subsidiaries pay to us. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts to us, whether by dividends, loans or other payment. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to us, and, accordingly, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock and meet our financial obligations, will depend on the actual and projected earnings and cash flow, capital requirements, and general financial condition of our subsidiaries, as well as on regulatory factors, financial covenants, general business conditions, and other matters.
We are subject to new environmental laws and the incurrence of environmental liabilities.
Our operations are subject to extensive regulation relating to environmental protection. New environmental laws and regulations affecting our operations may be adopted, and new interpretations of existing laws and regulations could be adopted or become applicable to us or our facilities, which may substantially increase our environmental expenditures in the future. In addition, we may not be able to recover all of our costs for environmental expenditures through rates at current levels in the future. Under current law, we are also generally responsible for any on-site liabilities associated with the environmental condition of our facilities that we have previously owned or operated, regardless of whether the liabilities arose before, during or after the time we owned or operated the facilities. The incurrence of a material environmental liability, without related rate recovery, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We have nuclear exposure.
KCP&L owns 47% of Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation, the operating company for the Wolf Creek Generating Station (Wolf Creek) located in Coffey County, Kansas. KCP&L's share of Wolf Creek's generating capacity is 548 megawatts which makes it KCP&L's second largest generating facility, representing approximately 20% of estimated 2004 baseload capacity and about 24% of annual Mwh generation over the past three years. Over this same period, the facility has operated at 92% capacity.
Wolf Creek has the lowest fuel cost per mmBtu of any of KCP&L's generating units. An extended shut-down of Wolf Creek could have a substantial adverse effect on KCP&L's business, financial condition and results of operations because of higher replacement power and other costs. Although not expected, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission could impose an unscheduled plant shut-down, reacting to safety concerns at the plant or other similar nuclear units. If a long-term shut-down occurred, the state regulatory commissions could reduce rates by excluding the Wolf Creek investment from rate base.
Ownership and operation of a nuclear generating unit exposes KCP&L to risks regarding decommissioning costs at the end of the unit's life and to potential retrospective assessments and property losses in excess of insurance coverage. KCP&L contributes about $3 million annually to a tax-qualified trust fund to be used to decommission Wolf Creek. This funding level assumes a projected level of return on trust assets. If the actual return on trust assets is below the anticipated level, KCP&L could be responsible for the balance of funds required. If returns are lower than the expected level, however, KCP&L believes a rate increase would be allowed to ensure full recovery of decommissioning costs over the remaining life of the unit.
Our results are affected by KCP&L wholesale electricity sales
A significant portion of our subsidiary KCP&L's consolidated revenues come from wholesale electricity sales. KCP&L's ability to maintain or increase its level of wholesale sales depends on the wholesale market price, transmission availability and the availability of KCP&L generation for wholesale sales, among other things. Declines in wholesale market price or availability of generation for wholesale sales, or transmission constraints in the wholesale markets, could reduce KCP&L's wholesale sales and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Strategic Energy operates in competitive electricity markets
Strategic Energy provides retail electricity services in approximately half of the States that offer retail choice. Strategic Energy has several competitors that operate in most or all of the same states in which Strategic Energy services customers. Some of these competitors also operate in states other than where Strategic Energy has operations. It also faces competition in certain markets from regional suppliers and deregulated utility affiliates formed by holding companies affiliated with regulated utilities to provide retail load in their home market territories. Strategic Energy's competitors vary in size from small companies to very large corporations, some of which have significantly greater financial, marketing and procurement resources than Strategic Energy. Additionally, Strategic Energy, as well as its other competitors, must compete with the host utility in order to convi nce customers to switch from the host utility. Our results of operation and financial condition are impacted by the success Strategic Energy has in attracting and retaining customers in these markets.
Strategic Energy has supplier concentration and credit risk
Strategic Energy provides retail electricity services by entering into long-term contracts with its customers to supply electricity. In turn, Strategic Energy enters into forward contracts with multiple suppliers of electricity. Strategic Energy's five largest suppliers under forward supply contracts represented the majority of the total future committed purchases. These five suppliers, or their guarantors, are rated investment grade. However, in the event of a supplier non-delivery or default, Strategic Energy's results of operations could be affected to the extent the cost of replacement power exceeded the combination of the contracted price with the supplier and the amount of collateral held by Strategic Energy to mitigate its credit risk with the supplier. Strategic Energy's results of operations could also be affected, in a given period, if it was required to make a payment upon termination of a supplier contract to the extent that the contracted price with the supplier exceeded the market value of the contract at the time of termination.
We have regulatory risks.
We are a registered holding company system under the 35 Act, as amended, and are subject to certain limitations and approval requirements with respect to matters such as the structure of the holding company system, payment of dividends out of capital, transactions among affiliates, acquisitions, business combinations, the issuance, sale and acquisition of securities, and engaging in business activities not directly related to the utility or energy business.
KCP&L is regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission and The State Corporation Commission of the State of Kansas (KCC) with respect to retail rates, accounting matters, standards of service and, in certain cases, the issuance of securities, certification of facilities and service territories. KCP&L has agreed to file a rate case with the KCC by May 15, 2006. KCP&L is also subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Strategic Energy is a participant in the wholesale electricity and transmission markets, and is subject to FERC regulation. Additionally, Strategic Energy is subject to regulation by state regulatory agencies in states where it has retail customers. Each state has a public utilities commission that publishes rules related to retail choice. Each state's rules are distinct and may conflict. These rules do not restrict the amount Strategic Energy can charge for its services, but can have an impact on Strategic Energy's ability to profitably serve in each state.
Failure to obtain in a timely manner adequate rates or regulatory approvals, adoption of new regulations by these Federal or State agencies, or changes to current regulations and interpretations of such regulations may materially affect our business and our results of operations and financial condition.
Changes in our ratings may have a negative impact on us.
We and certain of our securities are rated by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Rating Services. These ratings impact our cost of funds and those of our subsidiaries and our ability to provide credit support for our subsidiary Strategic Energy. Our current ratings are included in the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Our financial statements reflect the application of critical accounting policies.
The application of our critical accounting policies reflect complex judgments and estimates. These policies include industry-specific accounting applicable to regulated public utilities and accounting for pensions, contingencies, long-lived assets, derivative instruments, goodwill and leases. The adoption of new generally accepted accounting policies or changes to current accounting policies or interpretations of such policies may materially affect our results of operations and financial condition.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we inform you otherwise in a supplement to this prospectus, we anticipate using any net proceeds received by us from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes, including, among others:
* |
Repayment of short term debt, |
* |
Repurchase, retirement or refinancing of other securities, |
* |
Acquisitions, and |
* |
Investments in subsidiaries. |
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31, |
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2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
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3.52 |
2.92 |
(a) |
3.02 |
2.38 |
(a) A $68.7 million deficiency in earnings caused the ratio of earnings to fixed charges to be less than a one-to-one coverage. A $195.8 million net write-off before income taxes related to the bankruptcy filing of DTI was recorded in 2001.
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, "earnings" consists of net income before extraordinary item, cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, losses from equity investments and minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries with fixed charges plus interest charges (excluding the reduction for capitalized interest), income taxes, and the estimated interest components of rents. "Fixed charges" consist of interest charges (excluding the reduction for capitalized interest) and the estimated interest components of rents.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
General. The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities, which we refer to collectively as the debt securities, will represent unsecured obligations of the Company. We may issue one or more series of debt securities directly to the public, to a trust or as part of a stock purchase unit from time to time. We expect that each series of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities will be issued as a new series of debt securities under one of two separate indentures, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time. We will issue the senior debt securities in one or more series under a senior indenture that we will enter into with The Bank of New York, as trustee. We will issue the subordinated debt securities in one or more series under a subordinated indenture between a trustee and us. The form of the senior indenture, the form of the subordin ated indenture and the form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the debt securities of a particular series are filed as exhibits to, or will be subsequently incorporated by reference in, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (Trust Indenture Act). The following summaries of certain provisions of the senior indenture, the subordinated indenture and the applicable debt securities do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, all of the provisions of the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture, as the case may be, and the applicable debt securities. We may also sell hybrid or novel securities now existing or developed in the future that combine certain features of the debt securities and other securities described in this prospectus. We may be required to obtain the approval of the SEC under the 35 Act before we can issue and sell certain of these securities.
We may authorize the issuance and provide for the terms of a series of debt securities by or pursuant to a resolution of our Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof or pursuant to a supplemental indenture or to a company order, as described in the indentures. There will be no requirement under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture that our future issuances of debt securities be issued exclusively under either indenture. We will be free to employ other indentures or documentation containing provisions different from those included in either indenture or applicable to one or more issuances of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, in connection with future issuances of other debt securities. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture will provide that the applicable debt securities will be issued in one o r more series, may be issued at various times, may have differing maturity dates and may bear interest at differing rates. We need not issue all debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the senior debt securities or the subordinated debt securities of that series, as the case may be, for issuances of additional senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities of that series, as applicable. One or more series of the debt securities may be issued with the same or various maturities at par, above par or at a discount. Debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate which, at the time of issuance, is below the market rate ("Original Issue Discount Securities") will be sold at a discount (which may be substantial) below their stated principal amount. Federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any such Original Issue Discount Securities will be described in the pro spectus supplement relating thereto. Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, neither indenture described above will limit the aggregate amount of debt, including secured debt, we or our subsidiaries may incur. Both indentures will also permit us to merge or consolidate or to transfer our assets, subject to certain conditions (see "Consolidation, Merger and Sale" below).
Ranking. The senior debt securities will be our direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. As of December 31, 2003, our aggregate outstanding debt that would have ranked equally with the senior debt securities was approximately $87 million. In addition, we have been granted authority by the SEC to issue up to $600 million of guarantees for the benefit of our non-utility subsidiaries and expect to have such guarantees outstanding from time to time in various aggregate amounts. The subordinated debt securities will be our direct unsecured general obligations and will be junior in right of payment to our Senior Indebtedness, as described under the heading "-Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities."
Great Plains Energy is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flows and consequent ability to service our debt, including the debt securities, are dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and distribution of those earnings to us and other payments or distributions of funds by our subsidiaries to us, including payments of principal and interest under intercompany indebtedness. Our operating subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and will have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any dividends or make any other distributions (except for payments required pursuant to the terms of intercompany indebtedness) to us or to otherwise pay amounts due with respect to the debt securities or to make specific funds available for such payments. Furthermore, except to the extent we have a prior ity or equal claim against our subsidiaries as a creditor, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to debt at the subsidiary level because, as the common shareholder of our subsidiaries, we will be subject to the prior claims of creditors of our subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2003, our subsidiaries had approximately $1.34 billion of aggregate outstanding debt.
Provisions of a Particular Series. The prospectus supplement applicable to each issuance of debt securities will specify, among other things:
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the title and any limitation on aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
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the original issue date of the debt securities; |
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the date or dates on which the principal of any of the debt securities is payable; |
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the fixed or variable interest rate or rates, or method of calculation of such rate or rates, for the debt securities, and the date from which interest will accrue; |
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the terms, if any, regarding the optional or mandatory redemption of any debt securities, including the redemption date or dates, if any, and the price or prices applicable to such redemption; |
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the denominations in which such debt securities will be issuable; |
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the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities may be repaid, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof; |
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the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities shall be payable; |
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the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase, or repay the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities shall be redeemed, purchased, or repaid pursuant to such obligation; |
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whether the debt securities are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one of more global securities and, if so, the identity of the Depositary for such global security or global securities |
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the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, shall be payable; |
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any addition to the events of default applicable to that series of debt securities and the covenants for the benefit of the holders of that series; |
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any remarketing features of the debt securities; |
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any collateral, security, assurance, or guarantee for the debt security; |
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if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities; |
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the securities exchange(s), if any, on which the debt securities will be listed; |
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the terms, if any, pursuant to which debt securities may be converted into or exchanged for shares of our capital stock or other securities; |
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any interest deferral or extension provisions; |
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the applicability of or any change in the subordination provisions for a series of debt securities; |
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the terms of any warrants we may issue to purchase debt securities; and |
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any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the applicable indenture. |
Subordination. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our Senior Indebtedness, as defined below.
No payment of principal of (including redemption and sinking fund payments), premium, if any, or interest on, the subordinated debt securities may be made if any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due, any applicable grace period with respect to such default has ended and such default has not been cured or waived, or the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default and such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled.
Upon any distribution of our assets to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all principal of, and premium, if any, and interest 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. The rights of the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the subordinated debt securities are paid in full. If provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, limited subordination periods may apply in the event of non-payment defaults relating to Senior Indebtedness in situations where there has not been an acceleration of Senior Indebtedness.
As defined in the subordinated indenture, the term "Senior Indebtedness" means:
(1) obligations (other than non-recourse obligations, the indebtedness issued under the subordinated indenture and other indebtedness which is either effectively by its terms or expressly made subordinate to or pari passu with the subordinated debt securities) of, or guaranteed (except to the extent our payment obligations under any such guarantee are subordinate to or pari passu with the subordinated debt securities) or assumed by, us for
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borrowed money (including both senior and subordinated indebtedness for borrowed money (other than the subordinated debt securities)); or |
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the payment of money relating to any lease which is capitalized on our balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time; or |
(2) indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, and
in each case, amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness or obligations with Senior Indebtedness, whether existing as of the date of the subordinated indenture or subsequently incurred by us.
The subordinated indenture will not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness that we may issue. As of December 31, 2003, our outstanding Senior Indebtedness totaled approximately $87 million.
Registration, Transfer and Exchange. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities, other than debt securities issued to a trust, will initially be issued in the form of one or more global securities, in registered form, without coupons, as described under "Book-Entry System." The global securities will be registered in the name of a depository, or its nominee, and deposited with, or on behalf of, the depository. Except in the circumstances described under "Book-Entry System," owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any debt securities and will not be considered the registered holders thereof under the applicable indenture.
Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Subject to the terms of the applicable indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities, debt securities may be presented for exchange or registration of transfer-duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed instrument of transfer-at the office of any transfer agent we may designate for such purpose, without service charge but upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges, and upon satisfaction of such other reasonable requirements as are described in the applicable indenture.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the transfer agent will be the trustee under the applicable indenture. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
Payment and Paying Agents. Principal of and interest and premium, if any, on debt securities issued in the form of global securities will be paid in the manner described under "Book-Entry System."
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of and any premium and interest on debt securities of a particular series in the form of certificated securities will be payable at the office of the applicable trustee or at the authorized office of any paying agent or paying agents upon presentation and surrender of such debt securities. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest on the debt securities of a particular series, other than interest at maturity, that are in the form of certificated securities will be paid by ch eck payable in clearinghouse funds mailed to the person entitled thereto at such person's address as it appears on the register for such debt securities maintained by the applicable trustee. All monies we pay to a trustee or a paying agent for the payment of the principal of, and premium or interest, if any, on, any debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof. However, any such payment shall be subject to escheat pursuant to state abandoned property laws.
Redemption. Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of the debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will be redeemable by us only upon notice by mail not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, and, if less than all the debt securities of a series are to be redeemed, the particular debt securities to be redeemed will be selected by such method as shall be provided for any particular series, or in the absence of any such provision, by the trustee in such manner as it shall deem fair and appropriate.
Any notice of redemption at our option may state that such redemption will be conditional upon receipt by the trustee or the paying agent or agents, on or prior to the dated fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on, such debt securities and that if such money has not been so received, such notice will be of no force and effect and we will not be required to redeem such debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale or Disposition of Assets. We may, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities, consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell or otherwise dispose of our properties as or substantially as an entirety to any person, provided that:
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the successor or transferee corporation or the person which receives such properties pursuant to such sale, transfer or other disposition is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
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the successor or transferee corporation or the person which receives such properties pursuant to such sale, transfer or other disposition assumes by supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on all the debt securities outstanding under each indenture and the performance of every covenant of each indenture to be performed or observed by us; |
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we have delivered to the trustees for such debt securities an officer's certificate and an opinion of counsel as will be provided in each of the indentures; and |
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immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default (see "Events of Default") or event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other disposition of our properties (except transfers related to a lease of our properties) as or substantially as an entirety, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or the person to which such sale, transfer or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, us under the applicable indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation or person had been named as us therein, and we will be released from all obligations under the applicable indenture.
Certain of the indentures for debt securities issued or to be issued by KCP&L provide that the sale, conveyance or other transfer by KCP&L of its facilities for the generation of electric energy to any affiliate of KCP&L, shall not be subject to other restrictions on sales, conveyances, or other transfers provided that the facilities shall not in the aggregate represent assets with a depreciated value on the books of KCP&L in excess of 65% of the depreciated value of KCP&L's total assets as set forth in its most recent report filed on Form 10-K or 10-Q as of the date of the sale, conveyance, or other transfer.
Modification. Without the consent of any holder of debt securities, the trustee for such debt securities and we may enter into one or more supplemental indentures for any of the following purposes:
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to supply omissions, cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or correct defects, which actions, in each case, are not prejudicial to the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect; |
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to change or eliminate any provision of the applicable indenture, provided that any such change or elimination will become effective with respect to such series only when there is no debt security of such series outstanding created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision, or such change or elimination is applicable only to debt securities of such series issued after the effective date of such change or elimination; |
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to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series as permitted by the applicable indenture; |
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to evidence the assumption of our covenants in the applicable indenture and the debt securities by any permitted successor; |
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to grant to or confer upon the trustee for any debt securities for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities, any additional rights, remedies, powers or authority; |
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to permit the trustee for any debt securities to comply with any duties imposed upon it by law; |
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to specify further the duties and responsibilities of, and to define further the relationship among, the trustee for any debt securities, any authenticating agent and any paying agent, and to evidence the succession of a successor trustee as permitted under the applicable indenture; |
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to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of outstanding debt securities, to add to the security of all debt securities, to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by the applicable indenture or to add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of outstanding debt securities; and |
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to make any other change that is not prejudicial to the holders of any debt securities. |
Except as provided above, the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of either the senior debt securities or the subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, of all series then outstanding, considered as one class, is required for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner, or eliminating any of the provisions of, the applicable indenture pursuant to one or more supplemental indentures or of modifying or waiving in any manner the rights of the holders of the applicable debt securities; provided, however, that if less than all of the series of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities outstanding, as the case may be, are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then the consent only of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding applicable debt securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, will be required.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment or modification may, without the consent of each holder of outstanding debt securities affected thereby:
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change the maturity date of the principal of any debt security; |
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reduce the principal amount of, or premium payable on, any debt security; |
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reduce the rate of interest or change the method of calculating such rate, or extend the time of payment of interest, on any debt security; |
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change the coin or currency of any payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on any debt security; |
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change the date on which any debt security may be redeemed or adversely affect the rights of a holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any debt security; or |
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modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage of outstanding debt securities necessary to modify or amend the applicable indenture or to waive any past default. |
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the applicable indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities, or which modifies the rights of the holders of debt securities of such series with respect to such covenant or provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under the applicable indenture of the holders of the debt securities of any other series.
Events of Default. Unless specifically deleted in a supplemental indenture or Board resolution under which a series of debt securities is issued, or modified in any such supplemental indenture, each of the following will constitute an event of default under the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture with respect to senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, of any series:
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failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, on any debt security of such series, as the case may be, within one day after the same becomes due and payable; |
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failure to pay interest on the debt securities of such series within 30 days after the same becomes due and payable; |
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failure to perform or breach of any of our other covenants or warranties in the applicable indenture (other than a covenant or warranty solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than such series) for 60 days after written notice to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding applicable debt securities of such series; |
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, assignment or receivership; or |
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any other event of default specified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to debt securities of a particular series. |
No event of default with respect to the debt securities of a particular series necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any other series issued under the applicable indenture.
If an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, by notice in writing, may declare the principal amount of and interest on all of the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, that if an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of debt securities under a particular indenture, the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all such series, considered as one class, may make such declaration of acceleration and not the holders of the debt securities of any one of such series.
At any time after an acceleration with respect to the debt securities of any series has been declared, but before a judgment or decree for the payment of the money due has been obtained, the event or events of default giving rise to such acceleration will be waived, and the acceleration will be rescinded and annulled, if
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we pay or deposit with the trustee for such series a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest on all debt securities of such series, the principal of and premium, if any, on the debt securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates specified in such debt securities, interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates specified in such debt securities, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, and all amounts due to the trustee for such series under the applicable indenture; and |
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any other event or events of default with respect to the debt securities of such series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of and accrued interest on the debt securities of such series which has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in the applicable indenture. |
However, no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any related right.
Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default shall occur and be continuing, the trustee generally will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee and certain other limitations contained in the applicable indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that seri es; provided, however, that if an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of debt securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all those series, considered as one class, will have the right to make such direction, and not the holders of the debt securities of any one series. Any direction provided by the holders shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture, as the case may be, and will not involve the trustee in personal liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not, in the trustee's sole discretion, be adequate and the trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with such direction.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable indenture on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series with respect to the debt securities of that series, except a default in the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on such debt securities. No holder of debt securities of any series may institute any proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy, unless such holder has previously given to the trustee for such series written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series in respect of which an event of default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, have made written request to the trustee for such series to institute such proceeding and have offered reasonable indemnity, and the trustee for such series has failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days after such notice, request and offer. Furthermore, no holder of debt securities of any series will be entitled to institute any such action if and to the extent that such action would disturb or prejudice the rights of other holders of those debt securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, each holder of debt securities of any series has the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on such debt securities when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights may not be impaired without the consent of that holder of debt securities.
The trustee, within 90 days after it receives notice of the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series, is required to give the holders of the debt securities of that series notice of such default, unless cured or waived, but, except in the case of default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities of that series, the trustee may withhold such notice if it determines in good faith that it is in the interest of such holders to do so. We will be required to deliver to the trustees for the debt securities each year a certificate as to whether or not, to the knowledge of the officers signing such certificate, we are in compliance with all conditions and covenants under the applicable indenture, determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under such indenture.
Defeasance and Discharge. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we may elect either:
1. to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series then outstanding under the applicable indenture (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of such series, replace stolen, lost or mutilated notes, maintain paying agencies and hold monies for payment in trust); or
2. to be released from the obligations of the senior indenture with respect to the senior debt securities of any series or the subordinated indenture with respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series under any covenants applicable to the debt securities of such series which are subject to covenant defeasance as described in the supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing such series.
In the case of either (1) or (2), we are required to deposit, in trust, with the applicable trustee money or U.S. government obligations, which through the payment of interest on those obligations and principal of those obligations in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay all the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of such series on the dates payments are due (which may include one or more redemption dates designated by us). This trust may only be established if, among other things, (A) no event of default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit, (B) the deposit will not cause the trustee to have any conflicting interest with respec t to our other securities and (C) we have delivered an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes (and, in the case of paragraph (1) above, such opinion of counsel is based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable federal income tax law) as a result of the deposit or defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as if the deposit and defeasance had not occurred.
We may exercise our defeasance option under paragraph (1) with respect to debt securities of any series notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option under paragraph (2). If we exercise our defeasance option for debt securities of any series, payment of the debt securities of such series may not be accelerated because of a subsequent event of default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option for debt securities of any series, payment of the debt securities of such series may not be accelerated by reference to a subsequent breach of any of the covenants noted under paragraph (2). In the event we fail to comply with our remaining obligations with respect to the debt securities of any series under the applicable indenture after exercising our covenant defeasance option and the debt securities of such series are declared due and payable because of t he subsequent occurrence of any event of default, the amount of money and U.S. government obligations on deposit with the trustee may be insufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of such series at the time of the acceleration resulting from that event of default. However, we will remain liable for those payments.
Resignation or Removal of Trustee. The trustee may resign at any time upon written notice to us specifying the day upon which the resignation is to take effect and such resignation will take effect immediately upon the later of the appointment of a successor trustee and such specified day. The trustee may be removed at any time with respect to debt securities of any series by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing filed with the trustee and signed by the holders, or their attorneys-in-fact, of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that series of debt securities then outstanding. In addition, so long as no event of default or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default has occurred and is continuing, we may remove the trustee upon notice to the holder of each debt security outstanding and the trustee, and appoi ntment of a successor trustee.
Concerning the Trustee for Senior Debt Securities. As of December 31, 2003, The Bank of New York, which will be the trustee under the senior indenture, was the trustee for $991.9 million of KCP&L's secured and unsecured debt under seven separate indentures executed between 1992 and 2002. The Bank of New York is also a depository for funds and performs other services for, and transacts other banking business with our affiliates and us in the normal course and may do so in the future. Each indenture will provide that our obligations to compensate the trustee and reimburse the trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances will be secured by a lien prior to that of the applicable debt securities upon the property and funds held or collected by the trustee as such.
Governing Law. The senior indenture, the subordinated indenture and the related debt securities will be governed by New York law.
DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
This prospectus describes certain general terms of the trust preferred securities. The trust preferred securities will be issued by one or more statutory trusts which we will form under Delaware law prior to such issuance. At that time, we intend to amend the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part to include each trust issuer as a registrant for purposes of issuing and selling trust preferred securities of that trust. At the time trust preferred securities are to be issued, the original trust agreement will be amended and restated, to be effective at the time of such issuance. The form of amended and restated trust agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The amended and restated trust agreement, which we will refer to in this prospectus as the "trust agreement," for each trust will be qualifi ed as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act . You should read the form of amended and restated trust agreement for provisions that may be important to you. When we offer to sell a particular series of trust preferred securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a prospectus supplement. The trust preferred securities will be issued pursuant to the related trust agreements, which we have summarized below. This summary is not complete.
General. Each trust will exist for the exclusive purposes of:
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issuing two classes of trust securities-trust preferred securities and trust common securities (collectively, the "trust securities")-which together represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the trust; |
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investing the gross proceeds of the trust securities in our debt securities; |
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making distributions; and |
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engaging in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental to the purposes listed above. |
Our debt securities will be the sole assets of each trust, and our payments under the debt securities will be the sole revenue of each trust. No separate financial statements of any trust will be included in this prospectus. We consider that these financial statements would not be material to holders of the trust preferred securities because no trust would have any independent operations and the only purposes of each trust are those described above. We do not expect that any trust will be filing annual, quarterly or special reports with the SEC. The principal place of business of each trust will be c/o Great Plains Energy Incorporated, 1201 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Each trust will exist until terminated as provided in its trust agreement. The administrators and trustees of each trust will be:
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two of our employees or officers or two employees or officers of our affiliates as administrators (the "administrators"); |
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a financial institution that will act as property trustee and as indenture trustee for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act (the "property trustee"); and |
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one trustee with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the "Delaware trustee"). |
The trust agreement will authorize the administrators to issue two classes of trust securities: trust preferred securities and trust common securities. We will own all of the trust common securities issued by each trust, which will rank equally in right of payment with the trust preferred securities issued by the respective trust. However, if an event of default occurs and is continuing under the trust agreement, rights of the holders of the trust common securities to payment for distributions and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the trust preferred securities. We will acquire trust common securities of each trust in a total liquidation amount of a to-be determined percentage of the total capital of the trust.
Proceeds from the sale of both the trust preferred securities and the trust common securities issued by each trust will be used to purchase our debt securities, which will be held in trust by the property trustee for the benefit of the holders of the trust securities issued by the respective trust. We will guarantee the payments of distributions and payments of redemption or liquidation with respect to the trust preferred securities issued by each trust, but only to the extent the respective trust has funds legally available for and cash sufficient to make those payments and has not made the payments. See "Description of Guarantees" below.
Each guarantee, when taken together with our obligations under the related debt securities, the related indenture and the related trust agreement, will provide a full and unconditional guarantee of amounts due on the trust preferred securities issued by the respective trust. The trust preferred securities will have the terms, including distributions, redemption, voting, liquidation rights and other rights or restrictions that will be described in the related trust agreement or made part of it by the Trust Indenture Act or the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
Provisions of a Particular Series. Each trust may issue only one series of trust preferred securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the principal terms of the trust preferred securities that will be offered, including:
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the name of the trust preferred securities; |
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the liquidation amount and number of trust preferred securities issued; |
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the annual distribution rate or rates or method of determining such rate or rates, the payment date or dates and the record dates used to determine the holders who are to receive distributions; |
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the date from which distributions will be cumulative; |
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the optional redemption provisions, if any, including the prices, time periods and other terms and conditions on which the trust preferred securities will be purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part; |
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the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities and the related guarantee may be distributed to holders of the trust preferred securities; |
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any securities exchange on which the trust preferred securities will be listed; |
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the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the trust preferred securities may be converted into our securities; and |
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any other relevant rights, covenants, preferences, privileges, limitations or restrictions of the trust preferred securities. |
Terms of the trust preferred securities issued by each trust will mirror the terms of the debt securities held by the respective trust. In other words, the interest rate and interest and other payment dates of each series of debt securities issued to a trust will correspond to the rate at which distributions will be paid and the distribution and other payment dates of the trust preferred securities of that trust. The prospectus supplement will also set forth whether the debt securities to be issued to a trust will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities.
Distributions. The trust preferred securities represent preferred, undivided, beneficial interests in the assets of the respective trust. The applicable prospectus supplement will state the annual rate, as a percentage of the liquidation amount, at which distributions on each trust preferred security will be payable, the liquidation amount and the dates on which distributions will be payable.
Each trust will use the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the trust preferred securities to purchase debt securities. The income of a trust available for distribution to holders of the trust preferred securities issued by that trust will be limited to payments under those debt securities. If we do not make payments on the debt securities, a trust will not have funds available to pay distributions or other amounts payable on the trust preferred securities issued by that trust. The payment of distributions and other amounts payable on the trust preferred securities issued by a trust, if and to the extent the trust has funds legally available for and cash sufficient to make such payments, is guaranteed by us as described herein.
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period. If the applicable prospectus supplement so states, we will have the right to defer the payment of interest on the debt securities at any time or from time to time for a period, which we refer to in this prospectus as an "extension period," not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly periods with respect to each extension period. During each extension period we shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any interest payment date. At the end of each extension period we shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid. No extension period may extend beyond the stated maturity of the debt securities or end on a date other than an interest payment date. As a consequence of any such deferral, distributions on the trust preferred securities by a trust will be deferred during any such extension period. Distributions to which holders of the trust preferred securities are entitled will accumulate additional distributions at the rate stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. During an extension period, interest will continue to accrue and holders of debt securities, or holders of trust preferred securities while outstanding, will be required to accrue original issue discount income for United States federal income tax purposes.
Prior to the termination of any extension period, we may further defer the payment of interest, provided that, unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, no extension period may exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods or extend beyond the stated maturity of the debt securities. Upon the termination of any extension period and the payment of all amounts then due, we may elect to begin a new extension period subject to the above conditions. No interest shall be due and payable during an extension period, except at its end. We must give the trustee notice of our election of an extension period at least one business day prior to the earlier of the date the distributions on the trust preferred securities would have been payable but for the election to begin such extension period and the date the property trustee is required to give notice to holders of the trust preferred s ecurities of the record date or the date such distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one business day prior to such record date. The property trustee will give notice of our election to begin a new extension period to the holders of the trust preferred securities.
Registration, Transfer and Exchange. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of trust preferred securities will be issued initially in the form of one or more global securities, in registered form, without coupons, as described under "Book-Entry System." The global trust preferred securities will be registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, as depository, and deposited with, or on behalf of, the depository. Except in the circumstances described under "Book-Entry System," owners of beneficial interests in a global trust preferred security will not be entitled to have trust preferred securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any trust preferred securities and will not be considered the registered holders thereof under the related trust agreement.
Trust preferred securities of any series will be exchangeable for other trust preferred securities of the same series of any authorized denominations of a like aggregate liquidation amount and tenor. Subject to the terms of the trust agreement and the limitations applicable to global securities, trust preferred securities may be presented for exchange or registration of transfer-duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed instrument of transfer-at the office of the property trustee, without service charges but upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges, and upon satisfaction of such other reasonable requirements as are described in the trust agreement. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the property trustee being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request.
The property trustee will not be required to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any trust preferred securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any trust preferred securities called for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing or register the transfer of, or exchange, any trust preferred securities selected for redemption except, in the case of any trust preferred security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be so redeemed.
Payment and Paying Agents. Distributions and other payments on trust preferred securities issued in the form of global securities will be paid in the manner described under "Book-Entry System."
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, distributions and other payments with respect to trust preferred securities that are in the form of certificated securities will be made by check mailed to the person entitled thereto at such person's address as such address appears on the securities register for the trust securities maintained by the property trustee. The paying agent initially will be the property trustee and any co-paying agent chosen by the property trustee and acceptable to the administrators. If the property trustee is no longer the paying agent, the property trustee will appoint a successor, which must be a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the administrators, to act as paying agent. Such paying agent will be permitted to resign as paying agent upon 30 days' written notice to the property trustee and the administrators at which t ime the paying agent will return all unclaimed funds and all other funds in its possession to the property trustee.
Redemption. Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of the debt securities held by a trust, the proceeds shall be applied by the property trustee to redeem a Like Amount, as defined below, of the trust securities issued by that trust, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, at a redemption price equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities plus accumulated but unpaid distributions to but excluding the redemption date and the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by us upon the concurrent redemption of the debt securities. If less than all the debt securities held by a trust are to be repaid or redeemed on a redemption date, then the proceeds from the repayment or redemption shall be allocated to the redemption proportionately of the trust preferred securitie s and the trust common securities issued by that trust based on the relative liquidation amounts of the classes. The amount of premium, if any, paid by us upon the redemption of all or any part of the debt securities held by a trust to be repaid or redeemed on a redemption date shall be allocated to the redemption proportionately of the trust preferred securities and the trust common securities issued by that trust.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will have the right to redeem the debt securities held by a trust:
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on or after the date fixed for redemption as stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in whole at any time or in part from time to time; or |
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prior to the date fixed for redemption as stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event, each as defined below. |
"Like Amount" means:
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with respect to a redemption of trust securities, trust securities having a liquidation amount equal to that portion of the principal amount of debt securities to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the applicable indenture, allocated to the trust common securities and to the trust preferred securities based upon the relative liquidation amounts of the classes; and |
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with respect to a distribution of debt securities to holders of trust securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of a trust, debt securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the trust securities of the holder to whom the debt securities are distributed. |
"Tax Event" means the receipt by a trust of an opinion of counsel to us experienced in relevant matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change-including any announced prospective change-in, the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States, or as a result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or applying these laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance by a trust of trust preferred securities, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing arising with respect to, or resulting from, any proposal, proceeding or other action commencing on or before the date of issuance, there is more than an insubstantial ris k that:
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the trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of the opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the debt securities we have issued to that trust; |
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interest payable by us on the debt securities is not, or within 90 days of the delivery of the opinion, will not be, deductible by us, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or |
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the trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of the opinion, subject to more than an insubstantial amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. |
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by a trust of an opinion of counsel to us experienced in these matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written change-including any announced prospective change-in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance by that trust of trust preferred securities.
If and for so long as a trust is the holder of all the debt securities issued by us to that trust, we will pay, with respect to the debt securities, such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of distributions then due and payable by a trust on the outstanding trust preferred securities and trust common securities of a trust will not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which that trust has become subject, including as a result of a Tax Event.
Redemption Procedures. Trust preferred securities of a trust redeemed on each redemption date shall be redeemed at the redemption price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of the debt securities held by that trust. Redemptions of trust preferred securities shall be made and the redemption price shall be payable on each redemption date only to the extent that a trust has funds on hand available for the payment of the redemption price. See also "-Subordination of Trust Common Securities."
If a trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of any trust preferred securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, to the extent funds are available, in the case of trust preferred securities held in book-entry form, the property trustee will deposit irrevocably with the depository funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price and will give the depository irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to the holders of the trust preferred securities. With respect to trust preferred securities not held in book-entry form, the property trustee, to the extent funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for the trust preferred securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price and will give the paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to the holders upon surrender of their certificates evidencing the trust preferred securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, distributions payable on or prior to the redemption date for any trust preferred securities called for redemption shall be payable to the holders of the trust preferred securities on the relevant record dates for the related distribution dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of the deposit all rights of the holders of the trust preferred securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of the trust preferred securities to receive the redemption price, and any distribution payable in respect of the trust preferred securities, but without interest on the redemption price, and the trust preferred securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that payment of the redemption price in respect of trust preferred securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by a trust or by us pursuant to the guarantee as described under "Description of Guarantees," distributions on the trust preferred securities will continue to accumulate at the then applicable rate, from the redemption date originally established by a trust for the trust preferred securities it issues to the date the redemption price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the redemption price.
If less than all the trust preferred securities and trust common securities are to be redeemed on a redemption date, then the aggregate liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities and trust common securities to be redeemed shall be allocated proportionately to the trust preferred securities and the trust common securities based upon the relative liquidation amounts of the classes. The particular trust preferred securities to be redeemed shall be selected on a proportionate basis not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the property trustee from the outstanding trust preferred securities not previously called for redemption, or if the trust preferred securities are then held in the form of a global trust preferred security, in accordance with the depository's customary procedures. The property trustee shall promptly notify the securities registrar for the trust securities in writing of the trust preferred securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any trust preferred securities selected for partial redemption, the liquidation amount to be redeemed. For all purposes of the trust agreements, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of trust preferred securities shall relate, in the case of any trust preferred securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate liquidation amount of trust preferred securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of trust preferred securities to be redeemed at its address appearing on the securities register for the trust securities. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price on the related debt securities, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities or portions of them called for redemption.
Subordination of Trust Common Securities. If on any distribution date or redemption date a payment event of default with respect to the underlying debt securities has occurred and is continuing, no payment on or in respect of the related trust common securities shall be made unless all amounts due in respect of the related trust preferred securities (including the liquidation amount or redemption price, if applicable) shall have been paid or payment provided for. All funds immediately available to the respective property trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all distributions on, or redemption price of, the trust preferred securities then due and payable.
In the case of any event of default, as defined below, resulting from an event of default with respect to the underlying debt securities, the holders of trust common securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to any event of default under the related trust agreement until the effects of all events of default with respect to the related trust preferred securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. See "-Events of Default" and "Description of Debt Securities-Events of Default." Until all events of default under the related trust agreement with respect to the trust preferred securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the property trustee will act solely on behalf of the holders of the trust preferred securities and not on behalf of the holders of the trust common securities, and only the holders of the trust preferred securities will have the right to direct the property trustee to act on their behalf.
Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution. In the event of any liquidation of a trust, the applicable prospectus supplement will state the amount payable on the trust preferred securities issued by that trust as a dollar amount per trust preferred security plus accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment, subject to certain exceptions, which may be in the form of a distribution of the amount in debt securities held by that trust.
The holders of all the outstanding trust common securities of a trust have the right at any time to dissolve the trust and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the trust as provided by applicable law, cause the debt securities held by that trust to be distributed in liquidation of the trust to the holders of the trust preferred securities and trust common securities issued by the trust.
Pursuant to the related trust agreement, unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, a trust will automatically dissolve upon expiration of its term or, if earlier, will dissolve on the first to occur of:
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events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation involving us or the holder of the trust common securities, as specified in the trust agreement; |
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the giving by the holder of the trust common securities issued by the trust of written direction to the property trustee to dissolve the trust, which direction, subject to the foregoing restrictions, is optional and wholly within the discretion of the holder of the trust common securities; |
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the redemption of all the trust preferred securities issued by the trust in connection with the repayment or redemption of all the debt securities as described under "-Redemption"; and |
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the entry of an order for the dissolution of the trust by a court of competent jurisdiction. |
If dissolution of a trust occurs as described in the first, second or fourth bullet point above, the trust will be liquidated by the property trustee as expeditiously as the property trustee determines to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the trust as provided by applicable law, to the holders of the trust securities issued by the trust a Like Amount of the related debt securities. If such distribution is not practical, or, if a dissolution of a trust occurs as described in the third bullet point above, the holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the trust available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of holders of the trust preferred securities, the aggregate of the liquidation amount plus acc umulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment. In this prospectus we refer to this amount as the "liquidation distribution." If the liquidation distribution can be paid only in part because the trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate liquidation distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the trust on its trust preferred securities shall be paid on a proportionate basis. The holders of the trust common securities issued by the trust will be entitled to receive distributions upon any liquidation proportionately with the holders of the trust preferred securities, except that if a payment event of default has occurred and is continuing on the related debt securities, the trust preferred securities shall have a priority over the trust common securities. See "-Subordination of Trust Common Securities."
After the liquidation date is fixed for any distribution of debt securities we have issued to a trust,
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the trust preferred securities issued by that trust will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, |
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the depository or its nominee, as the registered holder of the trust preferred securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the debt securities to be delivered upon the distribution with respect to the trust preferred securities held by the depository or its nominee, and |
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any certificates representing the trust preferred securities not held by the depository or its nominee will be deemed to represent the debt securities having a principal amount equal to the stated liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid distributions on the trust preferred securities until the certificates are presented to the security registrar for the trust securities for transfer or reissuance. |
If we do not redeem the debt securities we have issued to a trust prior to the stated maturity and the trust is not liquidated and the debt securities are not distributed to holders of the trust preferred securities issued by that trust, the trust preferred securities will remain outstanding until the repayment of the debt securities and the distribution of the liquidation distribution to the holders of the trust preferred securities.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for trust preferred securities or the related debt securities that may be distributed in exchange for trust preferred securities if a dissolution and liquidation of a trust were to occur. Accordingly, the trust preferred securities that an investor may purchase, or the related debt securities that the investor may receive on dissolution and liquidation of a trust, may trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the trust preferred securities offered hereby.
Certain Covenants. In connection with the issuance of trust preferred securities by a trust, we will agree:
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to continue to hold, directly or indirectly, 100% of the trust common securities of any trust to which debt securities have been issued while such debt securities are outstanding, provided that certain successors that are permitted pursuant to the applicable indenture may succeed to our ownership of the trust common securities; |
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not to voluntarily dissolve, wind up or liquidate a trust to which debt securities have been issued, other than in connection with a distribution of debt securities to the holders of the trust preferred securities in liquidation of a trust or in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the trust agreements; and |
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to use our reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the trust agreements, to cause each trust to which debt securities have been issued to continue not to be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. |
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will also agree that we will not (1) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of our capital stock, (2) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of ours that rank equally with, or junior to, the debt securities (or, with respect to senior deferrable debt securities, make any payment of interest on senior deferrable debt securities with similar deferral provisions or make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities that rank junior to such senior deferrable debt securities), or (3) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee issued by us if such guarantee ranks equally with, or junior to, the debt securities (or, with respect to senior deferrable debt securities, make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee issued by us if such guarantee ranks junior to such senior deferrable debt securities), other than, in each case:
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repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of our capital stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants or in connection with a dividend reinvestment or shareholder stock purchase plan; |
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as a result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of our capital stock, or any capital stock of a subsidiary of ours, for any class or series of our capital stock or of any class or series of our then outstanding indebtedness for any class or series of our capital stock; |
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the purchase of fractional interests in shares of our capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of the capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged; |
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payments under any guarantee executed and delivered by us concurrently with the issuance of any trust preferred securities; |
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any declaration of a dividend in the form of capital stock in connection with any shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights to capital stock under any shareholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any such plan; or |
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any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks on a parity with or junior to the stock, |
if at such time
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we have actual knowledge of any event that (a) with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an event of default under the applicable indenture, and (b) we have not taken reasonable steps to cure the same; |
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we are in default with respect to our payment of any obligations under any guarantee executed and delivered by us concurrently with the issuance of any trust preferred securities; or |
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an extension period is continuing. |
We will also agree that, if and for so long as a trust is the holder of all debt securities issued by us in connection with the issuance of trust preferred securities by that trust and that trust is required to pay any additional taxes, duties or other governmental charges, including in connection with a Tax Event, we will pay as additional sums on the debt securities the amounts that may be required so that the distributions payable by that trust will not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
Events of Default. Any one of the following events constitutes an event of default with respect to the trust preferred securities issued by a trust under the related trust agreement:
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default by the trust in the payment of any distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of the default for a period of 30 days; |
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default by the trust in the payment of any redemption price of any trust security issued by that trust when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of the default for one day; |
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default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the property trustee and the Delaware trustee in the trust agreement, other than as described above, and continuation of the default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the appropriate trustees and to us by the holders of at least 33% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding trust preferred securities, a written notice specifying the default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that the notice is a "Notice of Default" under the trust agreement; |
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the occurrence of an event of default under the applicable indenture relating to the debt securities held by a trust (see "Description of Debt Securities-Events of Default"); |
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the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the property trustee or all or substantially all of its property if a successor property trustee has not been appointed within 90 days of the occurrence; or |
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the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the trust. |
Within five business days after the occurrence of certain events of default actually known to the respective property trustee, the property trustee will transmit notice of the event of default to the respective holders of trust securities and the respective administrators, unless the event of default has been cured or waived. Within five business days after the receipt of notice that we intend to exercise our right under the applicable indenture to defer the payment of interest on the related debt securities, the property trustee must notify the holders and the administrators that we intend to defer these interest payments, unless we have revoked our determination to do so.
The applicable trust agreement includes provisions as to the duties of the property trustee in case an event of default occurs and is continuing. Consistent with these provisions, the property trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any of the holders unless those holders have offered to the property trustee reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it. Subject to these provisions for indemnification, the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the related outstanding trust preferred securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the property trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the property trustee, with respect to the related trust preferred securities.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding trust preferred securities issued by a trust may waive any past default under the applicable trust agreement except:
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a default in the payment of any distribution when it becomes due and payable or any redemption price; |
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a default with respect to certain covenants and provisions of the applicable trust agreement that cannot be modified or amended without consent of the holder of each outstanding trust preferred security; and |
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a default under the applicable indenture that the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities would not be entitled to waive under the applicable trust agreement. |
If an event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing as a result of any failure by us to pay any amounts when due in respect of the related debt securities issued by us to a trust, the related trust preferred securities will have a preference over the related trust common securities with respect to payments of any amounts in respect of the trust preferred securities as described above. See "-Subordination of Trust Common Securities," "-Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution" and "Description of Debt Securities-Events of Default."
We must furnish annually to each property trustee a statement by an appropriate officer as to that officer's knowledge of our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the respective trust agreement. Also, the administrators for each trust must file, on behalf of the respective trust, a statement as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the respective trust agreement.
Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement. Except as provided below and under "-Resignation, Removal of Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee; Appointment of Successors" and "Description of Guarantees-Amendments and Assignment" and as otherwise required by law and the applicable trust agreement, the holders of the trust preferred securities issued by a trust will have no voting rights.
The trust agreement applicable to a trust may be amended from time to time by the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of its trust common securities and the respective property trustee, without the consent of the holders of the trust preferred securities issued by the trust:
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to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in the trust agreements that may be inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the trust agreements, provided that any such amendment does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of trust securities; |
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to facilitate the tendering, remarketing and settlement of the trust preferred securities, as contemplated in the trust agreement; |
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to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the trust agreements to the extent as may be necessary to ensure that a trust will not be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes at any time that any trust securities are outstanding or to ensure that a trust will not be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; or |
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to reflect the appointment of a successor trustee. |
The trust agreement may be amended by the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the trust common securities and the property trustee with the consent of holders representing not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding trust preferred securities and receipt by the property trustee and the Delaware trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the trustees in accordance with the amendment will not affect the trust's not being taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the trust's exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act.
Without the consent of each holder of trust preferred securities affected by the amendment or related exercise of power, the trust agreement applicable to a trust may not be amended to change the amount or timing of any distribution on the trust securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any distribution required to be made in respect of the trust securities as of a specified date or restrict the right of a holder of trust securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due.
So long as any debt securities are held by a trust, the respective property trustee will not:
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direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee for the debt securities under the related indenture, or execute any trust or power conferred on the property trustee with respect to the related debt securities; |
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waive any past default that is waivable under the applicable indenture; |
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exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the debt securities shall be due and payable; or |
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consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the applicable indenture or the related debt securities, where consent shall be required; |
without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities, except that, if a consent under the applicable indenture would require the consent of each holder of debt securities affected by the consent, no consent will be given by the property trustee without the prior written consent of each holder of the trust preferred securities.
A property trustee may not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the trust preferred securities issued by its respective trust except by subsequent vote of the holders of the trust preferred securities. The property trustee will notify each holder of trust preferred securities of any notice of default with respect to the debt securities. In addition, before taking any of the foregoing actions, the property trustee will obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in relevant matters to the effect that the trust will not be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of the action.
Any required approval of holders of trust preferred securities issued by a trust may be given at a meeting of holders of those trust preferred securities convened for the purpose or pursuant to written consent. The property trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of trust preferred securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of the holders is to be taken, to be given to each registered holder of trust preferred securities in the manner set forth in the applicable trust agreement.
No vote or consent of the holders of trust preferred securities issued by a trust will be required to redeem and cancel those trust preferred securities in accordance with the applicable trust agreement. See above under "-Redemption."
Notwithstanding that holders of trust preferred securities issued by a trust are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of those trust preferred securities that are owned by us, the respective property trustee or Delaware trustee, or any affiliate of us or either trustee, will, for purposes of the vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Trust Preferred Securities. If an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the applicable indenture, and the trustee for the related debt securities and the holders of those debt securities have failed to declare the principal due and payable, the holders of at least 33% in aggregate liquidation amount of the related outstanding trust preferred securities shall have this right.
If an event of default has occurred and is continuing under a trust agreement and the event is attributable to our failure to pay any amounts payable in respect of debt securities on the date the amounts are otherwise payable, a registered holder of trust preferred securities may institute a direct action against us for enforcement of payment to the holder of an amount equal to the amount payable in respect of debt securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities held by the holder, which we refer to in this discussion as a "Direct Action." We will have the right under the applicable indenture to set-off any payment made to the holders of trust preferred securities by us in connection with a Direct Action.
We may not amend the applicable indenture to remove the foregoing right to bring a Direct Action without the prior written consent of the holders of all the trust preferred securities. Furthermore, so long as any of the trust preferred securities are outstanding
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no modification of the applicable indenture may be made that adversely affects the holders of the trust preferred securities in any material respect, |
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no termination of the applicable indenture may occur and |
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no waiver of any event of default or compliance with any covenant under the applicable indenture may be effective, |
without the prior consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding trust preferred securities unless and until the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest on and premium, if any, on the related debt securities have been paid in full and certain other conditions are satisfied.
With certain exceptions, the holders of the trust preferred securities would not be able to exercise directly any remedies available to the holders of the debt securities except under the circumstances described in this section.
Resignation, Removal of Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee; Appointment of Successors. The property trustee or the Delaware trustee of a trust may resign at any time by giving written notice to us or may be removed at any time by an action of the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of that trust's outstanding trust preferred securities delivered to the trustee to be removed and to us. No resignation or removal of either of the trustees and no appointment of a successor trustee will become effective until a successor trustee accepts appointment in accordance with the requirements of the trust agreement. So long as no event of default or event that would become an event of default has occurred and is continuing, and except with respect to a trustee appointed by an action of the holders, if we have delivered to either the property trustee or the Delaware trustee a resoluti on of our board of directors appointing a successor trustee and the successor trustee has accepted the appointment in accordance with the terms of the trust agreement, the property trustee or the Delaware trustee, as the case may be, will be deemed to have resigned and the successor trustee will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the trust agreement.
Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of a Trust. A trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any entity, except as described below or as otherwise set forth in the applicable trust agreement. A trust may, at the request of the holders of its trust common securities and with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of its outstanding trust preferred securities, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any state, so long as:
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the successor entity either expressly assumes all the obligations of the trust with respect to its trust preferred securities or substitutes for the trust preferred securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the trust preferred securities, which we refer to in this prospectus as the successor securities, so long as the successor securities have the same priority as the trust preferred securities with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise; |
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a trustee of the successor entity, possessing the same powers and duties as the property trustee, is appointed to hold the related debt securities; |
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the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the trust preferred securities, including any successor securities, to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization; |
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the trust preferred securities or any successor securities are listed or quoted, or any successor securities will be listed or quoted upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or with another organization on which the trust preferred securities are then listed or quoted; |
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the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the trust preferred securities, including any successor securities, in any material respect; |
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the successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the trust; |
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prior to the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the property trustee has received an opinion from independent counsel experienced in relevant matters to the effect that such transaction does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the trust preferred securities, including any successor securities, in any material respect and following such transaction, neither the trust nor the successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act; and |
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we or any permitted successor or assignee owns all the trust common securities of the successor entity and guarantees the obligations of the successor entity under the successor securities at least to the extent provided by the applicable guarantee. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a trust may not, except with the consent of holders of 100% in aggregate liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if the consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the trust or the successor entity to be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
Expenses and Taxes. In each of the trust agreements, we have agreed to pay:
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all debts and other obligations, other than with respect to the trust preferred securities issued by a trust and all costs and expenses of the trust, including the costs and expenses relating to the organization of a trust, the fees and expenses of the property trustee and the Delaware trustee and the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the trust; and |
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any and all taxes and all costs and expenses with respect to them, other than withholding taxes, to which the trust might become subject. |
Information Concerning the Property Trustees
. Each property trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default, undertakes to perform only the duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable trust agreement and, after an event of default, must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, each property trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the trust agreements at the request of any holder of trust preferred securities issued by the respective trust unless it is offered reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by exercising these powers.Miscellaneous. The administrators and the property trustee relating to each trust are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of and to operate the trust in such a way that the trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act or taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the debt securities held by that trust will be treated as indebtedness of ours for United States federal income tax purposes. In this regard, each property trustee and the holders of trust common securities issued by the respective trust are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust of the trust or the applicable trust agreement, that the property trustee and the holders of trust common securities determine in their discretion to be necessa ry or desirable for these purposes, as long as this action does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the trust preferred securities.
Holders of the trust preferred securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
A trust may not borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of its assets.
Governing Law. The trust agreements and the trust preferred securities will be governed by Delaware law.
DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES
Each guarantee will be executed and delivered by us concurrently with the issuance of trust preferred securities by a trust for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the trust preferred securities. We will appoint a guarantee trustee under each guarantee. Each guarantee trustee will hold the respective guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the trust preferred securities issued by the related trust. Each guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act . We have summarized below certain provisions of the guarantees. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the guarantee, including the definitions in the guarantee of certain terms. The form of guarantee agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
General. We will fully and unconditionally agree, to the extent described herein, to pay the guarantee payments, as defined below, to the holders of the trust preferred securities issued by each trust, as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that a trust may have or assert other than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the trust preferred securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the respective trust, which payments we refer to in this discussion as the "guarantee payments," will be subject to the respective guarantee:
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any accumulated and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the trust preferred securities, to the extent that the trust has funds on hand available therefore; |
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the redemption price with respect to any trust preferred securities called for redemption, to the extent that the trust has funds on hand available for payment therefor; and |
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upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the trust, unless the related debt securities are distributed to holders of the trust preferred securities, the lesser of: |
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the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment, to the extent that the trust has funds on hand available therefor; and |
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the amount of assets of the trust remaining available for distribution to holders of the trust preferred securities on liquidation of the trust. |
Our obligation to make a guarantee payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by us to the holders of the trust preferred securities or by causing the trust to pay these amounts to the holders.
Each guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee of the obligations of the respective trust under its trust preferred securities, but will apply only to the extent that the trust has funds sufficient to make these payments, and is not a guarantee of collection.
If we do not make payments on the debt securities held by a trust, the trust will not be able to pay any amounts payable in respect of its trust preferred securities and will not have funds legally available for these payments. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the ranking of the guarantee. See "-Status of the Guarantees." The guarantees do not limit our incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt, including Senior Indebtedness, whether under the applicable indenture, any other indenture that we may enter into in the future or otherwise.
We have, through the guarantees, the trust agreements, the applicable debt securities and the related indenture, taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of each trust's obligations under its trust preferred securities. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all the other documents constitutes the guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of each trust's obligations in respect of its trust preferred securities. See "Relationship Among Trust Preferred Securities, Debt Securities and Guarantees."
Status of the Guarantees. Each guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of ours. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the ranking of each guarantee.
Each guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection; specifically, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against the guarantor to enforce its rights under the guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity. Each guarantee will be held by the respective guarantee trustee for the benefit of the holders of the related trust preferred securities. A guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the applicable guarantee payments in full to the extent not paid or distributed by the respective trust.
Amendments and Assignment. Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely affect the rights of holders of the related trust preferred securities, in which case no vote will be required, a guarantee may not be amended without the prior approval of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of the related trust preferred securities. The manner of obtaining this type of approval will be as set forth under "Description of Trust Preferred Securities-Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement." All guarantees and agreements contained in each guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of ours and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the related trust preferred securities then outstanding.
Events of Default. An event of default under a guarantee will occur upon our failure to perform any of our payment or other obligations under the guarantee, or to perform any other obligation if such default remains unremedied for 30 days.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the related trust preferred securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the guarantee trustee in respect of the guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the guarantee trustee under the guarantee. Any registered holder of trust preferred securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce its rights under the related guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the related trust, the guarantee trustee or any other person or entity.
We, as guarantor, are required to file annually with each guarantee trustee a certificate as to whether or not we are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to us under each guarantee.
Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions. Each guarantee provides that:
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we will not consolidate with or merge into any other entity, |
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we shall not convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any other entity, and |
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no entity will consolidate with or merge into us or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to us, |
unless
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either we are the continuing corporation, or the successor entity is organized under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of Columbia and such successor entity expressly assumes our obligations under the guarantee, |
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immediately after giving effect thereto, no event or default under the guarantee agreement and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the guarantee agreement, has happened and is continuing, and |
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certain other conditions as prescribed in the guarantee agreements are met. |
Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
. The guarantee trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of a default by us in performance of the guarantee, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the guarantee agreement. After a default with respect to the guarantee, the guarantee trustee must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the guarantee trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the guarantee agreement at the request of any holder of the trust preferred securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might thereby incur.Termination of the Guarantees. Each guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon full payment of the redemption price of the related trust preferred securities, upon full payment of the amounts payable with respect to the trust preferred securities upon liquidation of the respective trust and upon distribution of the related debt securities to the holders of the trust preferred securities. Each guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of the related trust preferred securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the trust preferred securities or the guarantee.
Governing Law. Each guarantee will be governed by New York law.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES,
DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES
Full and Unconditional Guarantee. Payments of distributions and other amounts due on the trust preferred securities issued by a trust, to the extent the trust has funds available for the payment, are irrevocably guaranteed by us as and to the extent set forth under "Description of Guarantees." Taken together, our obligations under the related debt securities, the applicable indenture, the related trust agreement and the related guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of distributions and other amounts due on the trust preferred securities issued by a trust. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all the other documents constitutes the guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarant ee of each trust's obligations in respect of the related trust preferred securities. If and to the extent that we do not make payments on the debt securities issued to a trust, the trust will not have sufficient funds to pay distributions or other amounts due on its trust preferred securities. A guarantee does not cover payment of amounts payable with respect to the trust preferred securities issued by a trust when the trust does not have sufficient funds to pay these amounts. In this event, the remedy of a holder of the trust preferred securities is to institute a legal proceeding directly against us for enforcement of payment of our obligations under debt securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities held by the holder.
Sufficiency of Payments. As long as payments are made when due on the debt securities issued to a trust, these payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and other payments distributable on the trust preferred securities issued by that trust, primarily because:
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the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities will be equal to the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the trust preferred securities and trust common securities; |
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the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the debt securities will match the distribution rate, distribution dates and other payment dates for the trust preferred securities; |
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we will pay for any and all costs, expenses and liabilities of the trust except the trust's obligations to holders of the related trust securities; and |
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the applicable trust agreement further provides that the trust will not engage in any activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of the trust. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the applicable indenture, we have the right to set-off any payment we are otherwise required to make under that indenture against and to the extent we have previously made, or are concurrently on the date of the payment making, a payment under a guarantee.
Enforcement Rights of Holders of Trust Preferred Securities. Under the circumstances set forth under "Description of Trust Preferred Securities-Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Trust Preferred Securities," holders of trust preferred securities may bring a Direct Action against us.
A holder of any trust preferred security may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce its rights under the related guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the related guarantee trustee, the related trust or any other person or entity. See "Description of Guarantees."
Limited Purpose of Trust. The trust preferred securities issued by a trust represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the trust, and the trust exists for the sole purpose of issuing its trust preferred securities and trust common securities and investing the proceeds of these trust securities in debt securities. A principal difference between the rights of a holder of a trust preferred security and a holder of a debt security is that a holder of a debt security is entitled to receive from us payments on debt securities held, while a holder of trust preferred securities is entitled to receive distributions or other amounts distributable with respect to the trust preferred securities from a trust, or from us under a guarantee, only if and to the extent the trust has funds available for the payment of the distributions.
Rights Upon Dissolution. Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution of a trust, other than any dissolution involving the distribution of the related debt securities, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the trust as required by applicable law, the holders of the trust preferred securities issued by the trust will be entitled to receive, out of assets held by the trust, the liquidation distribution in cash. See "Description of Trust Preferred Securities-Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." Since we are the guarantor under each of the guarantees and have agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of each trust, other than each trust's obligations to the holders of the respective trust securities, the positions of a holder of trust preferred securities and a holder of debt securities relative to other creditors and to our shareholders in the event of our liquidation or bankruptcy are expected to be substantially the same.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
General. The following descriptions of our common stock and the relevant provisions of our restated Articles of Incorporation and by-laws are summaries and are qualified by references to our Articles of Incorporation and by-laws which have been previously filed with the SEC and are exhibits to this registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, as well as the applicable Missouri General and Business Corporation Law.
Under our Articles of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue 162,962,000 million shares of stock, divided into classes as follows:
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390,000 shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock with a par value of $100; |
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1,572,000 shares of Cumulative No Par Preferred Stock with no par value; |
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11,000,000 shares of Preference Stock with no par value; and |
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150,000,000 shares of Common Stock with no par value. |
At December 31, 2003, 390,000 shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock and 69,255,938 shares of common stock were outstanding. No shares of Cumulative No Par Preferred Stock or Preference Stock are currently outstanding but such shares may be issued from time to time in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation. The voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of any series of Preference Stock are set by our board of directors when it is issued.
Dividend Rights and Limitations. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as our board of directors may from time to time declare, subject to any rights of the holders of our preferred and preference stock. Our ability to pay dividends depends primarily upon the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or otherwise transfer funds to us.
Except as otherwise authorized by consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total number of shares of the total outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock and Cumulative No Par Preferred Stock, we may not pay or declare any dividends on common stock, other than the dividends payable in common stock, or make any distributions on, or purchase or otherwise acquire for value, any shares of common stock if, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount expended during the 12 months then ended (a) exceeds 50% of the net income of the Company available for dividends on Preference Stock and common stock for the preceding 12 months, in case the total of Preference Stock and common stock equity would be reduced to less than 20% of total capitalization, or (b) exceeds 75% of such net income in case such equity would be reduced to between 20% and 25% of total capitalization, or (c) except to the extent permitted in subparagraphs (a) and (b), would reduce such equity below 25% of total capitalization.
No dividends may be declared or paid on common stock and no common stock may be purchased or redeemed or otherwise retired for consideration (a) unless all past and current dividends on Cumulative Preferred Stock and Cumulative No Par Preferred Stock have been paid or set apart for payment and (b) except to the extent of retained earnings (earned surplus).
Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by law and subject to the voting rights of the outstanding Cumulative Preferred Stock, Cumulative No Par Preferred Stock, and Preference Stock, the holders of our common stock have the exclusive right to vote for all general purposes and for the election of directors through cumulative voting. This means each shareholder has a total vote equal to the number of shares they own multiplied by the number of directors to be elected. These votes may be divided among all nominees equally or may be voted for one or more of the nominees either in equal or unequal amounts. The nominees with the highest number of votes are elected.
The consent of specified percentages of holders of outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock and Cumulative No Par Preferred Stock is required to authorize certain actions which may affect their interests; and if, at any time, dividends on any of the outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock and Cumulative No Par Preferred Stock shall be in default in an amount equivalent to four or more full quarterly dividends, the holders of outstanding shares of all preferred stock, voting as a single class, shall be entitled (voting cumulatively) to elect the smallest number of directors necessary to constitute a majority of the full Board of Directors, which right shall continue in effect until all dividend arrearages shall have been paid.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of any dissolution or liquidation of the Company, after there shall have been paid to or set aside for the holders of shares of outstanding Cumulative Preferred Stock, Cumulative No Par Preferred Stock, and Preference Stock the full preferential amounts to which they are respectively entitled, the holders of outstanding shares of common stock shall be entitled to receive pro rata, according to the number of shares held by each, the remaining assets available for distribution.
Miscellaneous. The outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock sold hereunder will be, upon payment for them, fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of our common stock are not entitled to any preemptive or preferential rights to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock or securities convertible into stock. Our common stock does not contain any redemption provisions or conversion rights.
Transfer Agent and Registrar. UMB Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.
Business Combinations. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of common stock is required for the approval or authorization of certain business combinations; provided, however, that such 80% voting requirement shall not be applicable if:
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the business combination shall have been approved by a majority of the continuing directors; or |
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the cash or the fair market value of the property, securities, or other consideration to be received per share by holders of the common stock in such business combination is not less than the highest per-share price paid by or on behalf of the acquiror for any shares of common stock during the five-year period preceding the announcement of the business combination. |
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS OR WARRANTS FOR STOCK
We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders shares of our common stock at a future date or dates. The price per share of common stock and the number of shares of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units, often known as stock purchase units, consisting of a stock purchase contract and beneficial interests in:
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senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, |
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debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, or |
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trust preferred securities issued by trusts, all of whose common securities are owned by us or by one of our subsidiaries, |
securing the holders' obligations to purchase the common stock under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under those contracts in a specified manner and, in certain circumstances, we may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts, often known as prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder's obligation under the original stock purchase contract.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, including, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement will not contain all of the information you may find useful and reference will be made to the stock purchase contracts and, if applicable, the unilateral or depository arrangement relating to the stock purchase contracts in stock purchase units.
We may also issue warrants to purchase our common stock with the terms of such warrants and any related warrant agreement between us and a warrant agent being described in a prospectus supplement.
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities (other than debt securities issued to a trust) and trust preferred securities will initially be issued in the form of one or more global securities, in registered form, without coupons. The global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depository, and registered in the name of the depository or a nominee of the depository. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depository for any global securities will be The Depository Trust Company, or DTC.
So long as the depository, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, such depository or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the owner of such global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, including for any notices and voting. Except in limited circumstances, the owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such securities and will not be considered the registered holder thereof under the applicable indenture. Accordingly, each person holding a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depository and, if such person is not a direct participant, on procedures of the direct participant through which such person holds its interest, to exercise any of the rights of a registered owner of such security.
Global securities may be exchanged in whole for certificated securities only if the depository notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the global securities or the depository has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, we thereupon fail to appoint a successor depository within 90 days.
In any such case, we have agreed to notify the applicable trustee in writing that, upon surrender by the direct participants and indirect participants of their interest in such global securities, certificated securities representing the applicable securities will be issued to each person that such direct participants and indirect participants and the depository identify as being the beneficial owner of such securities.
The following is based solely on information furnished by DTC:
DTC will act as depository for the global securities. The global securities will be issued as fully-registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC's partnership nominee or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One fully-registered global security certificate will be issued for each issue of the global securities, each in the aggregate principal amount of such issue and will be deposited with 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 agency" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing corporation" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among direct participants of sales and other securities transactions, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between direct participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
Direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants and members of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, Government Securities Clearing Corporation, MBS Clearing Corporation, and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation, as well as by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, LLC and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly, which are referred to as indirect participants and, together with the direct pa rticipants, the participants. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of global securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, who will receive a credit for such purchases of global securities on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each global security, or 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, but 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 global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive c ertificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the global securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of global securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the global securities; DTC's records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such global 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.
If the global securities are redeemable, redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the global securities are being redeemed, DTC's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such issue to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the global securities unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC's procedures. 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 whose accounts the global securities are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.
Principal, distributions, interest and premium payments, if any, on the global securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC's practice is to credit direct participants' accounts upon DTC's receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the trustee for such securities, on payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is 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 trustee for such securities, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of prin cipal, distributions, interest and premium, if any, on any of the aforementioned securities represented by global securities to DTC is the responsibility of the appropriate trustee and us. Disbursement of such payments to direct participants shall be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners shall be the responsibility of the participants.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system has been obtained from sources, including DTC, that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
The underwriters, dealers or agents of any of the securities may be direct participants of DTC.
None of the trustees, us or any agent for payment on or registration of transfer or exchange of any global security will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in such global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities:
* |
through underwriters or dealers; |
|
|
* |
directly; |
|
|
* |
through agents; or |
|
|
* |
through any combination of the above. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms under which the securities are offered, including the name or names of any underwriters, the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale, any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters' compensation, any initial offering price and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
Any initial offering price and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
If underwriters are used in an offering, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of those firms. The specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular securities together with the members of the underwriting syndicate, if any. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the particular securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities being offered if any are purchased.
We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the name of any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which such prospectus supplement is delivered and any commissions payable by us to such agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Any underwriters utilized may engage in stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions in accordance with Rule 104 of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the particular offered securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. These stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the offered securities to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of such transactions.
Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters and any discounts or commissions received by them on the sale or resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribution with respect to payments which the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make in respect of these liabilities. Agents, dealers and underwriters may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, except for our common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the securities will not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given that any broker-dealer will make a market in any series of the securities, and, in any event, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities. The prospectus supplement will state, if known, whether or not any broker-dealer intends to make a market in the securities. If no such determination has been made, the prospectus supplement will so state.
LEGAL MATTERS
Legal matters with respect to the securities offered under this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Jeanie Sell Latz, Esq., Executive Vice President - Corporate and Shared Services and Secretary, and for the underwriters, dealers, purchasers, or agents by Dewey Ballantine LLP, 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019-6092. Dewey Ballantine LLP will rely for purposes of their opinions upon the opinion of Ms. Latz as to matters of Missouri law. At February 28, 2004, Ms. Latz owned beneficially 30,592 shares of the Company's common stock, including restricted stock and exercisable non-qualified option grants . Dewey Ballantine LLP has performed, and may perform in the future, legal services for the Company.
The descriptions of the securities we may offer that are contained in this prospectus, as to the matters of law and legal conclusions, have been prepared under the supervision of and review by, and are made on the authority of Ms. Latz, who has given her opinion that such statements as to such matters and conclusions are correct.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and for the years then ended and related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Great Plains Energy Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 2003 (the "2003 Form 10-K/A") have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of new accounting principles), and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated statements of income, of cash flows, of common stock equity, and of comprehensive income of Great Plains Energy Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 2001 incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the 2003 Form 10-K/A, except as they relate to DTI Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries (Debtors-in-Possession), and the 2001 financial statement schedule information incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the 2003 Form 10-K/A, have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, whose reports thereon also appear in the 2003 Form 10-K/A. The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, on the consolidated statements of income, of cash flows, of common stock equity, and of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2001 referred to above, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for DTI Holdings, Inc. a nd Subsidiaries (Debtors-in-Possession), is based solely on the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP. The financial statements of DTI Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries (Debtors-in-Possession) (not presented separately or incorporated by reference herein) have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report (which expresses an unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs referring to DTI Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries' filing for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, substantial doubt about DTI Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries' ability to continue as a going concern and an impairment charge recorded by DTI Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries) which also appears in the 2003 Form 10-K/A. The consolidated financial statements of Great Plains Energy Incorporated referred to above have been incorporated in this prospectus in reliance on the reports of such firms given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
At its February 2004 meeting, the Board of Directors approved management's recommendation to sell the KLT Gas portfolio and exit the gas business. After the approval, the KLT Gas portfolio has been treated as assets held for sale and KLT Gas' historical activities will be reported as discontinued operations in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004, in accordance with SFAS No. 144. In February, Great Plains Energy also wrote down the KLT Gas portfolio to its estimated net realizable value. This write down totaled approximately $2 million, which net of the related tax effect of approximately $1 million, reduced earnings by approximately $1 million. The impact on earnings will be recorded as a loss from discontinued operations in Great Plains Energy's first quarter 2004 consolidated statement of income.
The following pro forma statements set forth the proforma effects of reporting the KLT Gas business as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", as a result of the February 2004 decision. The proforma adjustments reclassify from continuing operations the affected KLT Gas assets, liabilities and results of operations to instead be presented as discontinued operations.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2003
Actual |
Adjustments |
Pro forma |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
(thousands) |
||||||||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
$ |
114,395 |
|
$ |
(168 |
) |
$ |
114,227 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
|
20,850 |
|
|
- |
|
|
20,850 |
|
Receivables |
|
|
|
240,407 |
|
|
(63 |
) |
|
240,344 |
|
Fuel inventories, at average cost |
|
|
|
22,543 |
|
|
- |
|
|
22,543 |
|
Materials and supplies, at average cost |
|
|
|
56,599 |
|
|
- |
|
|
56,599 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
|
686 |
|
|
- |
|
|
686 |
|
Assets of discontinued operations |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
27,830 |
|
|
27,830 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
15,096 |
|
|
(803 |
) |
|
14,293 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
470,576 |
|
|
26,796 |
|
|
497,372 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Nonutility Property and Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Affordable housing limited partnerships |
|
|
|
52,644 |
|
|
- |
|
|
52,644 |
|
Gas property and investments |
|
|
|
10,191 |
|
|
(9,761 |
) |
|
430 |
|
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund |
|
|
|
74,965 |
|
|
- |
|
|
74,965 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
44,320 |
|
|
(322 |
) |
|
43,998 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
182,120 |
|
|
(10,083 |
) |
|
172,037 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Utility Plant, at Original Cost |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric |
|
|
|
4,700,983 |
|
|
- |
|
|
4,700,983 |
|
Less-accumulated depreciation |
|
|
|
2,082,419 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,082,419 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Net utility plant in service |
|
|
|
2,618,564 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,618,564 |
|
Construction work in progress |
|
|
|
53,250 |
|
|
- |
|
|
53,250 |
|
Nuclear fuel, net of amortization of $113,472 |
|
|
|
29,120 |
|
|
- |
|
|
29,120 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
2,700,934 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,700,934 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Deferred Charges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulatory assets |
|
|
|
145,627 |
|
|
- |
|
|
145,627 |
|
Prepaid pension costs |
|
|
|
108,247 |
|
|
- |
|
|
108,247 |
|
Goodwill |
|
|
|
26,105 |
|
|
- |
|
|
26,105 |
|
Other deferred charges |
|
|
|
31,678 |
|
|
(50 |
) |
|
31,628 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
311,657 |
|
|
(50 |
) |
|
311,607 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
|
|
$ |
3,665,287 |
|
$ |
16,663 |
|
$ |
3,681,950 |
|
|
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2003
Actual |
Adjustments |
Pro forma |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
(thousands) |
||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes payable |
|
|
$ |
87,000 |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
87,000 |
|
Current maturities of long-term debt |
|
|
|
59,303 |
|
|
- |
|
|
59,303 |
|
EIRR bonds classified as current |
|
|
|
129,288 |
|
|
- |
|
|
129,288 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
|
189,525 |
|
|
(2,778 |
) |
|
186,747 |
|
Accrued taxes |
|
|
|
33,256 |
|
|
6,630 |
|
|
39,886 |
|
Accrued interest |
|
|
|
11,937 |
|
|
- |
|
|
11,937 |
|
Accrued payroll and vacations |
|
|
|
34,816 |
|
|
(54 |
) |
|
34,762 |
|
Accrued refueling outage costs |
|
|
|
1,760 |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,760 |
|
Supplier collateral |
|
|
|
20,850 |
|
|
- |
|
|
20,850 |
|
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
4,607 |
|
|
4,607 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
28,944 |
|
|
- |
|
|
28,944 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
596,679 |
|
|
8,405 |
|
|
605,084 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
|
599,300 |
|
|
10,033 |
|
|
609,333 |
|
Deferred investment tax credits |
|
|
|
37,571 |
|
|
- |
|
|
37,571 |
|
Asset retirement obligation |
|
|
|
108,469 |
|
|
(1,775 |
) |
|
106,694 |
|
Pension liability |
|
|
|
89,488 |
|
|
- |
|
|
89,488 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
79,141 |
|
|
- |
|
|
79,141 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
913,969 |
|
|
8,258 |
|
|
922,227 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Capitalization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock |
|
|
|
611,424 |
|
|
- |
|
|
611,424 |
|
Unearned compensation |
|
|
|
(1,633 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(1,633 |
) |
Capital stock premium and expense |
|
|
|
(7,240 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(7,240 |
) |
Retained earnings |
|
|
|
391,750 |
|
|
- |
|
|
391,750 |
|
Treasury stock |
|
|
|
(121 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(121 |
) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
(36,886 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(36,886 |
) |
|
|
||||||||||
Total common stock equity |
|
|
|
957,294 |
|
|
- |
|
|
957,294 |
|
Cumulative preferred stock |
|
|
|
39,000 |
|
|
- |
|
|
39,000 |
|
Long-term debt (excluding current maturities) |
|
|
|
1,158,345 |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,158,345 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total Capitalization |
|
|
|
2,154,639 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,154,639 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
|
|
$ |
3,665,287 |
|
$ |
16,663 |
|
$ |
3,681,950 |
|
|
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2003
Actual |
Adjustments |
Pro forma |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
(thousands) |
||||||||||
Operating Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric revenues - KCP&L |
|
|
$ |
1,054,900 |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
1,054,900 |
|
Electric revenues - Strategic Energy |
|
|
|
1,089,663 |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,089,663 |
|
Other revenues |
|
|
|
4,933 |
|
|
(1,451 |
) |
|
3,482 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
2,149,496 |
|
|
(1,451 |
) |
|
2,148,045 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuel |
|
|
|
160,327 |
|
|
- |
|
|
160,327 |
|
Purchased power - KCP&L |
|
|
|
53,163 |
|
|
- |
|
|
53,163 |
|
Purchased power - Strategic Energy |
|
|
|
968,967 |
|
|
- |
|
|
968,967 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
300,477 |
|
|
(5,094 |
) |
|
295,383 |
|
Maintenance |
|
|
|
85,416 |
|
|
- |
|
|
85,416 |
|
Depreciation and depletion |
|
|
|
143,712 |
|
|
(949 |
) |
|
142,763 |
|
General taxes |
|
|
|
98,512 |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
98,461 |
|
(Gain) Loss on property |
|
|
|
30,797 |
|
|
(54,500 |
) |
|
(23,703 |
) |
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
1,841,371 |
|
|
(60,594 |
) |
|
1,780,777 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating income |
|
|
|
308,125 |
|
|
59,143 |
|
|
367,268 |
|
Income (loss) from equity investments |
|
|
|
(2,018 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(2,018 |
) |
Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
|
|
(7,764 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(7,764 |
) |
Non-operating income |
|
|
|
7,417 |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
7,414 |
|
Non-operating expenses |
|
|
|
(20,462 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(20,462 |
) |
Interest charges |
|
|
|
(76,171 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(76,171 |
) |
|
|||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
income taxes |
|
|
|
209,127 |
|
|
59,140 |
|
|
268,267 |
|
Income taxes |
|
|
|
55,514 |
|
|
23,051 |
|
|
78,565 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
|
|
$ |
153,613 |
|
$ |
36,089 |
|
$ |
189,702 |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
69,206 |
|
|
- |
|
|
69,206 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted earnings per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
from continuing operations |
|
|
$ |
2.20 |
|
$ |
0.52 |
|
$ |
2.72 |
|
|
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2002
Actual |
Adjustments |
Pro forma |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
(thousands) |
||||||||||
Operating Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric revenues - KCP&L |
|
|
$ |
1,009,868 |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
1,009,868 |
|
Electric revenues - Strategic Energy |
|
|
|
788,278 |
|
|
- |
|
|
788,278 |
|
Other revenues |
|
|
|
5,209 |
|
|
(1,062 |
) |
|
4,147 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
1,803,355 |
|
|
(1,062 |
) |
|
1,802,293 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuel |
|
|
|
159,666 |
|
|
- |
|
|
159,666 |
|
Purchased power - KCP&L |
|
|
|
46,214 |
|
|
- |
|
|
46,214 |
|
Purchased power - Strategic Energy |
|
|
|
685,370 |
|
|
- |
|
|
685,370 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
281,592 |
|
|
(4,960 |
) |
|
276,632 |
|
Maintenance |
|
|
|
91,419 |
|
|
- |
|
|
91,419 |
|
Depreciation and depletion |
|
|
|
149,237 |
|
|
(2,480 |
) |
|
146,757 |
|
General taxes |
|
|
|
97,198 |
|
|
(52 |
) |
|
97,146 |
|
(Gain) Loss on property |
|
|
|
(329 |
) |
|
(1,047 |
) |
|
(1,376 |
) |
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
1,510,367 |
|
|
(8,539 |
) |
|
1,501,828 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating income |
|
|
|
292,988 |
|
|
7,477 |
|
|
300,465 |
|
Income (loss) from equity investments |
|
|
|
(1,173 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(1,173 |
) |
Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
|
|
(10,753 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(10,753 |
) |
Non-operating income |
|
|
|
6,696 |
|
|
(857 |
) |
|
5,839 |
|
Non-operating expenses |
|
|
|
(18,948 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(18,948 |
) |
Interest charges |
|
|
|
(87,380 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(87,380 |
) |
|
|||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
income taxes |
|
|
|
181,430 |
|
|
6,620 |
|
|
188,050 |
|
Income taxes |
|
|
|
48,275 |
|
|
3,073 |
|
|
51,348 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cumulative effect of a change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in accounting principle |
|
|
$ |
133,155 |
|
$ |
3,547 |
|
$ |
136,702 |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
62,623 |
|
|
- |
|
|
62,623 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted earnings per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
from continuing operations |
|
|
$ |
2.10 |
|
$ |
0.06 |
|
$ |
2.16 |
|
|
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2001
Actual |
Adjustments |
Pro forma |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
(thousands) |
||||||||||
Operating Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric revenues - KCP&L |
|
|
$ |
967,479 |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
967,479 |
|
Electric revenues - Strategic Energy |
|
|
|
396,004 |
|
|
- |
|
|
396,004 |
|
Other revenues |
|
|
|
35,592 |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
35,588 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
1,399,075 |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
1,399,071 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuel |
|
|
|
163,846 |
|
|
- |
|
|
163,846 |
|
Purchased power - KCP&L |
|
|
|
65,173 |
|
|
- |
|
|
65,173 |
|
Purchased power - Strategic Energy |
|
|
|
329,003 |
|
|
- |
|
|
329,003 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
274,645 |
|
|
(3,862 |
) |
|
270,783 |
|
Maintenance |
|
|
|
77,096 |
|
|
- |
|
|
77,096 |
|
Depreciation and depletion |
|
|
|
157,794 |
|
|
(1,773 |
) |
|
156,021 |
|
General taxes |
|
|
|
95,745 |
|
|
(163 |
) |
|
95,582 |
|
(Gain) Loss on property |
|
|
|
169,947 |
|
|
23,800 |
|
|
193,747 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total |
|
|
|
1,333,249 |
|
|
18,002 |
|
|
1,351,251 |
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating income |
|
|
|
65,826 |
|
|
(18,006 |
) |
|
47,820 |
|
Income (loss) from equity investments |
|
|
|
24,639 |
|
|
(998 |
) |
|
23,641 |
|
Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
|
|
(7,040 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(7,040 |
) |
Non-operating income |
|
|
|
12,312 |
|
|
(421 |
) |
|
11,891 |
|
Non-operating expenses |
|
|
|
(37,598 |
) |
|
72 |
|
|
(37,526 |
) |
Interest charges |
|
|
|
(101,918 |
) |
|
32 |
|
|
(101,886 |
) |
|
|||||||||||
Loss from continuing operations before |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
income taxes |
|
|
|
(43,779 |
) |
|
(19,321 |
) |
|
(63,100 |
) |
Income taxes |
|
|
|
(26,813 |
) |
|
(7,859 |
) |
|
(34,672 |
) |
|
|||||||||||
Loss from continuing operations |
|
|
$ |
(16,966 |
) |
$ |
(11,462 |
) |
$ |
(28,428 |
) |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
61,864 |
|
|
- |
|
|
61,864 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted loss per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
from continuing operations |
|
|
$ |
(0.30 |
) |
$ |
(0.19 |
) |
$ |
(0.49 |
) |
|
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
Expenses payable by Registrant for the sale of the Securities, other than underwriting discount and commissions, are estimated as follows:
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee |
$ 63,350 |
Printing of registration statement, prospectus, bonds, etc. |
75,000 |
Services of accountants |
200,000 |
Fees and expenses of trustees |
90,000 |
Rating agency fees |
325,000 |
Miscellaneous |
146,650 |
Total |
$900,000 |
_______________
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
RSMo Section 351.355 (2001) provides as follows:
1. A corporation created under the laws of this state may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgements, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in an manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
2. The corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the act that he or she is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including attorneys' fees, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in res pect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability and in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
3. Except as otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws, to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in subsections 1 and 2 of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding.
4. Any indemnification under subsections 1 and 2 of this section, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this section. The determination shall be made by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit, or proceeding, or if such a quorum is not obtainable, or even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or by the shareholders.
5. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding as authorized by the board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section.
6. The indemnification provided by this section shall be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or bylaws or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
7. A corporation created under the laws of this state shall have the power to give any further indemnity, in addition to the indemnity authorized or contemplated under other subsections of this section, including subsection 6, to any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent, or to any person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, provided such further indemnity is either (i) authorized, directed, or provided for in the articles of incorporation of the corporation or any duly adopted amendment thereof or (ii) is authorized, directed, or provided for in any bylaw or agreement of the corporation which has been adopted by a vote of the shareholders of the corporation, and provided further that no such indemnity shall indemnify any person from or on account of such person's conduct which was finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to limit the power of the corporation under subsection 6 of this section to enact bylaws or to enter into agreements without shareholder adoption of the same.
8. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this section.
9. Any provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, the provisions of this section shall apply to all existing and new domestic corporations, including but not limited to banks, trust companies, insurance companies, building and loan associations, savings bank and safe deposit companies, mortgage loan companies, corporations formed for benevolent, religious, scientific or educational purposes and nonprofit corporations.
10. For the purpose of this section, references to "the corporation" include all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such a constituent corporation or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would if he or she had served the resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
11. For purposes of this section, the term "other enterprise" shall include employee benefit plans; the term "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and the term "serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the corporation" as referred to in this section.
The officers and directors of the Company have entered into indemnification agreements with the Company indemnifying such officers and directors to the extent allowed under the above RSMo Section 351.355 (2001).
Article Thirteen of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company provides as follows:
ARTICLE THIRTEEN. (a) Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Company or is or was an employee of the Company acting within the scope and course of his or her employment or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a Director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by The Missouri General and Business Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgme nts, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid to or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. The Company may in its discretion by action of its Board of Directors provide indemnification to agents of the Company as provided for in this ARTICLE THIRTEEN. Such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.
(b) Rights Not Exclusive. The indemnification and other rights provided by this ARTICLE THIRTEEN shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any applicable law, By-laws of the Company, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person's official capacity and as to action in any other capacity while holding the office of Director or officer, and the Company is hereby expressly authorized by the shareholders of the Company to enter into agreements with its Directors and officers which provide greater indemnification rights than that generally provided by The Missouri General and Business Corporation Law; provided, however, that no such further indemnity shall indemnify any person from or on account of such Director's or officer's conduct which was finally adjudged to have been knowingly fr audulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct. Any such agreement providing for further indemnity entered into pursuant to this ARTICLE THIRTEEN after the date of approval of this ARTICLE THIRTEEN by the Company's shareholders need not be further approved by the shareholders of the Company in order to be fully effective and enforceable.
(c) Insurance. The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who was or is a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or was or is serving at the request of the Company as a Director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against or incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this ARTICLE THIRTEEN.
(d) Amendment. This ARTICLE THIRTEEN may be hereafter amended or repealed; however, no amendment or repeal shall reduce, terminate or otherwise adversely affect the right of a person entitled to obtain indemnification or an advance of expenses with respect to an action, suit or proceeding that pertains to or arises out of actions or omissions that occur prior to the later of (a) the effective date of such amendment or repeal; (b) the expiration date of such person's then current term of office with, or service for, the Company (provided such person has a stated term of office or service and completes such term); or (c) the effective date such person resigns his or her office or terminates his or her service (provided such person has a stated term of office or service but resigns prior to the expiration of such term).
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, 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 Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against Registrant by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settl ed 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.
Item 16. List of Exhibits.
|
Description of Exhibit |
|
|
|
|
1.a. |
+ |
Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt securities. |
|
|
|
1.b. |
+ |
Form of Underwriting Agreement for trust preferred securities. |
|
|
|
1.c. |
+ |
Form of Underwriting Agreement for common stock. |
|
|
|
1.d. |
+ |
Form of Underwriting Agreement for stock purchase units |
|
|
|
4.a. |
** |
Articles of Incorporation of Great Plains Energy Incorporated dated as of February 26, 2001 (Exhibit 3.i to Form 8-K filed October 1, 2001). |
|
|
|
4.b. |
** |
By-laws of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, as amended September 16, 2003 (Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2003). |
|
|
|
4.c. |
* |
Form of Indenture of the Company for senior debt securities. |
|
|
|
4.d. |
+ |
Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of senior debt securities (including the form of senior debt security). |
|
|
|
4.e. |
* |
Form of Indenture of the Company for subordinated debt securities. |
|
|
|
4.f. |
+ |
Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of subordinated debt securities (including the form of subordinated debt security). |
|
|
|
4.g. |
* |
Form of Guarantee Agreement of the Company. |
|
|
|
4.h. |
* |
Form of Certificate of Trust. |
|
|
|
4.i. |
* |
Form of Trust Agreement. |
|
|
|
4.j. |
* |
Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (including the form of trust preferred security). |
|
|
|
4.k. |
+ |
Form of Stock Purchase Contract Agreement. |
|
|
|
4.l. |
+ |
Form of Pledge Agreement. |
|
|
|
4.m. |
+ |
Form of Warrant Agreement (including the form of warrant). |
|
|
|
5 |
* |
Opinion of Jeanie Sell Latz, Esq., Executive Vice President - Corporate and Shared Services and Secretary of the Company, regarding the legality of the securities. |
|
|
|
12 |
* |
Schedule of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.a. |
* |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
|
|
|
23.b. |
* |
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. |
|
|
|
23.c. |
* |
Consent of Jeanie Sell Latz, Esq., Executive Vice President - Corporate and Shared Services and Secretary of the Company (included in Exhibit 5). |
|
|
|
24 |
* |
Powers of Attorney. |
|
|
|
25.a. |
* |
Form T-1 statement of eligibility of the trustee for the senior debt securities. |
|
|
|
25.b. |
++ |
Form T-1 statement of eligibility of the trustee for the subordinated debt securities. |
|
|
|
25.c. |
++ |
Form T-1 statement of eligibility of the trustee for the guarantees for the benefit of the holders of the trust preferred securities. |
|
|
|
25.d. |
++ |
Form T-1 statement of eligibility of the trustee for the trust preferred securities. |
______________________________________________
* |
Filed herewith. |
** |
Incorporated by reference herein as indicated. |
+ |
To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if applicable. |
++ |
To be filed by amendment or pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2) if applicable. |
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 represen t no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by 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; and
(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 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 this 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) See the last paragraph of Item 15.
(d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes,
(1) for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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 Securities 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, 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, and
(3) to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (Act) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement or amendment thereto to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on the 15th day of April 2004.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED |
|
|
|
By: |
/s/Michael J. Chesser |
|
(Michael J. Chesser) |
|
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement or amendment has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
/s/Michael J. Chesser |
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
) |
|
|
) |
/s/Andrea F. Bielsker |
Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
) |
|
|
) |
/s/Lori A. Wright |
Controller |
) |
|
|
) |
David L. Bodde* |
Director |
) |
(David L. Bodde) |
|
) |
|
|
) |
William H. Downey* |
Director |
) |
(William H. Downey) |
|
) |
|
|
) |
Mark A. Ernst* |
Director |
) April 15, 2004 |
(Mark A. Ernst) |
) |
|
|
|
) |
Randall C. Ferguson* |
Director |
) |
(Randall C. Ferguson) |
|
) |
|
|
) |
William K. Hall* |
Director |
) |
(William K. Hall) |
|
) |
|
|
) |
Luis A. Jimenez* |
Director |
) |
(Luis A. Jimenez) |
|
) |
|
|
) |
James A. Mitchell* |
Director |
) |
(James A. Mitchell) |
|
) |
|
|
) |
William C. Nelson* |
Director |
) |
(William C. Nelson) |
|
) |
|
|
) |
Linda Hood Talbott* |
Director |
) |
(Linda Hood Talbott) |
|
) |
|
|
) |
Robert H. West* |
Director |
) |
(Robert H. West) |
|
) |
*By: |
/s/Michael J. Chesser |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number |
|
Description of Exhibit |
|
|
|
1.a. |
+ |
Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt securities. |
|
|
|
1.b. |
+ |
Form of Underwriting Agreement for trust preferred securities. |
|
|
|
1.c. |
+ |
Form of Underwriting Agreement for common stock. |
|
|
|
1.d. |
+ |
Form of Underwriting Agreement for stock purchase units |
|
|
|
4.a. |
** |
Articles of Incorporation of Great Plains Energy Incorporated dated as of February 26, 2001 (Exhibit 3.i to Form 8-K filed October 1, 2001). |
|
|
|
4.b. |
** |
By-laws of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, as amended September 16, 2003 (Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2003). |
|
|
|
4.c. |
* |
Form of Indenture of the Company for senior debt securities. |
|
|
|
4.d. |
+ |
Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of senior debt securities (including the form of senior debt security). |
|
|
|
4.e. |
* |
Form of Indenture of the Company for subordinated debt securities. |
|
|
|
4.f. |
+ |
Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of subordinated debt securities (including the form of subordinated debt security). |
|
|
|
4.g. |
* |
Form of Guarantee Agreement of the Company. |
|
|
|
4.h. |
* |
Form of Certificate of Trust. |
|
|
|
4.i. |
* |
Form of Trust Agreement. |
|
|
|
4.j. |
* |
Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (including the form of trust preferred security). |
|
|
|
4.k. |
+ |
Form of Stock Purchase Contract Agreement. |
|
|
|
4.l. |
+ |
Form of Pledge Agreement. |
|
|
|
4.m. |
+ |
Form of Warrant Agreement (including the form of warrant). |
|
|
|
5 |
* |
Opinion of Jeanie Sell Latz, Esq., Executive Vice President - Corporate and Shared Services and Secretary of the Company, regarding the legality of the securities. |
|
|
|
12 |
* |
Schedule of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999 |
|
|
|
23.a. |
* |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
|
|
|
23.b. |
* |
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. |
|
|
|
23.c. |
* |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
|
|
|
23.d. |
* |
Consent of Jeanie Sell Latz, Esq., Executive Vice President - Corporate and Shared Services and Secretary of the Company (included in Exhibit 5). |
|
|
|
24 |
* |
Powers of Attorney. |
|
|
|
25.a. |
* |
Form T-1 statement of eligibility of the trustee for the senior debt securities. |
|
|
|
25.b. |
++ |
Form T-1 statement of eligibility of the trustee for the subordinated debt securities. |
|
|
|
25.c. |
++ |
Form T-1 statement of eligibility of the trustee for the guarantees for the benefit of the holders of the trust preferred securities. |
|
|
|
25.d. |
++ |
Form T-1 statement of eligibility of the trustee for the trust preferred securities. |
______________________________________________
* |
Filed herewith. |
** |
Incorporated by reference herein as indicated. |
+ |
To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if applicable. |
++ |
To be filed by amendment or pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2) if applicable. |
FORM OF INDENTURE FOR SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
EXHIBIT 4.c.
================================================================
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
Trustee
-----------------
FORM OF INDENTURE
Dated as of _______, 200_
================================================================
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET SHOWING THE LOCATION IN THE INDENTURE OF THE PROVISIONS INSERTED CORRELATIVE TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318(a), INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
|
|
Indenture |
Section of Act |
Section |
|
|
|
|
310(a)(1) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.09 |
(a)(2) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.09 |
(a)(3) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(a)(4) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(a)(5) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.09 |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.08 |
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
311(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.14 |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.14 |
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
312(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7.01 and 7.02(a) |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7.02(b) |
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7.02(c) |
313(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7.04(a) |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7.04(b) |
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7.04(d) |
(d) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7.04(c) |
314(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7.03 and 6.06 |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
6.05 |
(c)(1) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
1.03 and 15.05 |
(c)(2) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
1.03 and 15.05 |
(c)(3) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(d) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
1.03 and 4.06 |
(e) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
15.05(b) |
(f) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
315(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.01 |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
8.08 |
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.01(a) |
(d) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9.01(b) |
(e) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
8.09 |
316(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
8.07 and 10.04 |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
8.04(b) and 13.02 |
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
10.06 |
317(a)(1) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
8.02(b) |
(a)(2) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
8.02(c) |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
5.02 and 6.04 |
318(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
15.07 |
-------------------
NOTE: This Cross Reference Sheet is not, for any purpose, deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
Page
PARTIES |
|
1 |
RECITALS |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE ONE |
|
|
|
|
|
DEFINITIONS |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 1.01 |
General |
1 |
SECTION 1.02 |
Trust Indenture Act |
2 |
SECTION 1.03 |
Definitions |
2 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE TWO |
|
|
|
|
|
FORM, ISSUE, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION, AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 2.01 |
Forms Generally |
5 |
SECTION 2.02 |
Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication |
6 |
SECTION 2.03 |
Amount Unlimited |
6 |
SECTION 2.04 |
Denominations, Dates, Interest Payment and Record Dates |
6 |
SECTION 2.05 |
Execution, Authentication, Delivery, and Dating |
7 |
SECTION 2.06 |
Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes |
10 |
SECTION 2.07 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes |
10 |
SECTION 2.08 |
Temporary Notes |
11 |
SECTION 2.09 |
Cancellation of Notes Paid, Etc. |
11 |
SECTION 2.10 |
Interest Rights Preserved |
12 |
SECTION 2.11 |
Special Record Date |
12 |
SECTION 2.12 |
Payment of Notes |
12 |
SECTION 2.13 |
Notes Issuable in the Form of a Global Note |
13 |
SECTION 2.14 |
CUSIP and ISIN Numbers |
15 |
SECTION 2.15 |
Extension of Interest Payment Periods |
15 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE THREE |
|
|
|
|
|
REDEMPTION OF NOTES |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 3.01 |
Applicability of Article |
15 |
SECTION 3.02 |
Notice of Redemption; Selection of Notes |
15 |
SECTION 3.03 |
Payment of Notes on Redemption; Deposit of Redemption Price. |
16 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE FOUR |
|
|
|
|
|
SINKING FUNDS |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 4.01 |
Applicability of Article |
17 |
SECTION 4.02. |
Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Notes |
17 |
SECTION 4.03. |
Redemption of Notes for Sinking Funds |
18 |
|
|
|
* The Table of Contents is not part of the Indenture. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE FIVE |
|
|
|
|
|
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 5.01 |
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
18 |
SECTION 5.02 |
Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification |
19 |
SECTION 5.03 |
Legal Defeasance |
19 |
SECTION 5.04 |
Covenant Defeasance |
21 |
SECTION 5.05 |
Repayment to Company |
22 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE SIX |
|
|
|
|
|
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 6.01 |
Payment of Principal and Interest |
22 |
SECTION 6.02 |
Offices for Payments, Etc. |
22 |
SECTION 6.03 |
Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of Trustee |
23 |
SECTION 6.04 |
Provision as to Paying Agent |
23 |
SECTION 6.05 |
Corporate Existence |
24 |
SECTION 6.06 |
Certificates and Notice to Trustee |
24 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE SEVEN |
|
|
|
|
|
NOTEHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 7.01 |
Company to Furnish Noteholder Lists |
24 |
SECTION 7.02 |
Preservation and Disclosure of Noteholder Lists |
24 |
SECTION 7.03 |
Reports by the Company |
25 |
SECTION 7.04 |
Reports by the Trustee |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE EIGHT |
|
|
|
|
|
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND NOTEHOLDERS ON EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 8.01 |
Events of Default |
27 |
SECTION 8.02 |
Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt |
29 |
SECTION 8.03 |
Application of Proceeds |
30 |
SECTION 8.04 |
Limitations on Suits by Noteholders |
31 |
SECTION 8.05 |
Suits for Enforcement |
31 |
SECTION 8.06 |
Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver of Default |
|
SECTION 8.07 |
Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Noteholders |
32 |
SECTION 8.08 |
Notice of Default |
32 |
SECTION 8.09 |
Undertaking to Pay Costs |
33 |
SECTION 8.10 |
Restoration of Rights on Abandonment of Proceedings |
33 |
SECTION 8.11 |
Waiver of Usury, Stay, or Extension Laws |
33 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE NINE |
|
|
|
|
|
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 9.01 |
Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee |
34 |
SECTION 9.02 |
Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc. |
35 |
SECTION 9.03 |
No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. |
36 |
SECTION 9.04 |
Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Notes |
36 |
SECTION 9.05 |
Moneys to be Held in Trust |
36 |
SECTION 9.06 |
Compensation and Expenses of Trustee |
36 |
SECTION 9.07 |
Officers' Certificate as Evidence |
36 |
SECTION 9.08 |
Conflicting Interest of Trustee |
37 |
SECTION 9.09 |
Existence and Eligibility of Trustee |
37 |
SECTION 9.10 |
Resignation or Removal of Trustee |
37 |
SECTION 9.11 |
Appointment of Successor Trustee |
38 |
SECTION 9.12 |
Acceptance by Successor Trustee |
38 |
SECTION 9.13 |
Succession by Merger, Etc. |
39 |
SECTION 9.14 |
Limitations on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor |
39 |
SECTION 9.15 |
Authenticating Agent |
39 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE TEN |
|
|
|
|
|
CONCERNING THE NOTEHOLDERS |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 10.01 |
Action Taken by Noteholders |
40 |
SECTION 10.02 |
Proof of Execution by Noteholders |
40 |
SECTION 10.03 |
Persons Deemed Absolute Owners |
40 |
SECTION 10.04 |
Company-Owned Notes Disregarded |
40 |
SECTION 10.05 |
Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound |
41 |
SECTION 10.06 |
Record Date for Noteholder Acts |
41 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE ELEVEN |
|
|
|
|
|
NOTEHOLDERS' MEETING |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 11.01 |
Purposes of Meeting |
41 |
SECTION 11.02 |
Call of Meetings by Trustee |
42 |
SECTION 11.03 |
Call of Meetings by Company or Noteholders |
42 |
SECTION 11.04 |
Qualifications for Voting |
42 |
SECTION 11.05 |
Regulations |
42 |
SECTION 11.06 |
Voting |
43 |
SECTION 11.07 |
Rights of Trustee or Noteholders Not Delayed |
43 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE TWELVE |
|
|
|
|
|
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, TRANSFER OR CONVEYANCE |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 12.01 |
Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms |
44 |
SECTION 12.02 |
Successor Corporation Substituted |
44 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE THIRTEEN |
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 13.01 |
Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Noteholders |
44 |
SECTION 13.02 |
Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Noteholders |
45 |
SECTION 13.03 |
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 13.04 |
Notation on Notes |
47 |
SECTION 13.05 |
Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished Trustee |
47 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE FOURTEEN |
|
|
|
|
|
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS, AND DIRECTORS |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 14.01 |
Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations |
47 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE FIFTEEN |
|
|
|
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
|
|
|
|
SECTION 15.01 |
Provisions Binding on Company's Successors |
47 |
SECTION 15.02 |
Official Acts by Successor Corporation |
47 |
SECTION 15.03 |
Notices |
47 |
SECTION 15.04 |
Governing Law |
48 |
SECTION 15.05 |
Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent |
48 |
SECTION 15.06 |
Business Days |
49 |
SECTION 15.07 |
Trust Indenture Act to Control |
49 |
SECTION 15.08 |
Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. |
49 |
SECTION 15.09 |
Execution in Counterparts |
49 |
SECTION 15.10 |
Manner of Mailing Notice to Noteholders |
49 |
SECTION 15.11 |
Approval by Trustee of Counsel |
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TESTIMONIUM |
51 |
|
SIGNATURES AND SEALS |
51 |
|
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
51 |
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of __________, 200_, between GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri (the "COMPANY"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE").
W I T N E S S E T H
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Notes"), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms have been done and performed, and the execution of this Indenture and the issue hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized;
NOW THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof and of the sum of one dollar duly paid to it by the Trustee at the execution of this Indenture, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes or of any series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 GENERAL.
(a) The terms defined in this Article I (whether or not capitalized and except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto or Company Order (as hereinafter defined) shall have the respective meanings specified in this Article I.
(b) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall 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 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.
Section 1.02 TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
(a) Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "TIA"), such provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
(b) Unless otherwise indicated, all terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by the TIA by reference to another statute or defined by a rule of the Commission under the TIA shall have the meanings assigned to them in the TIA or such statute or rule as in force on the date of execution of this Indenture.
(c) The Company and the Trustee agree to comply with the TIA notwithstanding any exemption that may be available thereunder.
Section 1.03 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Indenture, the following terms shall have the following meanings.
"AUTHENTICATING AGENT" shall mean any agent of the Trustee which shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 9.15 hereof.
"AUTHORIZED AGENT" shall mean any agent of the Company designated as such by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or the Executive Committee of such Board or any other duly authorized committee of such Board.
"BOARD RESOLUTION" shall mean a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"BUSINESS DAY" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, the state of Missouri, or in the city where the corporate trust office of the Trustee is located, are obligated or authorized by law or executive order to close, except as otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof.
"COMMISSION" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or if at any time hereafter the Commission is not existing or performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA, then the body performing such duties.
"COMPANY" shall mean the corporation named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and its successors and assigns permitted hereunder.
"COMPANY ORDER" shall mean a written order or certificate signed in the name of the Company by one of the Chairman, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. At the Company's option, a Company Order may take the form of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture.
"CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE OF THE TRUSTEE", or other similar term, shall mean the corporate trust office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
"DEBT" shall mean any outstanding funded obligations of the Company for money borrowed, whether or not evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other securities, reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, or guarantees of any such obligations issued by another Person.
"DEPOSITARY" shall mean, unless otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York ("DTC"), or any successor thereto registered and qualified as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or other applicable statute or regulation.
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall mean any event specified in Section 8.01 hereof, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.
"GLOBAL NOTE" shall mean a Note that, pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, is delivered to the Depositary or pursuant to the instructions of the Depositary and that shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
"HOLDER", "HOLDER OF NOTES" or "NOTEHOLDER" shall mean any Person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the books of the Trustee kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.
"INDENTURE" shall mean this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, and shall include the terms and provisions of a particular series of Notes established pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof.
"INTEREST PAYMENT DATE", when used with respect to any Note, shall mean (a) each date designated as such for the payment of interest on such Note specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof (provided that the first Interest Payment Date for such Note, the Original Issue Date of which is after a Regular Record Date but prior to the respective Interest Payment Date, shall be the Interest Payment Date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date), (b) a date of Maturity of such Note and (c) only with respect to defaulted interest on such Note, the date established by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof.
"MATURITY," when used with respect to any Note, shall mean the date on which the principal of such Note becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity thereof or by declaration of acceleration, redemption or otherwise.
"NOTE" or "NOTES" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any note or notes, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, including any Global Note.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" when used with respect to the Company, shall mean a certificate signed by one of the Chairman, the President, any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company; provided, that no individual shall be entitled to sign in more than one capacity.
"OPINION OF COUNSEL" shall mean an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of the Company, meeting the applicable requirements of Section 15.05 hereof. If the Indenture requires the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee, the text and substance of which has been previously delivered to the Trustee, the Company may satisfy such requirement by the delivery by the legal counsel that delivered such previous Opinion of Counsel of a letter to the Trustee to the effect that the Trustee may rely on such previous Opinion of Counsel as if such Opinion of Counsel was dated and delivered the date delivery of such Opinion of Counsel is required. Any Opinion of Counsel may contain reasonable conditions and qualifications satisfactory to the Trustee.
"ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE" shall mean for a Note, or portions thereof, the date upon which it, or such portion, was issued by the Company pursuant to this Indenture and authenticated by the Trustee (other than in connection with a transfer, exchange or substitution).
"OUTSTANDING", when used with reference to Notes, shall, subject to Section 10.04 hereof, mean, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:
(a) Notes theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Notes, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company), provided that if such Notes are to be redeemed prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article III, or provisions satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice;
(c) Notes, or portions thereof, that have been paid and discharged or are deemed to have been paid and discharged pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture; and
(d) Notes in lieu of or in substitution for which other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered, or which have been paid, pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof.
"PERIODIC OFFERING" means an offering of Notes of a series from time to time the specific terms of which Notes, including without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the issuance of such Notes.
"PERSON" shall mean any individual, corporation, company partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agent or political subdivision thereof.
"PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE COMPANY" shall mean 1201 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, or such other place where the main corporate offices of the Company are located as designated in writing to the Trustee by an Authorized Agent.
"REGULAR RECORD DATE" shall mean, unless otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, for an Interest Payment Date for a particular Note (except for an Interest Payment Date with respect to defaulted interest on such Note) (a) the fifteenth day next preceding each Interest Payment Date (unless the Interest Payment Date is the date of Maturity of such Note, in which event, the Regular Record Date shall be as described in clause (b) hereof) and (b) the date of Maturity of such Note.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" or "RESPONSIBLE OFFICERS" when used with respect to the Trustee shall mean one or more of the following: any assistant vice president, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer, any assistant trust officer, or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"SPECIAL RECORD DATE" shall mean, with respect to any Note, the date established by the Trustee in connection with the payment of defaulted interest on such Note pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof.
"STATED MATURITY" shall mean with respect to any Note, the last date on which principal on such Note becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, other than by declaration of acceleration or by redemption.
"SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the securities or other ownership interest having ordinary voting power (absolutely or contingently) for the election of directors or other Persons performing similar functions are at the time owned directly or indirectly by such Person.
"TRUSTEE" shall mean The Bank of New York and, subject to Article IX, shall also include any successor Trustee.
"U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS" shall mean (i) direct non-callable obligations of, or non-callable obligations guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by, the United States of America or obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality thereof for the payment of which obligations or guarantee the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged or (ii) certificates or receipts representing direct ownership interests in obligations or specified portions (such as principal or interest) of obligations described in clause (i) above, which obligations are held by a custodian in safekeeping in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee.
ARTICLE II
FORM, ISSUE, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND
EXCHANGE OF NOTES
Section 2.01 FORMS GENERALLY.
(a) The Notes shall be in such form as shall be established by a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05(c) hereof 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 rules of any securities exchange or of the Depositary or with applicable law or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes.
(b) The definitive Notes shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes.
Section 2.02 FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. The Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Notes shall be in substantially the following form:
Trustee's Certificate of Authentication
This Note is one of the Notes of the series herein designated, described or provided for in the within-mentioned Indenture.
The Bank of New York, as Trustee |
Section 2.03 AMOUNT UNLIMITED. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited, subject to compliance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Section 2.04 DENOMINATIONS, DATES, INTEREST PAYMENT AND RECORD DATES.
(a) The Notes of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof or such other amount or amounts as may be authorized by the Board of Directors or a Company Order pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto; provided, that the principal amount of a Global Note shall not exceed $500,000,000 unless otherwise permitted by the Depositary.
(b) Each Note shall be dated and issued as of the date of its authentication by the Trustee, and shall bear an Original Issue Date; each Note issued upon transfer, exchange or substitution of a Note shall bear the Original Issue Date or Dates of such transferred, exchanged or substituted Note, subject to the provisions of Section 2.13(d) hereof.
(c) Each Note shall accrue interest from the later of (1) its Original Issue Date or the date specified in such Note and (2) the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to such Note until the principal of such Note is paid or made available for payment, and interest on each Note shall be payable on each Interest Payment Date after the Original Issue Date.
(d) Each Note shall mature on a Stated Maturity specified in the Note. The principal amount of each outstanding Note shall be payable on the Stated Maturity date specified therein.
(e) Unless otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, interest on each of the Notes shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months (and for any partial periods shall be calculated on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) and shall be computed at a fixed rate until the Stated Maturity of such Notes. The method of computing interest on any Notes not bearing a fixed rate of interest shall be set forth in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof. Unless otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, principal, interest and premium on the Notes shall be payable in the currency of the United States.
(f) Except as provided in the following sentence, the Person in whose name any Note is registered at the close of business on any Regular Record Date or Special Record Date with respect to an Interest Payment Date for such Note shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the cancellation of such Note upon any registration of transfer, exchange or substitution of such Note subsequent to such Regular Record Date or Special Record Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date. Any interest payable at Maturity shall be paid to the Person to whom the principal of such Note is payable.
(g) So long as the Trustee is the registrar and paying agent, the Trustee shall, as soon as practicable but no later than the Regular Record Date preceding each applicable Interest Payment Date, provide to the Company a list of the principal, interest and premium to be paid on Notes on such Interest Payment Date. The Trustee shall assume responsibility for withholding taxes on interest paid as required by law except with respect to any Global Note.
Section 2.05 EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.
(a) The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by one of its Chairman, President, or any Vice President and by its Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. The signature of any of these officers on the Notes may be manual or facsimile. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Note that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.
(b) Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at the time of execution 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 Notes or did not hold such offices at the date of such Notes.
(c) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with or preceded by one or more Company Orders for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with any such Company Order shall authenticate and make available for delivery such Notes; provided, however, that, with respect to Notes of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (A) such Company Order may be delivered by the Company to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Notes for authentication and delivery, (B) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Notes of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, all pursuant to a further Company Order or pursuant to such procedure s acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by such further Company Order, (C) the Stated Maturity or Maturities, Original Issue Date or Dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Notes of such series shall be determined by such further Company Order or pursuant to such procedures and (D) if provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. Such Company Order shall specify the following with respect to each series of Notes: (i) the title of the Notes of such series (which shall distinguish the Notes of such series from Notes of all other series) and any limitations on the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be issued as part of such series, (ii) the Original Issue Date for such series, (iii) the Stated Maturity of Notes of such series, (iv) the interest rate or rat es, or method of calculation of such rate or rates, for such series and the date from which such interest will accrue, (v) the terms, if any, regarding the optional or mandatory redemption of such series, including redemption date or dates of such series, if any, and the price or prices applicable to such redemption, (vi) whether or not the Notes of such series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Note and, if so, the Depositary for such Global Note if not DTC, (vii) the form of the Notes of such series, (viii) the maximum annual interest rate, if any, of the Notes permitted for such series, (ix) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such series may be repaid, in whole or in part, at the option of the Holder thereof, (x) the establishment of any office or agency pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof, (xi) any Events of Default, in addition to those specified in Section 8.01 hereof, with respect to the Notes of such series, an d any covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series in addition to those set forth in Articles VI and XII hereof, (xii) the terms, if any, pursuant to which the Notes of such series may be converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company, and (xiii) any other terms of such series not inconsistent with this Indenture. With respect to Notes of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Company Order may provide general terms or parameters for Notes of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Notes of such series shall be specified in a further Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company or its agents in accordance with such further Company Order as contemplated by the proviso of the first sentence of this Section 2.05(c). Prior to authenticating Notes of any series, and in accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Notes, the Trustee shal l receive from the Company the following at or before the issuance of such series of Notes, and (subject to Section 9.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, unless and until such documents have been superseded or revoked prior to such issuance:
(1) A Board Resolution authorizing such Company Order or Orders and, if the form of Notes is established by a Board Resolution or a Company Order pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of such Board Resolution;
(2) At the option of the Company, either an Opinion of Counsel or a letter addressed to the Trustee permitting it to rely on an Opinion of Counsel, stating substantially the following subject to customary qualifications and exceptions:
(A) if the form of such Notes has been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a Company Order pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in a supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 2.01 hereof, that such form has been established in conformity with this Indenture;
(B) that this Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and by an implied covenant of reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing;
(C) that this Indenture is qualified to the extent necessary under the TIA or, if not so required, that this Indenture is not required to be qualified under the TIA;
(D) that such Notes have been duly authorized and executed by the Company, and when authenticated 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 binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and by an implied covenant of reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing;
(E) that the issuance of such Notes will not result in any default under this Indenture;
(F) that all consents or approvals of the Commission (or any successor agency) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 and of any other federal or state regulatory agency required in connection with the Company's execution and delivery of this Indenture and such Notes have been obtained and are in full force and effect (except that no statement need be made with respect to state securities laws); and
(G) that all conditions that must be met by the Company to issue Notes under this Indenture have been met.
(3) An Officers' Certificate stating that (i) the Company is not, and upon the authentication by the Trustee of such Notes, will not be in default under any of the terms or covenants contained in this Indenture and (ii) all conditions that must be met by the Company to issue Notes under this Indenture have been met.
(d) No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Note a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Note shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
(e) If all Notes of a series are not to be authenticated and issued at one time in connection with a Periodic Offering, the Company shall not be required to deliver the Company Order, Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel (including any of the foregoing that would be otherwise required pursuant to Section 15.05 hereof) described in Section 2.05(c) hereof at or prior to the authentication of each Note of such series, if such items are delivered at or prior to the time of authentication of the first Note of such series to be authenticated and issued.
Section 2.06 EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF NOTES.
(a) Subject to Section 2.13 hereof, Notes of any series may be exchanged for one or more new Notes of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, series and Stated Maturity and having the same terms and Original Issue Date. Notes to be exchanged shall be surrendered at any of the offices or agencies to be
maintained pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Note or Notes of such series which the Noteholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.
(b) The Trustee shall keep, at one of said offices or agencies, a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Trustee shall register or cause to be registered Notes and shall register or cause to be registered the transfer of Notes as in this Article II provided. Such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, such register shall be open for inspection by the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Note at any such office or agency, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall register, authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, series and Stated Maturity and having the same terms and Original Issue Date.
(c) All Notes presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, redemption or payment shall be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee and duly executed by the Holder or the attorney in fact of such Holder duly authorized in writing.
(d) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
(e) The Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register the transfer of any Notes selected, called or being called for redemption (including Notes, if any, redeemable at the option of the Holder provided such Notes are then redeemable at such Holder's option) except, in the case of any Note to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be so redeemed.
(f) If the principal amount, and applicable premium, of part, but not all of a Global Note is paid, then upon surrender to the Trustee of such Global Note, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, deliver and register, a Global Note in an authorized denomination in aggregate principal amount equal to, and having the same terms, Original Issue Date and series as, the unpaid portion of such Global Note.
Section 2.07 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN NOTES.
(a) If any temporary or definitive Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note of like form and principal amount and having the same terms and Original Issue Date and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Company, the Trustee and any paying agent or Authenticating Agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft of a Note, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and to the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.
(b) The Trustee shall authenticate any such substituted Note and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Note, 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 connected therewith. If any Note which has matured, is about to mature, has been redeemed or called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Note, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company, the Trustee and any paying agent or Authenticating Agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, e vidence satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.
(c) Every substituted Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.07 by virtue of the fact that any Note is mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not such destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. All Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude to the full extent permitted by applicable law any and all other rights or remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.08 TEMPORARY NOTES. Pending the preparation of definitive Notes of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed, lithographed or otherwise reproduced). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination and substantially in the form of the definitive Notes but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Note shall be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Notes. Without unreasonable delay the Company shall execute and shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Notes of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Notes of such series shall be surrendered in exchange therefor at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate, deliver and register in excha nge for such temporary Notes an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Notes of such series. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor to the Noteholders. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes of such series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.09 CANCELLATION OF NOTES PAID, ETC. All Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation and promptly cancelled by it and no Notes shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Company shall surrender to the Trustee any Notes so acquired by it and such Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes so cancelled.
Section 2.10 INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED. Each Note delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note, and each such Note shall be so dated that neither gain nor loss of interest shall result from such transfer, exchange or substitution.
Section 2.11 SPECIAL RECORD DATE. If and to the extent that the Company fails to make timely payment or provision for timely payment of interest on any series of Notes (other than on an Interest Payment Date that is a Maturity date), that interest shall cease to be payable to the Persons who were the Noteholders of such series at the applicable Regular Record Date. In that event, when moneys become available for payment of the interest, the Trustee shall (a) establish a date of payment of such interest and a Special Record Date for the payment of that interest, which Special Record Date shall be not more than 15 or fewer than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and (b) mail notice of the date of payment and of the Special Record Date not fewer than 10 days preceding the Special Record Date to each Noteholder of such series at the close of business on the 15th day preceding the mailing at the address of such Noteholder, as it appeared on the register for th e Notes. On the day so established by the Trustee, the interest shall be payable to the Holders of the applicable Notes at the close of business on the Special Record Date.
Section 2.12 PAYMENT OF NOTES. Payment of the principal of and interest and premium on all Notes shall be payable as follows:
(a) On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Company, of the day on which payment of principal, interest and premium is due on any Global Note pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee funds available on such date sufficient to make such payment, by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by instructing the Trustee to withdraw sufficient funds from an account maintained by the Company with the Trustee or such other method as is acceptable to the Trustee. On or before 12:00 noon, New York City time, or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Depositary, of the day on which any payment of interest is due on any Global Note (other than at Maturity), the Trustee shall pay to the Depositary such interest in same day funds. On or before 1:00 p.m., New York City time or such other time as shall be agree d upon between the Trustee and the Depositary, of the day on which principal, interest payable at Maturity and premium, if any, is due on any Global Note, the Trustee shall deposit with the Depositary the amount equal to the principal, interest payable at Maturity and premium, if any, by wire transfer into the account specified by the Depositary. As a condition to the payment, at Maturity, of any part of the principal of, interest on, and applicable premium of any Global Note, the Depositary shall surrender, or cause to be surrendered, such Global Note to the Trustee, whereupon a new Global Note shall be issued to the Depositary pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.
(b) With respect to any Note that is not a Global Note, principal, applicable premium and interest due at the Maturity of the Note shall be payable in immediately available funds when due upon presentation and surrender of such Note at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or at the authorized office of any paying agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York. Interest on any Note that is not a Global Note (other than interest payable at Maturity) shall be paid by check payable in clearinghouse funds mailed to the Holder thereof at such Holder's address as it appears on the register; provided that if the Trustee receives a written request from any Holder of Notes, the aggregate principal amount of which having the same Interest Payment Date equals or exceeds $10,000,000, on or before the applicable Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Note shall be paid by wire transfer of immedi ately available funds to a bank within the continental United States designated by such Holder in its request or by direct deposit into the account of such Holder designated by such Holder in its request if such account is maintained with the Trustee or any paying agent.
Section 2.13 NOTES ISSUABLE IN THE FORM OF A GLOBAL NOTE.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof that the Notes of a particular series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global Notes, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof and the Company Order delivered to the Trustee thereunder, authenticate and deliver such Global Note or Notes, which, unless otherwise specified in such Company Order, (i) shall represent, shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and shall have the same terms as, the outstanding Notes of such series to be represented by such Global Note or Notes, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary's instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: "This Note is a Global Note registered in the name of the Deposit ary (referred to herein) or a nominee thereof and, unless and until it is exchanged in whole for the individual Notes represented hereby as provided in the Indenture referred to below, this Global Note 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 or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Unless this Global Note is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York), to the Trustee for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment is made to Cede & Co., any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein" or such other legend as may be required by the rules and regulations of the Depositary.
(b) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Note notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the Depositary for the Global Note shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Note. If a successor Depositary for such Global Note is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company's election pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(vi) hereof shall no longer be effective with respect to the series of Notes evidenced by such Global Note and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Notes of such series in exch ange for such Global Note, shall authenticate and deliver, individual Notes of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note in exchange for such Global Note. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge or notice of the ineligibility of a Depositary unless a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof.
(ii) (A) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that all outstanding (but not less than all) Notes of a series issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Notes shall no longer be represented by such Global Note or Notes. In such event the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Notes in exchange for such Global Note, shall authenticate and deliver individual Notes of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note or Notes in exchange for such Global Note or Notes.
(B) Within seven days after the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Global Notes, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Notes of such series in definitive registered form in any authorized denominations and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes.
(iii) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding two paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver individual Notes in definitive registered form in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of a Global Note for individual Notes, such Global Note shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Note, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Notes to the Depositary for delivery to the persons in whose names such Notes are so registered, or if the Depositary shall refuse or be unable to deliver such Notes, the Trustee shall deliver such Notes to the persons in whose names such Notes are registered, un less otherwise agreed upon between the Trustee and the Company, in which event the Company shall cause the Notes to be delivered to the persons in whose names such Notes are registered.
(c) Neither the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest.
(d) Pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, at the option of the Trustee (subject to Section 2.04(a) hereof) and upon 30 days' written notice to the Depositary but not prior to the first Interest Payment Date of the respective Global Notes, the Depositary shall be required to surrender any two or more Global Notes which have identical terms, including, without limitation, identical maturities, interest rates and redemption provisions (but which may have differing Original Issue Dates) to the Trustee, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to, or at the direction of, the Depositary a Global Note in principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and with all terms identical to, the Global Notes surrendered thereto and that shall indicate each applicable Original Issue Date and the principal amount applicable to each such Original Issue Date. The exchange contemplated in this sub section shall be consummated at least 30 days prior to any Interest Payment Date applicable to any of the Global Notes surrendered to the Trustee. Upon any exchange of any Global Note with two or more Original Issue Dates, whether pursuant to this Section or pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 3.03 hereof, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with a particular Original Issue Date shall be the same before and after such exchange, after giving effect to any retirement of Notes and the Original Issue Dates applicable to such Notes occurring in connection with such exchange.
Section 2.14 CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS. The Company in issuing Notes may use "CUSIP" or "ISIN" numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so used, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" or "ISIN" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders of Notes; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the "CUSIP" or "ISIN" numbers.
Section 2.15 EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIODS. The Company shall have the right at any time, so long as the Company is not in default in the payment of interest on the Notes of any series hereunder, to extend interest payment periods on all Notes of one or more series, if so specified as contemplated by Section 2.05 with respect to such Notes and upon such terms as may be specified as contemplated by Section 2.05 with respect to such Notes.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF NOTES
Section 3.01 APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE. Those Notes of any series that are, by their terms, redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity at the option of the Company, may be redeemed by the Company at such times, in such amounts and at such prices as may be specified therein and in accordance with the provisions of this Article III.
Section 3.02 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; SELECTION OF NOTES.
(a) The election of the Company to redeem any Notes shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution which shall be given with notice of redemption to the Trustee at least 45 days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Trustee in its sole discretion) prior to the redemption date specified in such notice.
(b) Notice of redemption to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed as a whole or in part shall be given by the Trustee, in the manner provided in Section 15.10 hereof, no less than 30 or more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Any notice which is given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Noteholder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice,or any defect in such notice, to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.
(c) Each such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including "CUSIP" or "ISIN" numbers) and shall specify the date fixed for redemption, the places of redemption and the redemption price (or the method for calculation thereof) at which such Notes are to be redeemed, and shall state that (subject to subsection (e) of this section) payment of the redemption price of such Notes or portion thereof to be redeemed will be made upon surrender of such Notes at such places of redemption, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in such notice, and that from and after such date interest thereon shall cease to accrue. If less than all of a series of Notes having the same terms are to be redeemed, the notice shall specify the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount t hereof to be redeemed, and shall state that, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes having the same terms in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
(d) Unless otherwise provided by a Company Order under Section 2.05 hereof, if less than all of a series of Notes is to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select in such manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion the particular Notes to be redeemed in whole or in part and shall hereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes so to be redeemed. If less than all of a series of Notes represented by a Global Note is to be redeemed, the particular Notes or portions thereof of such series to be redeemed shall be selected by the Depositary for such series of Notes in such manner as the Depositary shall determine. Notes shall be redeemed only in denominations of $1,000, or such other denominations authorized by a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, provided that any remaining principal amount of a Note redeemed in part shall be a denomination authorized under this Indenture.
(e) If at the time of the mailing of any notice of redemption at the option of the Company, the Company shall not have irrevocably directed the Trustee to apply funds then on deposit with the Trustee or held by it and available to be used for the redemption of Notes to redeem all the Notes called for redemption, such notice, at the election of the Company, may state that it is conditional and subject to the receipt of the redemption moneys by the Trustee on or before the date fixed for redemption and that such notice shall be of no force and effect unless such moneys are so received on or before such date.
Section 3.03 PAYMENT OF NOTES ON REDEMPTION; DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.
(a) If notice of redemption for any Notes shall have been given as provided in Section 3.02 hereof and such notice shall not contain the language permitted at the Company's option under Section 3.02(e) hereof, such Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the date and at the places stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption of such Notes. Interest on the Notes or portions thereof so called for redemption shall cease to accrue and such Notes or portions thereof shall be deemed not to be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture except to receive payment of the redemption price together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption. Upon presentation and surrender of such Notes at the place of payment specified in such notice, such Notes or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.
(b) If notice of redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 3.02 hereof and such notice shall contain the language permitted at the Company's option under Section 3.02(e) hereof, such Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the date and at the places stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption of such Notes, and interest on the Notes or portions thereof so called for redemption shall cease to accrue and such Notes or portions thereof shall be deemed not to be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture except to receive payment of the redemption price together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided that, in each case, the Company shall have deposited with the Trustee or a paying agent on or prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on such redemption date an amount sufficie nt to pay the redemption price together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. Upon the Company making such deposit and, upon presentation and surrender of such Notes at such a place of payment in such notice specified, such Notes or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption. If the Company shall not make such deposit on or prior to the redemption date, the notice of redemption shall be of no force and effect and the principal on such Notes or specified portions thereof shall continue to bear interest as if the notice of redemption had not been given.
(c) No notice of redemption of Notes shall be mailed during the continuance of any Event of Default, except (1) that, when notice of redemption of any Notes has been mailed, the Company shall redeem such Notes but only if funds sufficient for that purpose have prior to the occurrence of such Event of Default been deposited with the Trustee or a paying agent for such purpose, and (2) that notices of redemption of all outstanding Notes may be given during the continuance of an Event of Default.
(d) Upon surrender of any Note redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, deliver and register, a new Note or Notes of authorized denominations in aggregate principal amount equal to, and having the same terms, Original Issue Date or Dates and series as, the unredeemed portion of the Note so surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
SINKING FUNDS
Section 4.01 APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Notes of any series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.05(c) hereof for Notes of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Notes of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Notes of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Notes of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 4.02 hereof. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Notes of the series in respect of which it was made as provided for by the terms of such Notes.
Section 4.02 SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH NOTES. The Company (a) may deliver Outstanding Notes (other than any previously called for redemption) of a series in respect of which a mandatory sinking fund payment is to be made and (b) may apply as a credit Notes of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Notes or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Notes, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of such mandatory sinking fund payment; provided, however, that no Notes shall be applied in satisfaction of a mandatory sinking fund payment if such Notes shall have been previously so applied. Notes so applied shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Notes for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be r educed accordingly.
Section 4.03 REDEMPTION OF NOTES FOR SINKING FUND. Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for the Notes of any series, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate specifying:
(a) the amount of the next succeeding mandatory sinking fund payment for such series;
(b) the amount, if any, of the optional sinking fund payment to be made together with such mandatory sinking fund payment;
(c) the aggregate sinking fund payment;
(d) the portion, if any, of such aggregate sinking fund payment which is to be satisfied by the payment of cash; and
(e) the portion, if any, of such aggregate sinking fund payment which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Notes of such series pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof and stating the basis for such credit and that such Notes have not previously been so credited.
The Company shall also deliver to the Trustee any Notes to be so delivered. If the Company shall not deliver such Officers' Certificate, the next succeeding sinking fund payment for such series shall be made entirely in cash in the amount of the mandatory sinking fund payment. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02(d) hereof 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 3.02 hereof. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Notes shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03 hereof.
ARTICLE V
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
Section 5.01 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE. This Indenture shall upon the request of the Company cease to be of further effect with respect to the Notes of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes of such series herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:
(a) either:
(i) all Notes of such series previously authenticated and delivered (other than Notes of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all the Notes of such series not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable (whether at stated maturity, early redemption or otherwise), and the Company has deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably with the Trustee as funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series an amount in cash sufficient to pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all outstanding Notes of such series;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Notes of such series; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes of such series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes of any or all series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 9.06 hereof shall survive, and, if money will have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii) of clause (a) of this Section 5.01, the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 5.02 and 5.05 hereof shall survive.
Section 5.02 APPLICATION OF TRUST FUNDS; INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 5.05 hereof, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01, 5.03 or 5.04 hereof and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 5.01,5.03 or 5.04 hereof, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes of any particular series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee.
(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.03 or 5.04 hereof or the interest, premium, if any, and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 5.01, 5.03 or 5.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
Section 5.03 LEGAL DEFEASANCE. The Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all of the outstanding Notes of any series on the day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (i) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to the outstanding Notes of such series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon the request of the Company, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(a) the rights of Holders of the Notes of such series to receive, solely from the trust funds described in subparagraph (i) below, payments of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the outstanding Notes of such series on the date such payments are due;
(b) the Company's obligations with respect to the Notes of such series under Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.13, 6.02 and 6.04 hereof; and
(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the duties of the Trustee under Section 5.02 hereof and the duty of the Trustee to authenticate Notes of such series issued on registration of transfer of exchange; provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(i) the Company shall have deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably with the Trustee as funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series, cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (without reinvestment), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, 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 principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes of such series on the dates such payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest are due to maturity or redemption;
(ii) no Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default with respect to the Notes of such series specified in Section 8.01(a)(5) or (6) hereof with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;
(iii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect 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 execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Notes of such series will not recognize income, 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 in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
(v) such deposit shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA with respect to any securities of the Company or result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an "investment company" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended); and
(vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 5.03 have been complied with.
Subject to compliance with this Article V, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 5.03 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 5.04 with respect to the Notes of any series. Following a defeasance, payment of the Notes of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
Section 5.04 COVENANT DEFEASANCE. On and after the day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Section 6.05 and Article XII hereof as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto (and the failure to comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 hereof) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (3) and (4) of Section 8.01(a) hereof shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Notes of any series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) with reference to this Section 5.04, the Company has deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably (except as provided in Section 5.05 hereof) with the Trustee as funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series, cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (without reinvestment), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes of such series on the dates such payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest are due to maturity or redemption;
(b) no Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default with respect to the Notes of such series specified in Section 8.01(a)(5) or (6) hereof with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;
(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Notes of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
(e) such deposit shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA with respect to any securities of the Company or result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an "investment company" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended);
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 5.04 have been complied with; and
(g) following a covenant defeasance, payment of the Notes of any series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 8.01(a)(5) and (6) or by reference to Sections 6.05 and 8.01(a)(3) and (4) and Article XII hereof.
Section 5.05 REPAYMENT TO COMPANY. The Trustee and the paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders of the Notes of such series entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
ARTICLE VI
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 6.01 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of any series that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and any premium and interest, if any, on, such Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided in such Notes or in this Indenture.
Section 6.02 OFFICES FOR PAYMENTS, ETC. So long as the Notes of any series are outstanding hereunder, the Company will maintain an office or agency where the Notes of such series may be presented for payment, for exchange as in this Indenture provided, for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the securities under this Indenture may be served. The Principal Executive Offices of the Company will be such office or agency unless the Company shall maintain some other office or agency for such purposes and shall give the Trustee and the registered holders of the securities written notice of the location thereof. If the Company shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location of any of the above offices or agencies, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and, in such event, the Trustee shall act as the Company's agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may from time to time designate one or more additional offices or agencies where the Notes of any series may be presented for payment, for exchange as in this Indenture provided and for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and the Company may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any office or agency provided for in this Section. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
Section 6.03 APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 9.11, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
Section 6.04 PROVISION AS TO PAYING AGENT. The Trustee shall be the paying agent for the Notes and, at the option of the Company, the Company may appoint additional paying agents (including without limitation itself or its Subsidiary unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Whenever the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Notes, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(1) that such paying agent will hold all sums received by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Notes) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, or of the Trustee until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(2) that such paying agent will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on Notes) to make any payment of the principal of, premium if any, or interest on the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and
(3) that such paying agent will at any time during the continuance of any such failure, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.
The Company will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and any premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes entitled to such principal of and any premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.
If the Company or its Subsidiary shall act as its own paying agent with respect to the Notes, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.
The Company may at any time pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained, 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.
Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.04.
Section 6.05 CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Subject to the rights of the Company under Article XII, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if, in the judgment of the Company, the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.
Section 6.06 CERTIFICATES AND NOTICE TO TRUSTEE. The Company shall, on or before __________ of each year, commencing _______________, deliver to the Trustee a certificate from its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer covering the preceding calendar year and stating whether or not, to the knowledge of such Person, the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture, and, if not, describing in reasonable detail any failure by the Company to comply with any such conditions or covenants. For purposes of this Section, compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.
ARTICLE VII
NOTEHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY
THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 COMPANY TO FURNISH NOTEHOLDER LISTS. The Company and any other obligor on the Notes shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Notes:
(a) semi-annually and not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date for each Interest Payment Date that is not a Maturity date, as of such Regular Record Date, and such list need not include information received after such date; and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished, and such list need not include information received after such date; provided that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the registrar for the Notes, such list shall not be required to be furnished.
Section 7.02 PRESERVATION AND DISCLOSURE OF NOTEHOLDER LISTS.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of the Notes (i) contained in the most recent lists furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01, (ii) received by it in the capacity of registrar for the Notes, if so acting, and (iii) filed with it within the two preceding years pursuant to Section 7.04(d)(2). The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) In case three or more Holders of Notes (hereinafter referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Note for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders of Notes with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Notes and such application is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either
(i) afford to such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section; or
(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such subsection (a) and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.
If the Trustee shall elect not to afford to such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder of Notes, whose name and address appears in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of such subsection (a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of su ch opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met, and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.
(c) Each and every Holder of a Note, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under such subsection (b).
Section 7.03 REPORTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall:
(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;
(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations. Filing of such information, documents and reports with the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates); and
(c) transmit by mail to all Holders of Notes, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 7.04(d), such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
Note that, for purposes of this Section 7.03, the Company's responsibility to file information with the Trustee which is also filed with the Commission, shall be deemed to be satisfied by the posting of the Company's filings with the Commission on the Commission's website (www.sec.gov/edgar).
Section 7.04 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.
(a) Annually, not later than August 15 of each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail a brief report dated as of such date that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA (to the extent required by such Section).
(b) The Trustee shall from time to time transmit by mail brief reports that comply, both in content and date of delivery, with Section 313(b) of the TIA (to the extent required by such Section).
(c) A copy of each such report filed pursuant to this section shall, at the time of such transmission to such Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Notes are listed and also with the Commission. The Company will notify the Trustee promptly in writing upon the listing of such Notes on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.
(d) Except as otherwise described in Section 7.03, reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted:
(1) by mail to all Holders of Notes, as their names and addresses appear in the register for the Notes;
(2) by mail to such Holders of Notes as have, within the two years preceding such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the Trustee for such purpose;
(3) by mail, except in the case of reports pursuant to Section 7.04(b) and (c) hereof, to all Holders of Notes whose names and addresses have been furnished to or received by the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.0 and 7.02(a)(ii) hereof; and
(4) at the time such report is transmitted to the Holders of the Notes, to each exchange on which Notes are listed and also with the Commission.
ARTICLE VIII
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND NOTEHOLDERS
ON EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Section 8.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
(a) If one or more of the following Events of Default with respect to the Notes of any series shall have occurred and be continuing:
(1) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Note of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of thirty (30) days, provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period or deferral of interest payment by the Company as contemplated in Section 2.15 shall not constitute a failure to pay interest for this purpose;
(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Note of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of one (1) day;
(3) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any other covenants or agreements on the part of the Company contained in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Notes other than such series) for a period of sixty (60) days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure, stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder and demanding that the Company remedy the same, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee by registered mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of not less than 33% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series at the time outstanding;
(4) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, 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 law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days;
(5) the Company shall commence a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or consent to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary case under any such 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 law, or consent to the filing of such petition or to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of the property of the Company, or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the notice by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of any corporate action by the Company in furtheranc e of any such action; or
(6) any other Event of Default specified with respect to Notes of any series pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof;
then, unless the principal of and interest on all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal of and interest on all the Notes of such series to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to more than one series of Notes, the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of all such series, considered as one class, may make such declaration of acceleration, and not the Holders of the Notes of any one of such series.
The foregoing paragraph, however, is subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of and interest on the Notes of any series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all of the Notes of such series and the principal of and any premium on any and all Notes of such series which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of interest, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, and on such principal and applicable premium at the rate borne by the Notes of such series to the date of such payment or deposit) and all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder, the reasonable compens ation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 9.06 hereof, and any and all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of principal of and accrued interest on any Notes which shall have become due solely by acceleration of maturity, shall have been cured or waived, then and in every such case such payment or deposit shall cause an automatic waiver of the Event of Default and its consequences and shall cause an automatic rescission and annulment of the acceleration of the Notes of such series; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
(b) If the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
Section 8.02 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS BY TRUSTEE; TRUSTEE MAY PROVE DEBT.
(a) The Company covenants that if an Event of Default described in clause (a)(1) or (a)(2) of Section 8.01 hereof shall have occurred and be continuing, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company shall pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of the series with respect to which Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the whole amount that then shall have so become due and payable on all such Notes for principal or interest, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal and any premium and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by such Notes; and, in addition thereto, such further amounts as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, any expenses or liabilities incurred b y the Trustee hereunder other than through its negligence or bad faith. Until such demand is made by the Trustee, the Company may pay the principal of and interest on such Notes to the Holders, whether or not such Notes be overdue.
(b) In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Notes and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Notes wherever situated, the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.
(c) In case there shall be pending proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company or its property or such other obligor, or in case of any other comparable judicial proceedings relative to the Company or such other obligor, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such pr oceedings or otherwise:
(1) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Noteholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or such other obligor, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor; and
(2) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of the Noteholders and of the Trustee on their behalf; and any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Noteholders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of the payments directly to the Noteholders, to pay to Trustee such amounts due pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof.
(d) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes of any series 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 except to vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar person.
(e) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof at any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment, subject to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and compensation of the Trustee and its agents, attorneys and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in respect of which such action was taken.
(f) In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Notes in respect to which action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such Notes parties to any such proceedings.
Section 8.03 APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. Any moneys collected by the Trustee with respect to any of the Notes pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid.
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof;
SECOND: In case the principal of the outstanding Notes in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on the Notes, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent allowed by law) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes, such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto, and then to the payment to the Holders entitled thereto of the unpaid principal of and applicable premium on any of the Notes which shall have become due (other than Notes previously called for redemption for the payment of which moneys are held pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture), whether at stated maturity or by redemption, in the order of their due dates, beginning with the earliest due date, and if the amount available is not sufficient to pay in full all Notes due on any particular date, then to the payment thereof ratably , according to the amounts of principal and applicable premium due on that date, to the Holders entitled thereto, without any discrimination or privilege;
THIRD: In case the principal of the outstanding Notes in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and any premium and interest thereon, with interest on the overdue principal and any premium and (to the extent allowed by law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes; and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal and any premium and interest without preference or priority of principal and any premium over interest, or of interest over principal and any premium or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and any premium and accrued and unpaid interest; and
FOURTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may lawfully be entitled to the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may determine.
Section 8.04 LIMITATIONS ON SUITS BY NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) No Holder of any Note of any series shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to such Note and of the continuance thereof, as hereinabove provided, and unless also Noteholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series then outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Note of any series with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Notes of such series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder of Notes of such series, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Notes of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Noteholder and the Trustee shall be e ntitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the rights of any Holder of any Note to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note or on the applicable redemption date, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates are absolute and unconditional, and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 8.05 SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT. In case an Event of Default has occurred, has not been waived and is continuing hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted to it under this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or
equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Section 8.06 POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER OF DEFAULT. No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes 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.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to Section 8.04, every right and power given by this Indenture or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Notes, as the case may be.
Section 8.07 DIRECTION OF PROCEEDINGS AND WAIVER OF DEFAULTS BY MAJORITY OF NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series at the time outstanding 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; provided, however, that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to more than one series of Notes, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of all such series, considered as one class, shall have the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of the Notes of any one of such series; provided, further, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture; and provided further that (subject to Section 9.01 hereof) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advis ed by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees or responsible officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee in its discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction or directions by Noteholders.
(b) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series at the time outstanding may on behalf of all of the Holders of the Notes of such series waive any past default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a default in the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on the Notes of such series. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Upon such waiver, such default shall cease to exist and be deemed to have been cured and not to be continuing, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured and not to be continuing, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequ ent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 8.08 NOTICE OF DEFAULT. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the Notes of any series, give to all Holders of the Notes of such series, in the manner provided in Section 15.10, notice of such default actually known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice, the term "default" for the purpose of this Section 8.08 being hereby defined to be any event which is or after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default; provided that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Notes of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installments, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees or responsible officers in good faith determines t hat the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes of such series.
Section 8.09 UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by 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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but this Section 8.09 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, or to any suit instituted by any Noteholder, or group of Noteholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes of all series in respect of which such suit may be brought, considered as one class, or to any suit instituted by any Noteholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Note on or after the due date expressed in such Note or the applicable redemption date.
Section 8.10 RESTORATION OF RIGHTS ON ABANDONMENT OF PROCEEDINGS. In case the Trustee or any Holder shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then, and in every such case, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
Section 8.11 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 IX
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 9.01 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. If an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith or actual knowledge on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction, pursuant to this Indenture, of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any one or more series, as provided herein, including, but not limited to, Section 8.07 hereof relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Notes of such series.
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Section 9.02 RELIANCE ON DOCUMENTS, OPINIONS, ETC. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.01 hereof:
(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, note or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof is herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or 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 accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Noteholders, pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Noteholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by such exercise;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, note or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of any series; provided that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or through agents or attorneys; provided that the Trustee shall not be liable for the conduct or acts of any such agent or attorney that shall have been appointed in accordance herewith with due care.
Section 9.03 NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECITALS, ETC. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes (except in the certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with this Indenture.
Section 9.04 TRUSTEE, AUTHENTICATING AGENT, PAYING AGENT OR REGISTRAR MAY OWN NOTES. The Trustee and any Authenticating Agent or paying agent in its individual or other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent or paying agent.
Section 9.05 MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST. Subject to Section 5.05 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee may allow and credit to the Company interest on any money received hereunder at such rate, if any, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Trustee from time to time as may be permitted by law.
Section 9.06 COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF TRUSTEE. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing (which shall not be limited by any law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company shall pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its counsel and agents, including any Authenticating Agents, and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor and their agents for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability. The obligations of the Company under this Section 9.06 to compensate the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of any particular Notes. The provisions of this Section 9.06 shall survive termination of this Indenture.
Section 9.07 OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE AS EVIDENCE. Whenever in the administration of this Indenture, the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to the taking, suffering or omitting of any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such Officers' Certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under this Indenture in reliance thereon.
Section 9.08 CONFLICTING INTEREST OF TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall be subject to and shall comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the TIA. Nothing in this Indenture shall be deemed to prohibit the Trustee or the Company from making any application permitted pursuant to such section.
Section 9.09 EXISTENCE AND ELIGIBILITY OF TRUSTEE. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which Trustee shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or of the District of Columbia having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid authority, then for the purposes of this Section 9.09, the combined capital and surplus shall be deemed to be as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. No obligor upon the Notes or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eli gible in accordance with this Section 9.09, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 9.10 hereof.
Section 9.10 RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE.
(a) Pursuant to the provisions of this Article, the Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts created by this Indenture by giving written notice to the Company specifying the day upon which such resignation shall take effect, and such resignation shall take effect immediately upon the later of the appointment of a successor trustee and such day.
(b) Any Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Notes of any series by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing filed with such Trustee and signed and acknowledged by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such series or by their attorneys in fact duly authorized.
(c) So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and no event has occurred and is continuing that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, the Company may remove any Trustee upon written notice to the Holder of each Note Outstanding and the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee meeting the requirements of Section 9.09. The Company or the successor Trustee shall give notice to the Holders, in the manner provided in Section 15.10, of such removal and appointment within 30 days of such removal and appointment.
(d) If at any time (i) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with Section 9.09 hereof and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder for at least six months, (ii) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 9.08 hereof after written request therefor by the Company or any such Holder, or (iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or 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 the Trustee may be removed forthwith by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing filed with the Trustee and either:
(1) signed by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President of the Company and attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company; or
(2) signed and acknowledged by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes or by their attorneys in fact duly authorized.
(e) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee shall not become effective until acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 9.11 hereof.
Section 9.11 APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE.
(a) If at any time the Trustee shall resign or be removed, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.
(b) The Company shall provide written notice of its appointment of a Successor Trustee to the Holder of each Note Outstanding following any such appointment.
(c) If no appointment of a successor Trustee shall be made pursuant to Section 9.11(a) hereof within 60 days after appointment shall be required, any Noteholder or the resigning Trustee may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Said court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.
(d) Any Trustee appointed under this Section 9.11 as a successor Trustee shall be a bank or trust company eligible under Section 9.09 hereof and qualified under Section 9.08 hereof.
Section 9.12 ACCEPTANCE BY SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE.
(a) Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 9.11 hereof shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instrume nts in writing in order more fully and certainly to vest in and confirm to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof.
(b) No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 9.12 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified under Section 9.08 hereof and eligible under Section 9.09 hereof.
(c) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section 9.12, the successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession hereunder to all Holders of Notes as the names and addresses of such Holders appear on the registry books.
Section 9.13 SUCCESSION BY MERGER, ETC.
(a) Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article.
(b) If at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificates of the Trustee shall have; provided that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or co nsolidation.
Section 9.14 LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AS A CREDITOR. The Trustee shall be subject to, and shall comply with, the provisions of Section 311 of the TIA.
Section 9.15 AUTHENTICATING AGENT.
(a) There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee with the written consent of the Company, with power to act on its behalf and subject to the direction of the Trustee in the authentication and delivery of Notes in connection with transfers and exchanges under Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.13, 3.03, and 13.04 hereof, as fully to all intents and purposes as though such Authenticating Agents had been expressly authorized by those Sections to authenticate and deliver Notes. For all purposes of this Indenture, the authentication and delivery of Notes by any Authenticating Agent pursuant to this Section 9.15 shall be deemed to be the authentication and delivery of such Notes "by the Trustee." Any such Authenticating Agent shall be a bank or trust company or other Person of the character and qualifications set forth in Section 9.09 hereof.
(b) Any corporation into which any 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 any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 9.15, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent or such successor corporation.
(c) Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 9.15, the Trustee may, with the written consent of the Company, appoint a successor Authenticating Agent, and upon so doing shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail, in the manner provided in Section 15.10, notice of such appointment to the Holders of Notes.
(d) The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, in accordance with Section 9.06 hereof.
(e) Sections 9.02, 9.03, 9.06, 9.07 and 9.09 hereof shall be applicable to any Authenticating Agent.
ARTICLE X
CONCERNING THE NOTEHOLDERS
Section 10.01 ACTION BY NOTEHOLDERS. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series may take any action, the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Noteholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of such Noteholders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Noteholders duly called and held in accordance with Article XI hereof, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Noteholders.
Section 10.02 PROOF OF EXECUTION BY NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) Subject to Sections 9.01, 9.02 and 11.05 hereof, proof of the execution of any instruments by a Noteholder or the agent or proxy for such Noteholder shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the register for the Notes maintained by the Trustee.
(b) The record of any Noteholders' meeting shall be proven in the manner provided in Section 11.06 hereof.
Section 10.03 PERSONS DEEMED ABSOLUTE OWNERS. Subject to Sections 2.04(f) and 10.01 hereof, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Authenticating Agent shall deem the person in whose name any Note shall be registered upon the register for the Notes to be, and shall treat such person as, the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal and premium, if any, and interest on such Note, and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Authenticating Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon any such Note to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.
Section 10.04 COMPANY-OWNED NOTES DISREGARDED. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes of any series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Notes that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Notes or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Notes shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that, for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Notes which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith to third parties may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 10.04 if the pledgee shall establish the pledgee's right to take action wi th respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not a person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, the Trustee may rely upon an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers' Certificate to establish the foregoing.
Section 10.05 REVOCATION OF CONSENTS; FUTURE HOLDERS BOUND. Except as may be otherwise required in the case of a Global Note by the applicable rules and regulations of the Depositary, at any time prior to the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Note, which has been included in the Notes the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the corporate trust office of the Trustee and upon proof of ownership as provided in Section 10.02(a) hereof, revoke such action so far as it concerns such Note. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Note and of any Notes issued in exchange, substitution or upon registration of transfer therefor, irrespective of whe ther or not any notation thereof is made upon such Note or such other Notes.
Section 10.06 RECORD DATE FOR NOTEHOLDER ACTS. If the Company shall solicit from the Noteholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, the Company may, at its option, by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Noteholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act may be given before or after the record date, but only the Noteholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Noteholders for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, and for that purpose the outstanding Notes shall be computed as of the record date; provided that no such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act by the Noteholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to this Indenture not later than six months after the record date. Any such record date shall be at least 30 days prior to the date of the solicitation to the Noteholders by the Company.
ARTICLE XI
NOTEHOLDERS' MEETING
Section 11.01 PURPOSES OF MEETINGS. A meeting of Noteholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article XI for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Noteholders pursuant to Article XIII;
(b) to remove the Trustee pursuant to Article IX;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to Section 13.02 hereof; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
Section 11.02 CALL OF MEETINGS BY TRUSTEE. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Notes to take any action specified in Section 11.01 hereof, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every such meeting of Noteholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given to Holders of the Notes that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken at such meeting in the manner provided in Section 15.10 hereof. Such notice shall be given not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for such meeting.
Section 11.03 CALL OF MEETINGS BY COMPANY OR NOTEHOLDERS. If at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series then outstanding, considered as one class, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Noteholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Noteholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 11.01 hereof, by giving notice thereof as provided in Section 11.02 hereof.
Section 11.04 QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING. To be entitled to vote at any meetings of Noteholders a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Notes affected by the action proposed to be taken or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more such Notes. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Noteholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives (including employees) of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives (including employees) of the Company and its counsel.
Section 11.05 REGULATIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Noteholders in regard to proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates andother evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.
(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by the Noteholders as provided in Section 11.03 hereof, in which case the Company or Noteholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes present in person or by proxy at the meeting.
(c) Subject to Section 10.04 hereof, at any meeting each Noteholder or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held or represented by such Noteholder; provided that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Note determined to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Notes held by such chairman or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating such chairman as the person to vote on behalf of other Noteholders. At any meeting of Noteholders duly called pursuant to Section 11.02 or 11.03 hereof, the presence of persons holding or representing Notes in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action on any business for the transaction for which such meeting was called shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting of Noteholders duly called pursuant to Section 11.02 or 11.03 hereof may be adjourned from time to ti me by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes present in person or by proxy at the meeting, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
Section 11.06 VOTING. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Noteholders shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Notes or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amount of Notes held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of such meeting of Noteholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 11.02 hereof. The record shall show the aggregate principal amount of the Notes voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee and the Trustee shall have the ballots taken at the meeting attached to such duplicate. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
Section 11.07 RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE OR NOTEHOLDERS NOT DELAYED. Nothing in this Article XI shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Noteholders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Notes.
ARTICLE XII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, TRANSFER OR CONVEYANCE
Section 12.01 COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC. ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell or otherwise dispose of its properties as or substantially as an entirety to any Person unless the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and the supplemental indenture referred to in clause (b) below comply with this Article XII and that all conditions precedent herein provided for have been complied with, and the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which receives such properties pursuant to such sale, transfer or other disposition (a) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; and (b) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, execut ed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium and interest on all of the Notes and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed.
Section 12.02 SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, transfer or other disposition of the properties of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 12.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person to which such sale, transfer or other disposition 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 corporation or Person had been named as the Company herein and the Company shall be released from all obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE XIII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 13.01 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) The Company, when authorized by Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:
(1) to make such provision in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as may be necessary or desirable, and not inconsistent with this Indenture or prejudicial to the interests of the Holders in any material respect, for the purpose of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision;
(2) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Note outstanding created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision or such change or elimination is applicable only to Notes issued after the effective date of such change or elimination;
(3) to establish the form of Notes of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 hereof or to establish or reflect any terms of any Note of any series determined pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof;
(4) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company as permitted hereunder, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Notes;
(5) to grant to or confer upon the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders any additional rights, remedies, powers or authority;
(6) to permit the Trustee to comply with any duties imposed upon it by law;
(7) to specify further the duties and responsibilities of, and to define further the relationships among, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent and any paying agent, and to evidence the succession of a successor Trustee as permitted hereunder;
(8) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of one or more series of Notes, to add to the security for all of the Notes, to surrender a right or power conferred on the Company herein or to add any Event of Default with respect to one or more series of Notes; and
(9) to make any other change that is not prejudicial to the Holders.
(b) The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee 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.
(c) Any supplemental indenture authorized by this Section 13.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 13.02 hereof.
Section 13.02 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 10.01 hereof) of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series at the time outstanding, considered as one class, the Company, when authorized by Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time 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 any supplemental indenture or of modifying or waiving in any manner the rights of the Noteholders; provided, however, that if there shall be Notes of more than one series Outstanding hereunder and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Notes of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required; provided further that no such supplemental indenture shall:
(1) change the Stated Maturity of any Note, or reduce the rate (or change the method of calculation thereof) or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or change the coin or currency in which the principal of any Note or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or change the date on which any Note may be redeemed or adversely affect the rights of the Noteholders to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Note, in each case without the consent of the Holder of each Note so affected; or
(2) modify this Section 13.02(a) or reduce the aforesaid percentage of Notes, the Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture or to reduce the percentage of Notes, the Holders of which are required to waive Events of Default, in each case, without the consent of the Holders of all of the Notes affected thereby then outstanding.
(b) Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of the Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Noteholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
(c) A supplemental indenture which changes, waives or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture (or any supplemental indenture) which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more series of Notes, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Notes of such series with respect to such covenant or provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Notes of any other series.
(d) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 13.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
(e) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section 13.02, the Trustee shall give notice in the manner provided in Section 15.10 hereof, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to all Noteholders. Any failure of the Trustee to give such notice or any defect therein shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
Section 13.03 COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT; EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES. Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article XIII shall comply with the TIA. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article XIII, the Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Noteholders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 13.04 NOTATION ON NOTES. Notes of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article XIII may 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 Notes of any series so modified as approved by the Trustee and the Board of Directors with respect to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Notes of such series then outstanding.
Section 13.05 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE FURNISHED TRUSTEE. The Trustee, subject to Sections 9.01 and 9.02 hereof, may receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article XIII.
ARTICLE XIV
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS,
STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 14.01 INDENTURE AND NOTES SOLELY CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Note, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company, contained in this Indenture, or in any supplemental indenture, or in any Note, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, 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 all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the Notes.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 15.01 PROVISIONS BINDING ON COMPANY'S SUCCESSORS. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements made by the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.
Section 15.02 OFFICIAL ACTS BY SUCCESSOR CORPORATION. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
Section 15.03 NOTICES. Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Noteholders on the Company may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) at the Principal Executive Offices of the Company, to the attention of the Secretary. Any notice, direction, request or demand by any Noteholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
Section 15.04 GOVERNING LAW. This Indenture and each Note shall be governed by and deemed to be a contract under, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof.
Section 15.05 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates delivered pursuant to Section 6.06 hereof) shall include (1) a statement that each Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions 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 Person, such Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person 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 or not, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has bee n complied with.
(c) In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
(d) 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 certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel delivered under the Indenture 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 person knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion of representations with respect to such matters are erroneous. Any opinion of counsel delivered hereunder may co ntain standard exceptions and qualifications reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.
(e) Any certificate, statement or opinion of any officer of the Company, or of counsel, may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an independent public accountant or firm of accountants, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinions or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which the certificate, statement or opinion of such officer or counsel may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any firm of independent public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.
(f) 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 15.06 BUSINESS DAYS. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.05(c) hereof, in any case where the date of Maturity of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Note or the date fixed for redemption of any Note is not a Business Day, then payment of such principal or any premium or interest need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of Maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and, in the case of timely payment thereof, no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the date on which the principal or premium of the Note is required to be paid.
Section 15.07 TRUST INDENTURE ACT TO CONTROL. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by the TIA, such required provision of the TIA shall govern.
Section 15.08 TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 15.09 EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 15.10 MANNER OF MAILING NOTICE TO NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or the Company to or on the Holders of Notes, as the case may be, shall be given or served by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Holders of such Notes at their last addresses as the same appear on the register for the Notes referred to in Section 2.06, and any such notice shall be deemed to be given or served by being deposited in a post office letter box in the form and manner provided in this Section 15.10. In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice to any Holder by mail, then such notification to such Holder as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
(b) The Company shall also provide any notices required under this Indenture by publication, but only to the extent that such publication is required by the TIA, the rules and regulations of the Commission or any securities exchange upon which any series of Notes is listed.
Section 15.11 APPROVAL BY TRUSTEE OF COUNSEL. Wherever the Trustee is required to approve counsel who is to furnish evidence of compliance with conditions precedent in this Indenture, such approval by the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given upon the taking of any action by the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with the certificate or opinion so furnished by such counsel.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED has caused this Indenture to be signed and acknowledged by its Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, and attested by its Senior Vice President - Corporate Services and Secretary, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK has caused this Indenture to be signed and acknowledged by its Vice President, as of the day and year first written above.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED |
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Vice President - Finance, Chief |
ATTEST: |
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Senior Vice President - Corporate |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, |
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By |
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______________________________ |
INDENTURE FOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
EXHIBIT 4.e.
============================================================
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
AND
_________________________,
TRUSTEE
-----------------
FORM OF INDENTURE
(FOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES)
DATED AS OF _______, 200_
=================================================================
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET SHOWING THE LOCATION IN THEINDENTURE OF THE
PROVISIONS INSERTED CORRELATIVE TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318(a),
INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
INDENTURE
SECTION OF ACT SECTION
-------------- --------------
310 (a)(1).................................... 9.09
(a)(2).................................... 9.09
(a)(3).................................... Not Applicable
(a)(4).................................... Not Applicable
(a)(5).................................... 9.09
(b) ...................................... 9.08
(c) ...................................... Not Applicable
311 (a) ...................................... 9.14
(b) ...................................... 9.14
(c) ...................................... Not Applicable
312 (a) ...................................... 7.01 and 7.02(a)
(b) ...................................... 7.02(b)
(c) ...................................... 7.02(c)
313 (a) ...................................... 7.04(a)
(b) ...................................... 7.04(b)
(c) ...................................... 7.04(d)
(d) ...................................... 7.04(c)
314 (a) ...................................... 7.03 and 6.06
(b) ...................................... 6.05
(c)(1).................................... 1.03 and 16.05
(c)(2).................................... 1.03 and 16.05
(c)(3).................................... Not Applicable
(d) ...................................... 1.03 and 4.06
(e) ...................................... 16.05(b)
(f) ...................................... Not Applicable
315 (a) ...................................... 9.01
(b) ...................................... 8.08
(c) ...................................... 9.01(a)
(d) ...................................... 9.01(b)
(e) ...................................... 8.09
316 (a) ...................................... 8.07 and 10.04
(b) ...................................... 8.04(b) and 13.02
(c) ...................................... 10.06
317 (a)(1).................................... 8.02(b)
(a)(2).................................... 8.02(c)
(b) ...................................... 5.02 and 6.04
318 (a) ...................................... 16.07
-------------------
NOTE: This Cross Reference Sheet is not, for any purpose, deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
PARTIES 1
RECITALS 1
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 General 1
SECTION 1.02 Trust Indenture Act 2
SECTION 1.03 Definitions 2
ARTICLE TWO
FORM, ISSUE, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION, AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES
SECTION 2.01 Forms Generally 6
SECTION 2.02 Form of Trustee's Certificate of 6
Authentication
SECTION 2.03 Amount Unlimited 6
SECTION 2.04 Denominations, Dates, Interest Payment and 6
Record Dates
SECTION 2.05 Execution, Authentication, Delivery,and 7
Dating
SECTION 2.06 Exchange and Registration of Transfer of 10
Notes
SECTION 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes 11
SECTION 2.08 Temporary Notes 11
SECTION 2.09 Cancellation of Notes Paid, Etc. 12
SECTION 2.10 Interest Rights Preserved 12
SECTION 2.11 Special Record Date 12
SECTION 2.12 Payment of Notes 12
SECTION 2.13 Notes Issuable in the Form of a Global Note 13
SECTION 2.14 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers 15
SECTION 2.15 Extension of Interest Payment Periods 15
ARTICLE THREE
REDEMPTION OF NOTES
SECTION 3.01 Applicability of Article 15
SECTION 3.02 Notice of Redemption; Selection of Notes 15
SECTION 3.03 Payment of Notes on Redemption; Deposit of 16
Redemption Price
ARTICLE FOUR
SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 4.01 Applicability of Article 17
SECTION 4.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with 18
Notes
SECTION 4.03. Redemption of Notes for Sinking Funds 18
* The Table of Contents is not part of the Indenture.
ARTICLE FIVE
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
SECTION 5.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 18
SECTION 5.02 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification 19
SECTION 5.03 Legal Defeasance 20
SECTION 5.04 Covenant Defeasance 21
SECTION 5.05 Repayment to Company 22
ARTICLE SIX
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 6.01 Payment of Principal and Interest 22
SECTION 6.02 Offices for Payments, Etc. 22
SECTION 6.03 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of 23
Trustee
SECTION 6.04 Provision as to Paying Agent 23
SECTION 6.05 Corporate Existence 24
SECTION 6.06 Certificates and Notice to Trustee 24
ARTICLE SEVEN
NOTEHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01 Company to Furnish Noteholder Lists 24
SECTION 7.02 Preservation and Disclosure of Noteholder 24
Lists
SECTION 7.03 Reports by the Company 25
SECTION 7.04 Reports by the Trustee 26
ARTICLE EIGHT
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND NOTEHOLDERS ON EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 8.01 Events of Default 27
SECTION 8.02 Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee; 29
Trustee May Prove Debt
SECTION 8.03 Application of Proceeds 30
SECTION 8.04 Limitations on Suits by Noteholders 31
SECTION 8.05 Suits for Enforcement 32
SECTION 8.06 Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or 32
Omission Not Waiver of Default
SECTION 8.07 Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of 32
Defaults by Majority of Noteholders
SECTION 8.08 Notice of Default 33
SECTION 8.09 Undertaking to Pay Costs 33
SECTION 8.10 Restoration of Rights on Abandonment of 33
Proceedings
SECTION 8.11 Waiver of Usury, Stay, or Extension Laws 33
ARTICLE NINE
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 9.01 Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee 34
SECTION 9.02 Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc. 35
SECTION 9.03 No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. 36
SECTION 9.04 Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent 36
or Registrar May Own Notes
SECTION 9.05 Moneys to be Held in Trust 36
SECTION 9.06 Compensation and Expenses of Trustee 36
SECTION 9.07 Officers' Certificate as Evidence 36
SECTION 9.08 Conflicting Interest of Trustee 37
SECTION 9.09 Existence and Eligibility of Trustee 37
SECTION 9.10 Resignation or Removal of Trustee 37
SECTION 9.11 Appointment of Successor Trustee 38
SECTION 9.12 Acceptance by Successor Trustee 38
SECTION 9.13 Succession by Merger, Etc. 39
SECTION 9.14 Limitations on Rights of Trustee as a 39
Creditor
SECTION 9.15 Authenticating Agent 39
ARTICLE TEN
CONCERNING THE NOTEHOLDERS
SECTION 10.01 Action Taken by Noteholders 40
SECTION 10.02 Proof of Execution by Noteholders 40
SECTION 10.03 Persons Deemed Absolute Owners 40
SECTION 10.04 Company-Owned Notes Disregarded 40
SECTION 10.05 Revocation of Consents; Future Holders 41
Bound
SECTION 10.06 Record Date for Noteholder Acts 41
ARTICLE ELEVEN
NOTEHOLDERS' MEETING
SECTION 11.01 Purposes of Meeting 41
SECTION 11.02 Call of Meetings by Trustee 42
SECTION 11.03 Call of Meetings by Company or Noteholders 42
SECTION 11.04 Qualifications for Voting 42
SECTION 11.05 Regulations 42
SECTION 11.06 Voting 43
SECTION 11.07 Rights of Trustee or Noteholders Not 43
Delayed
ARTICLE TWELVE
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, TRANSFER OR CONVEYANCE
SECTION 12.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on 44
Certain Terms
SECTION 12.02 Successor Corporation Substituted 44
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 13.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of 44
Noteholders
SECTION 13.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of 45
Noteholders
SECTION 13.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect 46
of Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 13.04 Notation on Notes 47
SECTION 13.05 Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental 47
Indenture to be Furnished Trustee
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS, AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 14.01 Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate 47
Obligations
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
SUBORDINATION OF NOTES
SECTION 15.01 Notes Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness 47
SECTION 15.02 Payment Over of Proceeds of Notes 47
SECTION 15.03 Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior 49
Indebtedness
SECTION 15.04 Subrogation 49
SECTION 15.05 Obligation of Company Unconditional 49
SECTION 15.06 Priority of Senior Indebtedness Upon 50
Maturity
SECTION 15.07 Trustee as a Holder of Senior Indebtedness 50
SECTION 15.08 Notice to Trustee to Effect Subordination 50
SECTION 15.09 Modification, Extension, Etc. of Senior 50
Indebtedness
SECTION 15.10 Trustee Has No Fiduciary Duty to Holders of 51
Senior Indebtedness
SECTION 15.11 Paying Agents Other Than Trustee 51
SECTION 15.12 Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness 51
Not Impaired
SECTION 15.13 Effect of Subordination Provisions; 51
Termination
ARTICLE SIXTEEN
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 16.01 Provisions Binding on Company's Successors 51
SECTION 16.02 Official Acts by Successor Corporation 52
SECTION 16.03 Notices 52
SECTION 16.04 Governing Law 52
SECTION 16.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions 52
Precedent
SECTION 16.06 Business Days 53
SECTION 16.07 Trust Indenture Act to Control 53
SECTION 16.08 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 53
SECTION 16.09 Execution in Counterparts 53
SECTION 16.10 Manner of Mailing Notice to Noteholders 53
SECTION 16.11 Approval by Trustee of Counsel 54
TESTIMONIUM 55
SIGNATURES AND SEALS 55
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 55
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of __________, 200_, between GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri (the "COMPANY"), and ______________________, a New York banking company, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE").
W I T N E S S E T H
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Notes"), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms have been done and performed, and the execution of this Indenture and the issue hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized;
NOW THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof and of the sum of one dollar duly paid to it by the Trustee at the execution of this Indenture, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes or of any series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 GENERAL.
(a) The terms defined in this Article I (whether or not capitalized and except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto or Company Order (as hereinafter defined) shall have the respective meanings specified in this Article I.
(b) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall 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 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.
Section 1.02 TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
(a) Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "TIA"), such provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
(b) Unless otherwise indicated, all terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by the TIA by reference to another statute or defined by a rule of the Commission under the TIA shall have the meanings assigned to them in the TIA or such statute or rule as in force on the date of execution of this Indenture.
(c) The Company and the Trustee agree to comply with the TIA notwithstanding any exemption that may be available thereunder.
Section 1.03 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Indenture, the following terms shall have the following meanings.
"AUTHENTICATING AGENT" shall mean any agent of the Trustee which shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 9.15 hereof.
"AUTHORIZED AGENT" shall mean any agent of the Company designated as such by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or the Executive Committee of such Board or any other duly authorized committee
of such Board.
"BOARD RESOLUTION" shall mean a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"BUSINESS DAY" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, the state of Missouri, or in the city where the corporate trust office of the Trustee is located, are obligated or authorized by law or executive order to close, except as otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof.
"COMMISSION" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or if at any time hereafter the Commission is not existing or performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA, then the body performing such duties.
"COMPANY" shall mean the corporation named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and its successors and assigns permitted hereunder. "COMPANY ORDER" shall mean a written order or certificate signed in the name of the Company by one of the Chairman, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. At the Company's option, a Company Order may take the form of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture.
"CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE OF THE TRUSTEE", or other similar term, shall mean the corporate trust office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which shall initially be 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West, New York, New York 10286.
"DEBT" shall mean any outstanding funded obligations of the Company for money borrowed, whether or not evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other securities, reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, or guarantees of any such obligations issued by another Person.
"DEPOSITARY" shall mean, unless otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York ("DTC"), or any successor thereto registered and qualified as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or other applicable statute or regulation.
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall mean any event specified in Section 8.01 hereof, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.
"GLOBAL NOTE" shall mean a Note that, pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, is delivered to the Depositary or pursuant to the instructions of the Depositary and that shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
"HOLDER", "HOLDER OF NOTES" or "NOTEHOLDER" shall mean any Person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the books of the Trustee kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.
"INDENTURE" shall mean this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, and shall include the terms and provisions of a particular series of Notes established pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof.
"INTEREST PAYMENT DATE", when used with respect to any Note, shall mean (a) each date designated as such for the payment of interest on such Note specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof (provided that the first Interest Payment Date for such Note, the Original Issue Date of which is after a Regular Record Date but prior to the respective Interest Payment Date, shall be the Interest Payment Date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date), (b) a date of Maturity of such Note and (c) only with respect to defaulted interest on such Note, the date established by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof.
"MATURITY," when used with respect to any Note, shall mean the date on which the principal of such Note becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity thereof or by declaration of acceleration, redemption or otherwise.
"NOTE" or "NOTES" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any note or notes, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, including any Global Note.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" when used with respect to the Company, shall mean a certificate signed by one of the Chairman, the President, any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company; provided, that no individual shall be entitled to sign in more than one capacity.
"OPINION OF COUNSEL" shall mean an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of the Company, meeting the applicable requirements of Section 16.05 hereof. If the Indenture requires the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee, the text and substance of which has been previously delivered to the Trustee, the Company may satisfy such requirement by the delivery by the legal counsel that delivered such previous Opinion of Counsel of a letter to the Trustee to the effect that the Trustee may rely on such previous Opinion of Counsel as if such Opinion of Counsel was dated and delivered the date delivery of such Opinion of Counsel is required. Any Opinion of Counsel may contain reasonable conditions and qualifications satisfactory to the Trustee.
"ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE" shall mean for a Note, or portions thereof, the date upon which it, or such portion, was issued by the Company pursuant to this Indenture and authenticated by the Trustee (other than in connection with a transfer, exchange or substitution).
"OUTSTANDING", when used with reference to Notes, shall, subject to Section 10.04 hereof, mean, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:
(a) Notes theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Notes, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company), provided that if such Notes are to be redeemed prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article III, or provisions satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice;
(c) Notes, or portions thereof, that have been paid and discharged or are deemed to have been paid and discharged pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture; and
(d) Notes in lieu of or in substitution for which other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered, or which have been paid, pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof.
"PERIODIC OFFERING" means an offering of Notes of a series from time to time the specific terms of which Notes, including without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the issuance of such Notes.
"PERSON" shall mean any individual, corporation, company partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agent or political subdivision thereof.
"PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE COMPANY" shall mean 1201 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, or such other place where the main corporate offices of the Company are located as designated in writing to the Trustee by an Authorized Agent.
"REGULAR RECORD DATE" shall mean, unless otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, for an Interest Payment Date for a particular Note (except for an Interest Payment Date with respect to defaulted interest on such Note) (a) the fifteenth day next preceding each Interest Payment Date (unless the Interest Payment Date is the date of Maturity of such Note, in which event, the Regular Record Date shall be as described in clause (b) hereof) and (b) the date of Maturity of such Note.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" or "RESPONSIBLE OFFICERS" when used with respect to the Trustee shall mean one or more of the following: any vice president, assistant vice president or any assistant treasurer, or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean all obligations (other than non-recourse obligations, the indebtedness issued under this Indenture and other indebtedness which is either effectively by its terms of expressly made subordinate to or pari passu with the indebtedness issued under this Indenture) of, or guaranteed (except to the extent the Company's payment obligations under any such guarantee are subordinate to or pari passu with the indebtedness issued under this Indenture) or assumed by, the Company for borrowed money, including both senior and subordinated indebtedness for borrowed money (other than indebtedness issued under this Indenture and other indebtedness which is expressly made subordinate to or pari passu with the indebtedness issued under this indenture), or for the payment of money related to any lease which is capitalized on the balance sheet of the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time, or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or o ther similar instruments, and in each case, amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications, and refundings of any such indebtedness or obligations with Senior Indebtedness, whether existing as of the date of this Indenture or subsequently incurred by the Company.
"SPECIAL RECORD DATE" shall mean, with respect to any Note, the date established by the Trustee in connection with the payment of defaulted interest on such Note pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof.
"STATED MATURITY" shall mean with respect to any Note, the last date on which principal on such Note becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, other than by declaration of acceleration or by redemption.
"SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the securities or other ownership interest having ordinary voting power (absolutely or contingently) for the election of directors or other Persons performing similar functions are at the time owned directly or indirectly by such Person.
"TRUSTEE" shall mean ______________ and, subject to Article IX, shall also include any successor Trustee.
"U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS" shall mean (i) direct noncallable obligations of, or non-callable obligations guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by, the United States of America or obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality thereof for the payment of which obligations or guarantee the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged or (ii) certificates or receipts representing direct ownership interests in obligations or specified portions (such as principal or interest) of obligations described in clause (i) above, which obligations are held by a custodian in safekeeping in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee.
ARTICLE II
FORM, ISSUE, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND
EXCHANGE OF NOTES
Section 2.01 FORMS GENERALLY.
(a) The Notes shall be in such form as shall be established by a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05(c) hereof 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 rules of any securities exchange or of the Depositary or with applicable law or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes.
(b) The definitive Notes shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes.
Section 2.02 FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. The Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Notes shall be in substantially the following form:
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This Note is one of the Notes of the series herein designated, described or provided for in the within-mentioned Indenture.
_________________, as Trustee
By:
_________________
Authorized Signatory
Section 2.03 AMOUNT UNLIMITED. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited, subject to compliance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Section 2.04 DENOMINATIONS, DATES, INTEREST PAYMENT AND RECORD DATES.
(a) The Notes of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof or such other amount or amounts as may be authorized by the Board of Directors or a Company Order pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto; provided, that the principal amount of a Global Note shall not exceed $500,000,000 unless otherwise permitted by the Depositary.
(b) Each Note shall be dated and issued as of the date of its authentication by the Trustee, and shall bear an Original Issue Date; each Note issued upon transfer, exchange or substitution of a Note shall bear the Original Issue Date or Dates of such transferred, exchanged or substituted Note, subject to the provisions of Section 2.13(d) hereof.
(c) Each Note shall accrue interest from the later of (1) its Original Issue Date or the date specified in such Note and (2) the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to such Note until the principal of such Note is paid or made available for payment, and interest on each Note shall be payable on each Interest Payment Date after the Original Issue Date.
(d) Each Note shall mature on a Stated Maturity specified in the Note. The principal amount of each outstanding Note shall be payable on the Stated Maturity date specified therein.
(e) Unless otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, interest on each of the Notes shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months (and for any partial periods shall be calculated on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) and shall be computed at a fixed rate until the Stated Maturity of such Notes. The method of computing interest on any Notes not bearing a fixed rate of interest shall be set forth in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof. Unless otherwise specified in a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, principal, interest and premium on the Notes shall be payable in the currency of the United States.
(f) Except as provided in the following sentence, the Person in whose name any Note is registered at the close of business on any Regular Record Date or Special Record Date with respect to an Interest Payment Date for such Note shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the cancellation of such Note upon any registration of transfer, exchange or substitution of such Note subsequent to such Regular Record Date or Special Record Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date. Any interest payable at Maturity shall be paid to the Person to whom the principal of such Note is payable.
(g) So long as the Trustee is the registrar and paying agent, the Trustee shall, as soon as practicable but no later than the Regular Record Date preceding each applicable Interest Payment Date, provide to the Company a list of the principal, interest and premium to be paid on Notes on such Interest Payment Date. The Trustee shall assume responsibility for withholding taxes on interest paid as required by law except with respect to any Global Note.
Section 2.05 EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.
(a) The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by one of its Chairman, President, or any Vice President and by its Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. The signature of any of these officers on the Notes may be manual or facsimile. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Note that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.
(b) Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at the time of execution 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 Notes or did not hold such offices at the date of such Notes.
(c) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with or preceded by one or more Company Orders for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with any such Company Order shall authenticate and make available for delivery such Notes; provided, however, that, with respect to Notes of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (A) such Company Order may be delivered by the Company to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Notes for authentication and delivery, (B) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Notes of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, all pursuant to a further Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by suc h further Company Order, (C) the Stated Maturity or Maturities, Original Issue Date or Dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Notes of such series shall be determined by such further Company Order or pursuant to such procedures and (D) if provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. Such Company Order shall specify the following with respect to each series of Notes: (i) the title of the Notes of such series (which shall distinguish the Notes of such series from Notes of all other series) and any limitations on the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be issued as part of such series, (ii) the Original Issue Date for such series, (iii) the Stated Maturity of Notes of such series, (iv) the interest rate or rates, or method of calculation of such rate or rates, for such series and the date from which such interest will accrue, (v) the terms, if any, regarding the optional or mandatory redemption of such series, including redemption date or dates of such series, if any, and the price or prices applicable to such redemption, (vi) whether or not the Notes of such series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Note and, if so, the Depositary for such Global Note if not DTC, (vii) the form of the Notes of such series, (viii) the maximum annual interest rate, if any, of the Notes permitted for such series, (ix) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such series may be repaid, in whole or in part, at the option of the Holder thereof, (x) the establishment of any office or agency pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof, (xi) any Events of Default, in addition to those specified in Section 8.01 hereof, with respect to the Notes of such series, and any covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Not es of such series in addition to those set forth in Articles VI and XII hereof, (xii) the terms, if any, pursuant to which the Notes of such series may be converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company, and (xiii) any other terms of such series not inconsistent with this Indenture. With respect to Notes of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Company Order may provide general terms or parameters for Notes of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Notes of such series shall be specified in a further Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company or its agents in accordance with such further Company Order as contemplated by the proviso of the first sentence of this Section 2.05(c). Prior to authenticating Notes of any series, and in accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Notes, the Trustee shall receive from the Company the following at or before the issuance of su ch series of Notes, and (subject to Section 9.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, unless and until such documents have been superseded or revoked prior to such issuance:
(1) A Board Resolution authorizing such Company Order or Orders and, if the form of Notes is established by a Board Resolution or a Company Order pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of such Board Resolution;
(2) At the option of the Company, either an Opinion of Counsel or a letter addressed to the Trustee permitting it to rely on an Opinion of Counsel, stating substantially the following subject to customary qualifications and exceptions:
(A) if the form of such Notes has been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a Company Order pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in a supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 2.01 hereof, that such form has been established in conformity with this Indenture;
(B) that this Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and by an implied covenant of reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing;
(C) that this Indenture is qualified to the extent necessary under the TIA or, if not so required, that this Indenture is not required to be qualified under the TIA;
(D) that such Notes have been duly authorized and executed by the Company, and when authenticated 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 binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and by an implied covenant of reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing;
(E) that the issuance of such Notes will not result in any default under this Indenture;
(F) that all consents or approvals of the Commission (or any successor agency) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 and of any other federal or state regulatory agency required in connection with the Company's execution and delivery of this Indenture and such Notes have been obtained and are in full force and effect (except that no statement need be made with respect to state securities laws); and
(G) that all conditions that must be met by the Company to issue Notes under this Indenture have been met.
(3) An Officers' Certificate stating that (i) the Company is not, and upon the authentication by the Trustee of such Notes, will not be in default under any of the terms or covenants contained in this Indenture and (ii) all conditions that must be met by the Company to issue Notes under this Indenture have been met.
(d) No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Note a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Note shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
(e) If all Notes of a series are not to be authenticated and issued at one time in connection with a Periodic Offering, the Company shall not be required to deliver the Company Order, Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel (including any of the foregoing that would be otherwise required pursuant to Section 15.05 hereof) described in Section 2.05(c) hereof at or prior to the authentication of each Note of such series, if such items are delivered at or prior to the time of authentication of the first Note of such series to be authenticated and issued.
Section 2.06 EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF NOTES.
(a) Subject to Section 2.13 hereof, Notes of any series may be exchanged for one or more new Notes of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, series and Stated Maturity and having the same terms and Original Issue Date. Notes to be exchanged shall be surrendered at any of the offices or agencies to be maintained pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Note or Notes of such series which the Noteholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.
(b) The Trustee shall keep, at one of said offices or agencies, a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Trustee shall register or cause to be registered Notes and shall register or cause to be registered the transfer of Notes as in this Article II provided. Such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, such register shall be open for inspection by the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Note at any such office or agency, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall register, authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, series and Stated Maturity and having the same terms and Original Issue Date.
(c) All Notes presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, redemption or payment shall be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee and duly executed by the Holder or the attorney in fact of such Holder duly authorized in writing.
(d) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
(e) The Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register the transfer of any Notes selected, called or being called for redemption (including Notes, if any, redeemable at the option of the Holder provided such Notes are then redeemable at such Holder's option) except, in the case of any Note to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be so redeemed.
(f) If the principal amount, and applicable premium, of part, but not all of a Global Note is paid, then upon surrender to the Trustee of such Global Note, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, deliver and register, a Global Note in an authorized denomination in aggregate principal amount equal to, and having the same terms, Original Issue Date and series as, the unpaid portion of such Global Note.
Section 2.07 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN NOTES.
(a) If any temporary or definitive Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note of like form and principal amount and having the same terms and Original Issue Date and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Company, the Trustee and any paying agent or Authenticating Agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft of a Note, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and to the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.
(b) The Trustee shall authenticate any such substituted Note and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Note, 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 connected therewith. If any Note which has matured, is about to mature, has been redeemed or called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Note, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company, the Trustee and any paying agent or Authenticating Agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.
(c) Every substituted Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.07 by virtue of the fact that any Note is mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not such destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. All Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude to the full extent permitted by applicable law any and all other rights or remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.08 TEMPORARY NOTES. Pending the preparation of definitive Notes of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed, lithographed or otherwise reproduced). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination and substantially in the form of the definitive Notes but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Note shall be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Notes. Without unreasonable delay the Company shall execute and shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Notes of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Notes of such series shall be surrendered in exchange therefor at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate, deliver and register in exchange for such temporary Notes an equa l aggregate principal amount of definitive Notes of such series. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor to the Noteholders. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes of such series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.09 CANCELLATION OF NOTES PAID, ETC. All Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation and promptly cancelled by it and no Notes shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Company shall surrender to the Trustee any Notes so acquired by it and such Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes so cancelled.
Section 2.10 INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED. Each Note delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note, and each such Note shall be so dated that neither gain nor loss of interest shall result from such transfer, exchange or substitution.
Section 2.11 SPECIAL RECORD DATE. If and to the extent that the Company fails to make timely payment or provision for timely payment of interest on any series of Notes (other than on an Interest Payment Date that is a Maturity date), that interest shall cease to be payable to the Persons who were the Noteholders of such series at the applicable Regular Record Date. In that event, when moneys become available for payment of the interest, the Trustee shall (a) establish a date of payment of such interest and a Special Record Date for the payment of that interest, which Special Record Date shall be not more than 15 or fewer than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and (b) mail notice of the date of payment and of the Special Record Date not fewer than 10 days preceding the Special Record Date to each Noteholder of such series at the close of business on the 15th day preceding the mailing at the address of such Noteholder, as it appeared on the register for the Notes. On the day so established b y the Trustee, the interest shall be payable to the Holders of the applicable Notes at the close of business on the Special Record Date.
Section 2.12 PAYMENT OF NOTES. Payment of the principal of and interest and premium on all Notes shall be payable as follows:
(a) On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Company, of the day on which payment of principal, interest and premium is due on any Global Note pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee funds available on such date sufficient to make such payment, by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by instructing the Trustee to withdraw sufficient funds from an account maintained by the Company with the Trustee or such other method as is acceptable to the Trustee. On or before 12:00 noon, New York City time, or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Depositary, of the day on which any payment of interest is due on any Global Note (other than at Maturity), the Trustee shall pay to the Depositary such interest in same day funds. On or before 1:00 p.m., New York City time or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Depositary, of the day on which princ ipal, interest payable at Maturity and premium, if any, is due on any Global Note, the Trustee shall deposit with the Depositary the amount equal to the principal, interest payable at Maturity and premium, if any, by wire transfer into the account specified by the Depositary. As a condition to the payment, at Maturity, of any part of the principal of, interest on, and applicable premium of any Global Note, the Depositary shall surrender, or cause to be surrendered, such Global Note to the Trustee, whereupon a new Global Note shall be issued to the Depositary pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.
(b) With respect to any Note that is not a Global Note, principal, applicable premium and interest due at the Maturity of the Note shall be payable in immediately available funds when due upon presentation and surrender of such Note at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or at the authorized office of any paying agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York. Interest on any Note that is not a Global Note (other than interest payable at Maturity) shall be paid by check payable in clearinghouse funds mailed to the Holder thereof at such Holder's address as it appears on the register; provided that if the Trustee receives a written request from any Holder of Notes, the aggregate principal amount of which having the same Interest Payment Date equals or exceeds $10,000,000, on or before the applicable Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Note shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank within the continental United States des ignated by such Holder in its request or by direct deposit into the account of such Holder designated by such Holder in its request if such account is maintained with the Trustee or any paying agent.
Section 2.13 NOTES ISSUABLE IN THE FORM OF A GLOBAL NOTE.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof that the Notes of a particular series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global Notes, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof and the Company Order delivered to the Trustee thereunder, authenticate and deliver such Global Note or Notes, which, unless otherwise specified in such Company Order, (i) shall represent, shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and shall have the same terms as, the outstanding Notes of such series to be represented by such Global Note or Notes, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary's instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: "This Note is a Global Note registered in the name of the Depositary (referred to herein) or a nominee thereof and, unless and until it i s exchanged in whole for the individual Notes represented hereby as provided in the Indenture referred to below, this Global Note 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 or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Unless this Global Note is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York), to the Trustee for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment is made to Cede & Co., any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein" or such other leg end as may be required by the rules and regulations of the Depositary.
(b) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Note notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the Depositary for the Global Note shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Note. If a successor Depositary for such Global Note is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company's election pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(vi) hereof shall no longer be effective with respect to the series of Notes evidenced by such Global Note and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Notes of such seri es in exchange for such Global Note, shall authenticate and deliver, individual Notes of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note in exchange for such Global Note. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge or notice of the ineligibility of a Depositary unless a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof.
(ii) (A) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that all outstanding (but not less than all) Notes of a series issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Notes shall no longer be represented by such Global Note or Notes. In such event the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Notes in exchange for such Global Note, shall authenticate and deliver individual Notes of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note or Notes in exchange for such Global Note or Notes.
(B) Within seven days after the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Global Notes, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Notes of such series in definitive registered form in any authorized denominations and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes.
(iii) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding two paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver individual Notes in definitive registered form in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of a Global Note for individual Notes, such Global Note shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Note, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Notes to the Depositary for delivery to the persons in whose names such Notes are so registered, or if the Depositary shall refuse or be unable to deliver such Notes, the Trustee shall deliver such Notes to the persons in whose names such Notes are registered, unless otherwise agreed up on between the Trustee and the Company, in which event the Company shall cause the Notes to be delivered to the persons in whose names such Notes are registered.
(c) Neither the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest.
(d) Pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, at the option of the Trustee (subject to Section 2.04(a) hereof) and upon 30 days' written notice to the Depositary but not prior to the first Interest Payment Date of the respective Global Notes, the Depositary shall be required to surrender any two or more Global Notes which have identical terms, including, without limitation, identical maturities, interest rates and redemption provisions (but which may have differing Original Issue Dates) to the Trustee, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to, or at the direction of, the Depositary a Global Note in principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and with all terms identical to, the Global Notes surrendered thereto and that shall indicate each applicable Original Issue Date and the principal amount applicable to each such Original Issue Date. The exchange contemplated in this subsection shall be consummated at least 30 days prior to any Interest Paym ent Date applicable to any of the Global Notes surrendered to the Trustee. Upon any exchange of any Global Note with two or more Original Issue Dates, whether pursuant to this Section or pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 3.03 hereof, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with a particular Original Issue Date shall be the same before and after such exchange, after giving effect to any retirement of Notes and the Original Issue Dates applicable to such Notes occurring in connection with such exchange.
Section 2.14 CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS. The Company in issuing Notes may use "CUSIP" or "ISIN" numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so used, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" or "ISIN" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders of Notes; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the "CUSIP" or "ISIN" numbers.
Section 2.15 EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIODS. The Company shall have the right at any time, so long as the Company is not in default in the payment of interest on the Notes of any series hereunder, to extend interest payment periods on all Notes of one or more series, if so specified as contemplated by Section 2.05 with respect to such Notes and upon such terms as may be specified as contemplated by Section 2.05 with respect to such Notes.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF NOTES
Section 3.01 APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE. Those Notes of any series that are, by their terms, redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity at the option of the Company, may be redeemed by the Company at such times, in such amounts and at such prices as may be specified therein and in accordance with the provisions of this Article III.
Section 3.02 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; SELECTION OF NOTES.
(a) The election of the Company to redeem any Notes shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution which shall be given with notice of redemption to the Trustee at least 45 days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Trustee in its sole discretion) prior to the redemption date specified in such notice.
(b) Notice of redemption to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed as a whole or in part shall be given by the Trustee, in the manner provided in Section 15.10 hereof, no less than 30 or more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Any notice which is given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Noteholder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice,or any defect in such notice, to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.
(c) Each such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including "CUSIP" or "ISIN" numbers) and shall specify the date fixed for redemption, the places of redemption and the redemption price (or the method for calculation thereof) at which such Notes are to be redeemed, and shall state that (subject to subsection (e) of this section) payment of the redemption price of such Notes or portion thereof to be redeemed will be made upon surrender of such Notes at such places of redemption, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in such notice, and that from and after such date interest thereon shall cease to accrue. If less than all of a series of Notes having the same terms are to be redeemed, the notice shall specify the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that, upon surrender of such Note , a new Note or Notes having the same terms in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
(d) Unless otherwise provided by a Company Order under Section 2.05 hereof, if less than all of a series of Notes is to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select in such manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion the particular Notes to be redeemed in whole or in part and shall hereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes so to be redeemed. If less than all of a series of Notes represented by a Global Note is to be redeemed, the particular Notes or portions thereof of such series to be redeemed shall be selected by the Depositary for such series of Notes in such manner as the Depositary shall determine. Notes shall be redeemed only in denominations of $1,000, or such other denominations authorized by a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof, provided that any remaining principal amount of a Note redeemed in part shall be a denomination authorized under this Indenture.
(e) If at the time of the mailing of any notice of redemption at the option of the Company, the Company shall not have irrevocably directed the Trustee to apply funds then on deposit with the Trustee or held by it and available to be used for the redemption of Notes to redeem all the Notes called for redemption, such notice, at the election of the Company, may state that it is conditional and subject to the receipt of the redemption moneys by the Trustee on or before the date fixed for redemption and that such notice shall be of no force and effect unless such moneys are so received on or before such date.
Section 3.03 PAYMENT OF NOTES ON REDEMPTION; DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.
(a) If notice of redemption for any Notes shall have been given as provided in Section 3.02 hereof and such notice shall not contain the language permitted at the Company's option under Section 3.02(e) hereof, such Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the date and at the places stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption of such Notes. Interest on the Notes or portions thereof so called for redemption shall cease to accrue and such Notes or portions thereof shall be deemed not to be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture except to receive payment of the redemption price together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption. Upon presentation and surrender of such Notes at the place of payment specified in such notice, such Notes or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.
(b) If notice of redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 3.02 hereof and such notice shall contain the language permitted at the Company's option under Section 3.02(e) hereof, such Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the date and at the places stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption of such Notes, and interest on the Notes or portions thereof so called for redemption shall cease to accrue and such Notes or portions thereof shall be deemed not to be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture except to receive payment of the redemption price together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided that, in each case, the Company shall have deposited with the Trustee or a paying agent on or prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on such redemption date an amount sufficient to pay the redemption price together with interest accrued to the dat e fixed for redemption. Upon the Company making such deposit and, upon presentation and surrender of such Notes at such a place of payment in such notice specified, such Notes or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption. If the Company shall not make such deposit on or prior to the redemption date, the notice of redemption shall be of no force and effect and the principal on such Notes or specified portions thereof shall continue to bear interest as if the notice of redemption had not been given.
(c) No notice of redemption of Notes shall be mailed during the continuance of any Event of Default, except (1) that, when notice of redemption of any Notes has been mailed, the Company shall redeem such Notes but only if funds sufficient for that purpose have prior to the occurrence of such Event of Default been deposited with the Trustee or a paying agent for such purpose, and (2) that notices of redemption of all outstanding Notes may be given during the continuance of an Event of Default.
(d) Upon surrender of any Note redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, deliver and register, a new Note or Notes of authorized denominations in aggregate principal amount equal to, and having the same terms, Original Issue Date or Dates and series as, the unredeemed portion of the Note so surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
SINKING FUNDS
Section 4.01 APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Notes of any series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.05(c) hereof for Notes of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Notes of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Notes of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Notes of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 4.02 hereof. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Notes of the series in respect of which it was made as provided for by the terms of such Notes.
Section 4.02 SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH NOTES. The Company (a) may deliver Outstanding Notes (other than any previously called for redemption) of a series in respect of which a mandatory sinking fund payment is to be made and (b) may apply as a credit Notes of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Notes or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Notes, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of such mandatory sinking fund payment; provided, however, that no Notes shall be applied in satisfaction of a mandatory sinking fund payment if such Notes shall have been previously so applied. Notes so applied shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Notes for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 4.03 REDEMPTION OF NOTES FOR SINKING FUND. Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for the Notes of any series, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate specifying:
(a) the amount of the next succeeding mandatory sinking fund payment for such series;
(b) the amount, if any, of the optional sinking fund payment to be made together with such mandatory sinking fund payment;
(c) the aggregate sinking fund payment;
(d) the portion, if any, of such aggregate sinking fund payment which is to be satisfied by the payment of cash; and
(e) the portion, if any, of such aggregate sinking fund payment which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Notes of such series pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof and stating the basis for such credit and that such Notes have not previously been so credited.
The Company shall also deliver to the Trustee any Notes to be so delivered. If the Company shall not deliver such Officers' Certificate, the next succeeding sinking fund payment for such series shall be made entirely in cash in the amount of the mandatory sinking fund payment. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02(d) hereof 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 3.02 hereof. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Notes shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03 hereof.
ARTICLE V
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
Section 5.01 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE. This Indenture shall upon the request of the Company cease to be of further effect with respect to the Notes of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes of such series herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:
(a) either:
(i) all Notes of such series previously authenticated and delivered (other than Notes of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all the Notes of such series not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable (whether at stated maturity, early redemption or otherwise), and the Company has deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably with the Trustee as funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series an amount in cash sufficient to pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all outstanding Notes of such series;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Notes of such series; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes of such series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes of any or all series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 9.06 hereof shall survive, and, if money will have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii) of clause (a) of this Section 5.01, the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 5.02 and 5.05 hereof shall survive.
Section 5.02 APPLICATION OF TRUST FUNDS; INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 5.05 hereof, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01, 5.03 or 5.04 hereof and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 5.01,5.03 or 5.04 hereof, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes of any particular series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee.
(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.03 or 5.04 hereof or the interest, premium, if any, and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 5.01, 5.03 or 5.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
Section 5.03 LEGAL DEFEASANCE. The Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all of the outstanding Notes of any series on the day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (i) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to the outstanding Notes of such series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon the request of the Company, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(a) the rights of Holders of the Notes of such series to receive, solely from the trust funds described in subparagraph (i) below, payments of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the outstanding Notes of such series on the date such payments are due;
(b) the Company's obligations with respect to the Notes of such series under Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.13, 6.02 and 6.04 hereof; and
(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the duties of the Trustee under Section 5.02 hereof and the duty of the Trustee to authenticate Notes of such series issued on registration of transfer of exchange; provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(i) the Company shall have deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably with the Trustee as funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series, cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (without reinvestment), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, 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 principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes of such series on the dates such payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest are due to maturity or redemption;
(ii) no Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default with respect to the Notes of such series specified in Section 8.01(a)(5) or (6) hereof with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;
(iii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect 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 execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Notes of such series will not recognize income, 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 in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
(v) such deposit shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA with respect to any securities of the Company or result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an "investment company" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended); and
(vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 5.03 have been complied with.
Subject to compliance with this Article V, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 5.03 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 5.04 with respect to the Notes of any series. Following a defeasance, payment of the Notes of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
Section 5.04 COVENANT DEFEASANCE. On and after the day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Section 6.05 and Article XII hereof as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto (and the failure to comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 hereof) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (3) and (4) of Section 8.01(a) hereof shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Notes of any series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) with reference to this Section 5.04, the Company has deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably (except as provided in Section 5.05 hereof) with the Trustee as funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series, cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (without reinvestment), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes of such series on the dates such payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest are due to maturity or redemption;
(b) no Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default with respect to the Notes of such series specified in Section 8.01(a)(5) or (6) hereof with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;
(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Notes of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
(e) such deposit shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA with respect to any securities of the Company or result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an "investment company" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended);
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 5.04 have been complied with; and
(g) following a covenant defeasance, payment of the Notes of any series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 8.01(a)(5) and (6) or by reference to Sections 6.05 and 8.01(a)(3) and (4) and Article XII hereof.
Section 5.05 REPAYMENT TO COMPANY. The Trustee and the paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders of the Notes of such series entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
ARTICLE VI
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 6.01 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of any series that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and any premium and interest, if any, on, such Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided in such Notes or in this Indenture.
Section 6.02 OFFICES FOR PAYMENTS, ETC. So long as the Notes of any series are outstanding hereunder, the Company will maintain an office or agency where the Notes of such series may be presented for payment, for exchange as in this Indenture provided, for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the securities under this Indenture may be served. The Principal Executive Offices of the Company will be such office or agency unless the Company shall maintain some other office or agency for such purposes and shall give the Trustee and the registered holders of the securities written notice of the location thereof. If the Company shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location of any of the above offices or agencies, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and, in such event, the Trustee shall act as the Company's agent to receiv e all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may from time to time designate one or more additional offices or agencies where the Notes of any series may be presented for payment, for exchange as in this Indenture provided and for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and the Company may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any office or agency provided for in this Section. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
Section 6.03 APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 9.11, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
Section 6.04 PROVISION AS TO PAYING AGENT. The Trustee shall be the paying agent for the Notes and, at the option of the Company, the Company may appoint additional paying agents (including without limitation itself or its Subsidiary unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Whenever the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Notes, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(1) that such paying agent will hold all sums received by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Notes) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, or of the Trustee until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(2) that such paying agent will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on Notes) to make any payment of the principal of, premium if any, or interest on the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and
(3) that such paying agent will at any time during the continuance of any such failure, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.
The Company will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and any premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes entitled to such principal of and any premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.
If the Company or its Subsidiary shall act as its own paying agent with respect to the Notes, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.
The Company may at any time pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained, 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.
Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.04.
Section 6.05 CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Subject to the rights of the Company under Article XII, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if, in the judgment of the Company, the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.
Section 6.06 CERTIFICATES AND NOTICE TO TRUSTEE. The Company shall, on or before __________ of each year, commencing _______________, deliver to the Trustee a certificate from its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer covering the preceding calendar year and stating whether or not, to the knowledge of such Person, the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture, and, if not, describing in reasonable detail any failure by the Company to comply with any such conditions or covenants. For purposes of this Section, compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.
ARTICLE VII
NOTEHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY
THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 COMPANY TO FURNISH NOTEHOLDER LISTS. The Company and any other obligor on the Notes shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Notes:
(a) semi-annually and not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date for each Interest Payment Date that is not a Maturity date, as of such Regular Record Date, and such list need not include information received after such date; and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished, and such list need not include information received after such date; provided that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the registrar for the Notes, such list shall not be required to be furnished.
Section 7.02 PRESERVATION AND DISCLOSURE OF NOTEHOLDER LISTS.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of the Notes (i) contained in the most recent lists furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01, (ii) received by it in the capacity of registrar for the Notes, if so acting, and (iii) filed with it within the two preceding years pursuant to Section 7.04(d)(2). The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) In case three or more Holders of Notes (hereinafter referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof (in the discretion of the Trustee) that each such applicant has owned a Note for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders of Notes with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Notes and such application is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either
(i) afford to such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section; or
(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such subsection (a) and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.
If the Trustee shall elect not to afford to such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder of Notes, whose name and address appears in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of such subsection (a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met, and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.
(c) Each and every Holder of a Note, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under such subsection (b).
Section 7.03 REPORTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall:
(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regul ations;
(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations. Filing of such information, documents and reports with the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates); and
(c) transmit by mail to all Holders of Notes, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 7.04(d), such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
Note that, for purposes of this Section 7.03, the Company's responsibility to file information with the Trustee which is also filed with the Commission, shall be deemed to be satisfied by the posting of the Company's filings with the Commission on the Commission's website (www.sec.gov/edgar).
Section 7.04 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.
(a) Annually, not later than August 15 of each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail a brief report dated as of such date that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA (to the extent required by such Section).
(b) The Trustee shall from time to time transmit by mail brief reports that comply, both in content and date of delivery, with Section 313(b) of the TIA (to the extent required by such Section).
(c) A copy of each such report filed pursuant to this section shall, at the time of such transmission to such Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Notes are listed and also with the Commission. The Company will notify the Trustee promptly in writing upon the listing of such Notes on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.
(d) Except as otherwise described in Section 7.03, reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted:
(1) by mail to all Holders of Notes, as their names and addresses appear in the register for the Notes;
(2) by mail to such Holders of Notes as have, within the two years preceding such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the Trustee for such purpose;
(3) by mail, except in the case of reports pursuant to Section 7.04(b) and (c) hereof, to all Holders of Notes whose names and addresses have been furnished to or received by the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.0 and 7.02(a)(ii) hereof; and
(4) at the time such report is transmitted to the Holders of the Notes, to each exchange on which Notes are listed and also with the Commission.
ARTICLE VIII
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND
NOTEHOLDERS ON
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Section 8.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
(a) If one or more of the following Events of Default with respect to the Notes of any series shall have occurred and be continuing:
(1) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Note of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of thirty (30) days, provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period or deferral of interest payment by the Company as contemplated in Section 2.15 shall not constitute a failure to pay interest for this purpose;
(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Note of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of one (1) day;
(3) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any other covenants or agreements on the part of the Company contained in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Notes other than such series) for a period of sixty (60) days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure, stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder and demanding that the Company remedy the same, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee by registered mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of not less than 33% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series at the time outstanding;
(4) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, 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 law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days;
(5) the Company shall commence a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or consent to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary case under any such 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 law, or consent to the filing of such petition or to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of the property of the Company, or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the notice by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of any corporate action by the Company in furtheranc e of any such action; or
(6) any other Event of Default specified with respect to Notes of any series pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof;
then, unless the principal of and interest on all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal of and interest on all the Notes of such series to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to more than one series of Notes, the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of all such series, considered as one class, may make such declaration of acceleration, and not the Holders of the Notes of any one of such series.
The foregoing paragraph, however, is subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of and interest on the Notes of any series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all of the Notes of such series and the principal of and any premium on any and all Notes of such series which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of interest, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, and on such principal and applicable premium at the rate borne by the Notes of such series to the date of such payment or deposit) and all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder, the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents a nd counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 9.06 hereof, and any and all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of principal of and accrued interest on any Notes which shall have become due solely by acceleration of maturity, shall have been cured or waived, then and in every such case such payment or deposit shall cause an automatic waiver of the Event of Default and its consequences and shall cause an automatic rescission and annulment of the acceleration of the Notes of such series; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
(b) If the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
Section 8.02 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS BY TRUSTEE; TRUSTEE MAY PROVE DEBT.
(a) The Company covenants that if an Event of Default described in clause (a)(1) or (a)(2) of Section 8.01 hereof shall have occurred and be continuing, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company shall pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of the series with respect to which Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the whole amount that then shall have so become due and payable on all such Notes for principal or interest, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal and any premium and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by such Notes; and, in addition thereto, such further amounts as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, any expenses or liabilities incurred by the Trustee hereunder other than through its negligence or bad faith. Until such demand is made by the Trustee, the Company may pay the principal of and interest on such Notes to the Holders, whether or not such Notes be overdue.
(b) In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Notes and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Notes wherever situated, the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.
(c) In case there shall be pending proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company or its property or such other obligor, or in case of any other comparable judicial proceedings relative to the Company or such other obligor, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise:
(1) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Noteholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or such other obligor, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor; and
(2) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of the Noteholders and of the Trustee on their behalf; and any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Noteholders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of the payments directly to the Noteholders, to pay to Trustee such amounts due pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof.
(d) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes of any series 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 except to vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar person.
(e) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof at any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment, subject to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and compensation of the Trustee and its agents, attorneys and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in respect of which such action was taken.
(f) In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Notes in respect to which action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such Notes parties to any such proceedings.
Section 8.03 APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. Any moneys collected by the Trustee with respect to any of the Notes pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid.
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof;
SECOND: In case the principal of the outstanding Notes in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on the Notes, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent allowed by law) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes, such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto, and then to the payment to the Holders entitled thereto of the unpaid principal of and applicable premium on any of the Notes which shall have become due (other than Notes previously called for redemption for the payment of which moneys are held pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture), whether at stated maturity or by redemption, in the order of their due dates, beginning with the earliest due date, and if the amount available is not sufficient to pay in full all Notes due on any particular date, then to the payment thereof ratably, according to the amounts of princi pal and applicable premium due on that date, to the Holders entitled thereto, without any discrimination or privilege;
THIRD: In case the principal of the outstanding Notes in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and any premium and interest thereon, with interest on the overdue principal and any premium and (to the extent allowed by law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes; and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal and any premium and interest without preference or priority of principal and any premium over interest, or of interest over principal and any premium or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and any premium and accrued and unpaid interest; and
FOURTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may lawfully be entitled to the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may determine.
Section 8.04 LIMITATIONS ON SUITS BY NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) No Holder of any Note of any series shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to such Note and of the continuance thereof, as hereinabove provided, and unless also Noteholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series then outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trus tee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Note of any series with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Notes of such series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder of Notes of such series, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Notes of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Noteholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the rights of any Holder of any Note to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note or on the applicable redemption date, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates are absolute and unconditional, and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 8.05 SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT. In case an Event of Default has occurred, has not been waived and is continuing hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted to it under this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Section 8.06 POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER OF DEFAULT. No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes 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.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to Section 8.04, every right and power given by this Indenture or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Notes, as the case may be.
Section 8.07 DIRECTION OF PROCEEDINGS AND WAIVER OF DEFAULTS BY MAJORITY OF NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series at the time outstanding 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; provided, however, that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to more than one series of Notes, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of all such series, considered as one class, shall have the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of the Notes of any one of such series; provided, further, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture; and provided further that (subject to Section 9.01 hereof) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may n ot lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees or responsible officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee in its discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction or directions by Noteholders.
(b) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series at the time outstanding may on behalf of all of the Holders of the Notes of such series waive any past default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a default in the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on the Notes of such series. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Upon such waiver, such default shall cease to exist and be deemed to have been cured and not to be continuing, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured and not to be continuing, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 8.08 NOTICE OF DEFAULT. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the Notes of any series, give to all Holders of the Notes of such series, in the manner provided in Section 16.10, notice of such default actually known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice, the term "default" for the purpose of this Section 8.08 being hereby defined to be any event which is or after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default; provided that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Notes of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installments, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees or responsible officers in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice i s in the interests of the Holders of the Notes of such series.
Section 8.09 UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by 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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but this Section 8.09 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, or to any suit instituted by any Noteholder, or group of Noteholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes of all series in respect of which such suit may be brought, considered as one class , or to any suit instituted by any Noteholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Note on or after the due date expressed in such Note or the applicable redemption date.
Section 8.10 RESTORATION OF RIGHTS ON ABANDONMENT OF PROCEEDINGS. In case the Trustee or any Holder shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then, and in every such case, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
Section 8.11 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 IX
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 9.01 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. If an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction, pursuant to this Indenture, of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any one or more series, as provided herein, including, but not limited to, Section 8.07 hereof relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Notes of such series.
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Section 9.02 RELIANCE ON DOCUMENTS, OPINIONS, ETC. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.01 hereof:
(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, note or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof is herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or 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 accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Noteholders, pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Noteholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by such exercise;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, note or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of any series; provided that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by this Indenture, the Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or through agents or attorneys; provided that the Trustee shall not be liable for the conduct or acts of any such agent or attorney that shall have been appointed in accordance herewith with due care; and
(h) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and eachagent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
Section 9.03 NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECITALS, ETC. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes (except in the certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with this Indenture.
Section 9.04 TRUSTEE, AUTHENTICATING AGENT, PAYING AGENT OR REGISTRAR MAY OWN NOTES. The Trustee and any Authenticating Agent or paying agent in its individual or other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent or paying agent.
Section 9.05 MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST. Subject to Section 5.05 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee may allow and credit to the Company interest on any money received hereunder at such rate, if any, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Trustee from time to time as may be permitted by law.
Section 9.06 COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF TRUSTEE. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing (which shall not be limited by any law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company shall pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its counsel and agents, including any Authenticating Agents, and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor and their agents, directors, employees, and nominees for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss , liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of them and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability. The obligations of the Company under this Section 9.06 to compensate the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of any particular Notes. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 801(a)(4) or Section 801(a)(5), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration un der any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law. The provisions of this Section 9.06 shall survive termination of this Indenture.
Section 9.07 OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE AS EVIDENCE. Whenever in the administration of this Indenture, the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to the taking, suffering or omitting of any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such Officers' Certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under this Indenture in reliance thereon.
Section 9.08 CONFLICTING INTEREST OF TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall be subject to and shall comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the TIA. Nothing in this Indenture shall be deemed to prohibit the Trustee or the Company from making any application permitted pursuant to such section.
Section 9.09 EXISTENCE AND ELIGIBILITY OF TRUSTEE. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which Trustee shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or of the District of Columbia having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid authority, then for the purposes of this Section 9.09, the combined capital and surplus shall be deemed to be as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. No obligor upon the Notes or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with this Sectio n 9.09, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 9.10 hereof.
Section 9.10 RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE.
(a) Pursuant to the provisions of this Article, the Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts created by this Indenture by giving
written notice to the Company specifying the day upon which such resignation shall take effect, and such resignation shall take effect immediately upon the later of the appointment of a successor trustee and such day.
(b) Any Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Notes of any series by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing filed with such Trustee and signed and acknowledged by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such series or by their attorneys in fact duly authorized.
(c) So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and no event has occurred and is continuing that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, the Company may remove any Trustee upon written notice to the Holder of each Note Outstanding and the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee meeting the requirements of Section 9.09. The Company or the successor Trustee shall give notice to the Holders, in the manner provided in Section 16.10, of such removal and appointment within 30 days of such removal and appointment.
(d) If at any time (i) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with Section 9.09 hereof and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder for at least six months, (ii) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 9.08 hereof after written request therefor by the Company or any such Holder, or (iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or 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 the Trustee may be removed forthwith by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing filed with the Trustee and either:
(1) signed by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President of the Company and attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company; or
(2) signed and acknowledged by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes or by their attorneys in fact duly authorized.
(e) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee shall not become effective until acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 9.11 hereof.
Section 9.11 APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE.
(a) If at any time the Trustee shall resign or be removed, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.
(b) The Company shall provide written notice of its appointment of a Successor Trustee to the Holder of each Note Outstanding following any such appointment.
(c) If no appointment of a successor Trustee shall be made pursuant to Section 9.11(a) hereof within 60 days after appointment shall be required, any Noteholder or the resigning Trustee may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Said court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.
(d) Any Trustee appointed under this Section 9.11 as a successor Trustee shall be a bank or trust company eligible under Section 9.09 hereof and qualified under Section 9.08 hereof.
Section 9.12 ACCEPTANCE BY SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE.
(a) Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 9.11 hereof shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing in order more fully and certainly to vest in and confirm to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof.
(b) No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 9.12 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified under Section 9.08 hereof and eligible under Section 9.09 hereof.
(c) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section 9.12, the successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession hereunder to all Holders of Notes as the names and addresses of such Holders appear on the registry books.
Section 9.13 SUCCESSION BY MERGER, ETC.
(a) 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 or purchasing all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article.
(b) If at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificates of the Trustee shall have; provided that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
Section 9.14 LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AS A CREDITOR. The Trustee shall be subject to, and shall comply with, the provisions of Section 311 of the TIA.
Section 9.15 AUTHENTICATING AGENT.
(a) There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee with the written consent of the Company, with power to act on its behalf and subject to the direction of the Trustee in the authentication and delivery of Notes in connection with transfers and exchanges under Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.13, 3.03, and 13.04 hereof, as fully to all intents and purposes as though such Authenticating Agents had been expressly authorized by those Sections to authenticate and deliver Notes. For all purposes of this Indenture, the authentication and delivery of Notes by any Authenticating Agent pursuant to this Section 9.15 shall be deemed to be the authentication and delivery of such Notes "by the Trustee." Any such Authenticating Agent shall be a bank or trust company or other Person of the character and qualifications set forth in Section 9.09 hereof.
(b) Any corporation into which any 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 any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 9.15, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent or such successor corporation.
(c) Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 9.15, the Trustee may, with the written consent of the Company, appoint a successor Authenticating Agent, and upon so doing shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail, in the manner provided in Section 15.10, notice of such appointment to the Holders of Notes.
(d) The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, in accordance with Section 9.06 hereof.
(e) Sections 9.02, 9.03, 9.06, 9.07 and 9.09 hereof shall be applicable to any Authenticating Agent.
ARTICLE X
CONCERNING THE NOTEHOLDERS
Section 10.01 ACTION BY NOTEHOLDERS. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series may take any action, the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Noteholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of such Noteholders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Noteholders duly called and held in accordance with Article XI hereof, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Noteholders.
Section 10.02 PROOF OF EXECUTION BY NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) Subject to Sections 9.01, 9.02 and 11.05 hereof, proof of the execution of any instruments by a Noteholder or the agent or proxy for such Noteholder shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the register for the Notes maintained by the Trustee.
(b) The record of any Noteholders' meeting shall be proven in the manner provided in Section 11.06 hereof.
Section 10.03 PERSONS DEEMED ABSOLUTE OWNERS. Subject to Sections 2.04(f) and 10.01 hereof, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Authenticating Agent shall deem the person in whose name any Note shall be registered upon the register for the Notes to be, and shall treat such person as, the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal and premium, if any, and interest on such Note, and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Authenticating Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon any such Note to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.
Section 10.04 COMPANY-OWNED NOTES DISREGARDED. In determining whether the
Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes of any series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Notes that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Notes or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Notes shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that, for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Notes which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith to third parties may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 10.04 if the pledgee shall establish the pledgee's right to take action with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not a person directly or in directly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, the Trustee may rely upon an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers' Certificate to establish the foregoing.
Section 10.05 REVOCATION OF CONSENTS; FUTURE HOLDERS BOUND. Except as may be otherwise required in the case of a Global Note by the applicable rules and
regulations of the Depositary, at any time prior to the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Note, which has been included in the Notes the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the corporate trust office of the Trustee and upon proof of ownership as provided in Section 10.02(a) hereof, revoke such action so far as it concerns such Note. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Note and of any Notes issued in exchange, substitution or upon registration of transfer therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon such Note or such other Notes.
Section 10.06 RECORD DATE FOR NOTEHOLDER ACTS. If the Company shall solicit from the Noteholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, the Company may, at its option, by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Noteholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act may be given before or after the record date, but only the Noteholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Noteholders for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, and for that purpose the outstanding Notes shall be computed as of the record date; provided that no such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act by the Noteholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to this Indenture not later than six months after the record date. Any such record date shall be at least 30 days prior to the date of the solicitation to the Noteholders by the Company.
ARTICLE XI
NOTEHOLDERS' MEETING
Section 11.01 PURPOSES OF MEETINGS. A meeting of Noteholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article XI for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Noteholders pursuant to Article XIII;
(b) to remove the Trustee pursuant to ArticleIX;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to Section 13.02 hereof; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
Section 11.02 CALL OF MEETINGS BY TRUSTEE. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Notes to take any action specified in Section 11.01 hereof, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every such meeting of Noteholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given to Holders of the Notes that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken at such meeting in the manner provided in Section 15.10 hereof. Such notice shall be given not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for such meeting.
Section 11.03 CALL OF MEETINGS BY COMPANY OR NOTEHOLDERS. If at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series then outstanding, considered as one class, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Noteholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Noteholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 11.01 hereof, by giving notice thereof as provided in Section 11.02 hereof.
Section 11.04 QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING. To be entitled to vote at any meetings of Noteholders a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Notes affected by the action proposed to be taken or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more such Notes. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Noteholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives (including employees) of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives (including employees) of the Company and its counsel.
Section 11.05 REGULATIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Noteholders in regard to proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates andother evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.
(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by the Noteholders as provided in Section 11.03 hereof, in which case the Company or Noteholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes present in person or by proxy at the meeting.
(c) Subject to Section 10.04 hereof, at any meeting each Noteholder or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held or represented by such Noteholder; provided that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Note determined to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Notes held by such chairman or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating such chairman as the person to vote on behalf of other Noteholders. At any meeting of Noteholders duly called pursuant to Section 11.02 or 11.03 hereof, the presence of persons holding or representing Notes in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action on any business for the transaction for which such meeting was called shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting of Noteholders duly called pursuant to Section 11.02 or 11.03 hereof may be adjourned from time to time by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Not es present in person or by proxy at the meeting, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
Section 11.06 VOTING. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Noteholders shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Notes or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amount of Notes held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of such meeting of Noteholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 11.02 hereof . The record shall show the aggregate principal amount of the Notes voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee and the Trustee shall have the ballots taken at the meeting attached to such duplicate. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
Section 11.07 RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE OR NOTEHOLDERS NOT DELAYED. Nothing in this Article XI shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Noteholders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Notes.
ARTICLE XII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, TRANSFER OR CONVEYANCE
Section 12.01 COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC. ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell or otherwise dispose of its properties as or substantially as an entirety to any Person unless the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and the supplemental indenture referred to in clause (b) below comply with this Article XII and that all conditions precedent herein provided for have been complied with, and the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which receives such properties pursuant to such sale, transfer or other disposition (a) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; and (b) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium and interest on all of the Notes and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed.
Section 12.02 SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, transfer or other disposition of the properties of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 12.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person to which such sale, transfer or other disposition 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 corporation or Person had been named as the Company herein and the Company shall be released from all obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE XIII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 13.01 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) The Company, when authorized by Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:
(1) to make such provision in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as may be necessary or desirable, and not inconsistent with this Indenture or prejudicial to the interests of the Holders in any material respect, for the purpose of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision;
(2) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Note outstanding created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision or such change or elimination is applicable only to Notes issued after the effective date of such change or elimination;
(3) to establish the form of Notes of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 hereof or to establish or reflect any terms of any Note of any series determined pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof;
(4) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company as permitted hereunder, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Notes;
(5) to grant to or confer upon the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders any additional rights, remedies, powers or authority;
(6) to permit the Trustee to comply with any duties imposed upon it by law;
(7) to specify further the duties and responsibilities of, and to define further the relationships among, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent and any paying agent, and to evidence the succession of a successor Trustee as permitted hereunder;
(8) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of one or more series of Notes, to add to the security for all of the Notes, to surrender a right or power conferred on the Company herein or to add any Event of Default with respect to one or more series of Notes; and
(9) to make any other change that is not prejudicial to the Holders.
(b) The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee 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.
(c) Any supplemental indenture authorized by this Section 13.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 13.02 hereof.
Section 13.02 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 10.01 hereof) of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series at the time outstanding, considered as one class, the Company, when authorized by Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time 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 any supplemental indenture or of modifying or waiving in any manner the rights of the Noteholders; provided, however, that if there shall be Notes of more than one series Outstanding hereunder and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Notes of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be re quired; provided further that no such supplemental indenture shall:
(1) change the Stated Maturity of any Note, or reduce the rate (or change the method of calculation thereof) or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or change the coin or currency in which the principal of any Note or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or change the date on which any Note may be redeemed or adversely affect the rights of the Noteholders to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Note, in each case without the consent of the Holder of each Note so affected; or
(2) modify this Section 13.02(a) or reduce the aforesaid percentage of Notes, the Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture or to reduce the percentage of Notes, the Holders of which are required to waive Events of Default, in each case, without the consent of the Holders of all of the Notes affected thereby then outstanding.
(b) Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of the Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Noteholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
(c) A supplemental indenture which changes, waives or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture (or any supplemental indenture) which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more series of Notes, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Notes of such series with respect to such covenant or provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Notes of any other series.
(d) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 13.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
(e) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section 13.02, the Trustee shall give notice in the manner provided in Section 16.10 hereof, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to all Noteholders. Any failure of the Trustee to give such notice or any defect therein shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
Section 13.03 COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT; EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES. Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article XIII shall comply with the TIA. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article XIII, the Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Noteholders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 13.04 NOTATION ON NOTES. Notes of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article XIII shallmay 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 Notes of any series so modified as approved by the Trustee and the Board of Directors with respect to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Notes of such series then outstanding.
Section 13.05 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE FURNISHED TRUSTEE. The Trustee, subject to Sections 9.01 and 9.02 hereof, shall receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article XIII.
ARTICLE XIV
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS,
STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 14.01 INDENTURE AND NOTES SOLELY CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Note, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company, contained in this Indenture, or in any supplemental indenture, or in any Note, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, 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 all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the Notes.
ARTICLE XV
SUBORDINATION OF NOTES
Section 15.01 NOTES SUBORDINATE TO SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of the Notes of each series, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on each and all of the Notes is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.
Each Holder of the Notes of each series, by its acceptance thereof, authorizes and directs the Trustee on its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article, and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
Section 15.02 PAYMENT OVER OF PROCEEDS OF NOTES. In the event (a) of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in respect of the Company or a substantial part of its property, or of any proceedings for liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (b) subject to the provisions of Section 15.03, that a default shall have occurred with respect to the payment of principal of or interest on or other monetary amounts due and payable on any Senior Indebtedness, and such default shall have continued beyond the period of grace, if any, in respect thereof and shall not have been cured or waived or shall not have ceased to exist, or (c) that the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes of any series shall have been declared due and payable pursuant to Section 8.01 and such declaration shall not have been rescinded and annulled as provided in Section 8.01, then:
< DIR>(1) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be entitled to receive payment of the full amount due thereon, or provision shall be made for such payment in money or money's worth, before the Holders of any of the Notes are entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal of or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the Notes, including, without limitation, any payments made pursuant to Articles III and IV;
(2) any payment by, or distribution of assets of, the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which any Holder or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article, shall be paid or delivered by the Person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of such Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution (or provision therefor) to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to th e Holders of the indebtedness evidenced by the Notes or to the Trustee under this Indenture; and
(3) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by, or distribution of assets of, the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, in respect of principal of or interest on the Notes or in connection with any repurchase by the Company of the Notes, shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money or money's worth, such payment or distribution in respect of principal of or interest on the Notes or in connection with any repurchase by the Company of the Notes shall be paid over to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after givi ng effect to any concurrent payment or distribution (or provision therefor) to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the 123rd day following the date of deposit of cash or U.S. Government Obligations pursuant to Section 5.01 (provided all conditions set out in such Section shall have been satisfied), the funds so deposited and any interest thereon will not be subject to any rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness including, without limitation, those arising under this Article XV; provided that no event described in clauses (5) and (6) of Section 8.01 with respect to the Company has occurred during such 123-day period.
For purposes of this Article only, the words "cash, property or securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan or reorganization or readjustment which are subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be outstanding to the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes are so subordinated as provided in this Article. 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 corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XII hereof shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 15.02 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, c onveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XII hereof. Nothing in Section 15.01 or in this Section 15.02 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 9.06.
Section 15.03 DISPUTES WITH HOLDERS OF CERTAIN SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. Any failure by the Company to make any payment on or perform any other obligation in respect of Senior Indebtedness, other than any indebtedness incurred by the Company or assumed or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the Company for money borrowed (or any deferral, renewal, extension or refunding thereof) or any other obligation as to which the provisions of this Section shall have been waived by the Company in the instrument or instruments by which the Company incurred, assumed, guaranteed or otherwise created such indebtedness or obligation, shall not be deemed a default under clause (b) of Section 15.02 if (i) the Company shall be disputing its obligation to make such payment or perform such obligation and (ii) either (A) no final judgment relating to such dispute shall have been issued against the Company which is in full force and effect and is not subject to further review, including a judgment that has become final by reason o f the expiration of the time within which a party may seek further appeal or review, or (B) in the event that a judgment that is subject to further review or appeal has been issued, the Company shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or other proceeding for review and a stay or execution shall have been obtained pending such appeal or review.
Section 15.04 SUBROGATION. Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been paid in full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash (or securities or other property satisfactory to such holders) in full payment of such Senior Indebtedness then outstanding. Upon the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Notes shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive any further payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Notes shall be paid in full; and such payments or distributions of cash, property or securities received by the Holders of the Notes, by reason of such subrogation, which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.
Section 15.05 OBLIGATION OF COMPANY UNCONDITIONAL. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Notes is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders the principal of and interest on the Notes 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 and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness 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 or securities of the Company referred to in this Article, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon, and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.
Section 15.06 PRIORITY OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS UPON MATURITY. Upon the maturity of the principal of any Senior Indebtedness by lapse of time, acceleration or otherwise, all matured principal of Senior Indebtedness and interest and premium, if any, thereon shall first be paid in full before any payment of principal or premium or interest, if any, is made upon the Notes or before any Notes can be acquired by the Company or any sinking fund payment is made with respect to the Notes (except that required sinking fund payments may be reduced by Notes acquired before such maturity of such Senior Indebtedness).
Section 15.07 TRUSTEE AS HOLDER OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The Trustee shall be entitled to all rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Article shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
Section 15.08 NOTICE TO TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provision of the Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company, from a Holder or from a holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from any representative or representatives of such holder and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled, subject to Section 9.01, in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that, if prior to the fifth Business Day preceding the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose, or in the event of the execution of an instrument pursuant to Sections 5.03 and 5.04 acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, then if prior to the second Business Day preceding the date of such execution, the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys the notice provided for in this Section, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee may, in its discretion, receive such moneys and/or 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 date; provided, however, that no such application shall affect the obligations under this Article of the persons receiving such moneys from the Trustee.
Section 15.09 MODIFICATION, EXTENSION, ETC., OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The holders of Senior Indebtedness may, without affecting in any manner the subordination of the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes, at any time or from time to time and in their absolute discretion, agree with the Company to change the manner, place or terms of payment, change or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, any Senior Indebtedness, or amend or supplement any instrument pursuant to which any Senior Indebtedness is issued, or exercise or refrain from exercising any other of their rights under the Senior Indebtedness including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, all without notice to or assent from the Holders or the Trustee.
Section 15.10 TRUSTEE HAS NO FIDUCIARY DUTY TO HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and objectives as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or deliver to the Holders or the Company or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.
Section 15.11 PAYING AGENTS OTHER THAN TRUSTEE. In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee" as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that Sections 15.07, 15.08 and 15.10 shall not apply to the Company if it acts as Paying Agent.
Section 15.12 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS NOT IMPAIRED. No right of any present or future holder of Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination herein shall at any time or in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.
Section 15.13 EFFECT OF SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS; TERMINATION. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, other than as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence, all the provisions of this Indenture shall be subject to the provisions of this Article, so far as the same may be applicable thereto.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the provisions of this Article XV shall be of no further effect, and the Notes shall no longer be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of Senior Indebtedness, if the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee a notice to such effect. Any such notice delivered by the Company shall not be deemed to be a supplemental indenture for purposes of Article XIII hereof.
ARTICLE XVI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 16.01 PROVISIONS BINDING ON COMPANY'S SUCCESSORS. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements made by the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.
Section 16.02 OFFICIAL ACTS BY SUCCESSOR CORPORATION. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
Section 16.03 NOTICES. Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Noteholders on the Company may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) at the Principal Executive Offices of the Company, to the attention of the Secretary. Any notice, direction, request or demand by any Noteholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
Section 16.04 GOVERNING LAW. This Indenture and each Note shall be governed by and deemed to be a contract under, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof.
Section 16.05 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates delivered pursuant to Section 6.06 hereof) shall include (1) a statement that each Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions 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 Person, such Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person 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 or not, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
(c) In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
(d) 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 certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel delivered under the Indenture 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 person knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion of representations with respect to such matters are erroneous. Any opinion of counsel delivered hereunder may contain standard exceptions and qualifications reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.
(e) Any certificate, statement or opinion of any officer of the Company, or of counsel, may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an independent public accountant or firm of accountants, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinions or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which the certificate, statement or opinion of such officer or counsel may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any firm of independent public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.
(f) 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 16.06 BUSINESS DAYS. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.05(c) hereof, in any case where the date of Maturity of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Note or the date fixed for redemption of any Note is not a Business Day, then payment of such principal or any premium or interest need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of Maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and, in the case of timely payment thereof, no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the date on which the principal or premium of the Note is required to be paid.
Section 16.07 TRUST INDENTURE ACT TO CONTROL. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by the TIA, such required provision of the TIA shall govern.
Section 16.08 TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 16.09 EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 16.10 MANNER OF MAILING NOTICE TO NOTEHOLDERS.
(a) Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or the Company to or on the Holders of Notes, as the case may be, shall be given or served by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Holders of such Notes at their last addresses as the same appear on the register for the Notes referred to in Section 2.06, and any such notice shall be deemed to be given or served by being deposited in a post office letter box in the form and manner provided in this Section 16.10. In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice to any Holder by mail, then such notification to such Holder as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
(b) The Company shall also provide any notices required under this Indenture by publication, but only to the extent that such publication is required by the TIA, the rules and regulations of the Commission or any securities exchange upon which any series of Notes is listed.
Section 16.11 APPROVAL BY TRUSTEE OF COUNSEL. Wherever the Trustee is required to approve counsel who is to furnish evidence of compliance with conditions precedent in this Indenture, such approval by the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given upon the taking of any action by the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with the certificate or opinion so furnished by such counsel.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED has caused this Indenture to be signed and acknowledged by its Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, and attested by its Senior Vice President - Corporate Services and Secretary, and ________________ has caused this Indenture to be signed and acknowledged by its ________________, as of the day and year first written above.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
By ____________________________
Vice President - Finance, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Senior Vice President - Corporate
Services and Secretary
__________________________________,
AS TRUSTEE
By ____________________________
FORM OF GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.g.
FORM OF GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
AS GUARANTOR,
AND
----------------------------
AS GUARANTEE TRUSTEE,
DATED AS OF __________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page |
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ARTICLE ONE |
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Definitions |
||
SECTION 101 |
Definitions |
1 |
ARTICLE TWO |
||
Trust Indenture Act |
||
SECTION 201 |
Trust Indenture Act; Application |
5 |
SECTION 202 |
List of Holders |
5 |
SECTION 203 |
Reports by the Guarantee Trustee |
5 |
SECTION 204 |
Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee |
5 |
SECTION 205 |
Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent |
6 |
SECTION 206 |
Events of Default; Waiver |
6 |
SECTION 207 |
Event of Default; Notice |
6 |
SECTION 208 |
Conflicting Interests |
6 |
ARTICLE THREE |
||
Rights and Obligations of the Guarantee Trustee |
||
SECTION 301 |
Certain Duties and Responsibilities |
6 |
SECTION 302 |
Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee |
8 |
SECTION 303 |
Compensation; Indemnity |
9 |
ARTICLE FOUR |
||
Guarantee Trustee |
||
SECTION 401 |
Eligibility |
9 |
SECTION 402 |
Appointment, Removal, and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee |
10 |
SECTION 403 |
Compensation; Indemnity |
12 |
ARTICLE FIVE |
||
Guarantee |
||
SECTION 501 |
Guarantee |
12 |
SECTION 502 |
Waiver of Notice and Demand |
12 |
SECTION 503 |
Obligations Not Affected |
12 |
SECTION 504 |
Rights of Holders |
13 |
SECTION 505 |
Guarantee of Payment |
14 |
SECTION 506 |
Subrogation |
14 |
SECTION 507 |
Independent Obligations |
14 |
ARTICLE SIX |
||
Covenants [and Subordination] |
||
SECTION 601 |
Subordination |
14 |
SECTION 602 |
Pari Passu Guarantees |
14 |
SECTION 603 |
Consolidation, Merger, Sale, Transfer, or Conveyance |
15 |
ARTICLE SEVEN |
||
Termination |
||
SECTION 701 |
Termination |
15 |
ARTICLE EIGHT |
||
Miscellaneous |
||
SECTION 801 |
Successors and Assigns |
15 |
SECTION 802 |
Amendments |
16 |
SECTION 803 |
Notices |
16 |
SECTION 804 |
Benefit |
17 |
SECTION 805 |
Interpretation |
17 |
SECTION 806 |
Governing Law |
17 |
SECTION 807 |
Counterparts |
17 |
TESTIMONIUM |
18 |
|
SIGNATURES |
18 |
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST __
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT RELATING TO
SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318 OF THE
TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:
TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION |
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ACT SECTION |
||
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Section 310 |
(a)(1) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
401(a) |
(a)(2) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
401(a) |
|
(a)(3) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
(a)(4) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
208, 401(c) |
|
Section 311 |
(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
Section 312 |
(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
202(a) |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
202(b) |
|
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
Section 313 |
(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
203 |
(a)(4) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
203 |
|
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
203 |
|
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
203 |
|
(d) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
203 |
|
Section 314 |
(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
204 |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
204 |
|
(c)(1) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
205 |
|
(c)(2) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
205 |
|
(c)(3) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
205 |
|
(e) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
101, 205 |
|
Section 315 |
(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
301(d), 302 |
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
207 |
|
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
301(c) |
|
(d) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
301(d) |
|
(e) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
Section 316 (a) |
(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
101, 206, 504 |
(a)(1)(A) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
504 |
|
(a)(1)(B) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
504 |
|
(a)(2) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
503 |
|
(c) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
Section 317 |
(a)(17) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(a)(2) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
(b) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
|
Section 318 |
(a) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
201 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Guarantee Agreement.
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of __________________, 20__ is executed and delivered by GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED, a Missouri corporation (the "Guarantor") having its principal office at 1201 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106-2124, and _______________________, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Trust Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST ___, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated as of _____________, 20__ among GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED, as Depositor, ______________, as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), __________________, as Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") (collectively, the "Trustees"), the Administrators named therein and the Holders from time to time of preferred undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust is issuing up to $____________ aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined herein) of its ______% Trust Preferred Securities, Liquidation Amount $_____ per Trust Preferred Security (the "Trust Preferred Securities"), representing preferred undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust and having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Trust Preferred Securities will be issued by the Trust and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance by the Trust of the Trust Common Securities (as defined herein), will be used to purchase the _______% [Subordinated] Deferrable Interest Debentures Series __ due _____________ (the "[Subordinated] Debentures") of the Guarantor which will be deposited with the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Trust Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of the Trust Preferred Securities by each Holder, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Trust Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 101. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
"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.
"DISTRIBUTIONS" means preferential cumulative cash distributions accumulating from ________, 20__ and payable quarterly in arrears on _________, ________, ________ and _________ of each year, commencing ________, 20__, at an annual rate of ____% of the Liquidation Amount.
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" means (i) a default by the Guarantor in any of its payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement, or (ii) a default by the Guarantor in any other obligation hereunder that remains unremedied for 30 days.
"GUARANTEE AGREEMENT" means this Guarantee Agreement, as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"GUARANTEE PAYMENTS" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the Trust Preferred Securities, to the extent the Trust shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price, with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Trust to the extent that the Trust shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust, unless the [Subordinated] Debentures are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment to the extent the Trust shall have funds on hand available to make such payment at such time and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders on liquidation of the Trust (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means ____________________, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"GUARANTOR" shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Guarantee Agreement.
"HOLDER" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Trust, of any Trust Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Trust Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.
"INDENTURE" means the Indenture (For Subordinated Debt Securities) dated as of ______________, 20__ between Great Plains Energy Incorporated and ______________, as trustee, as may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"LIKE AMOUNT" means (a) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion of the principal amount of [Subordinated] Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Indenture, allocated to the Trust Common Securities and to the Trust Preferred Securities based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes and (b) with respect to a distribution of [Subordinated] Debentures to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the Trust, [Subordinated] Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such [Subordinated] Debentures are distributed.
"LIQUIDATION AMOUNT" means the stated amount of $_____ per Trust Preferred Security.
"MAJORITY IN LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES" means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Trust Preferred Securities representing more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding Trust Preferred Securities issued by the Trust.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any other duly authorized officer of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 204) shall include:
(a) a statement that each Person signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such Person, such Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"PERSON" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"REDEMPTION DATE" means, with respect to any Trust Preferred Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to the Trust Agreement; provided that each [Subordinated] Debenture Redemption Date and the stated maturity of the [Subordinated] Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Preferred Securities.
"REDEMPTION PRICE" shall have the meaning specified in the Trust Agreement.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" means, when used with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any managing director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer, assistant secretary, Senior Trust Officer, Trust Officer or any other officer of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.
"SUCCESSOR GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 401.
"TRUST" shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Guarantee Agreement.
"TRUST AGREEMENT" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated ___________, 20__ entered among Great Plains Energy Incorporated, as Depositor, _________________, as Delaware Trustee, ____________________, as Property Trustee, and the Administrators named therein.
"TRUST COMMON SECURITIES" means the securities representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force and effect as of the date of execution of this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is succeeded by another statute or is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" shall mean such successor statute or the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended, to the extent such successor statute or amendment is applicable to this Guarantee Agreement or to the actions of the Guarantor or the Property Trustee under or pursuant to this Guarantee Agreement.
"TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
"TRUST SECURITIES" means the Trust Common Securities and the Trust Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 201. TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION. This Guarantee Agreement is intended to be in conformity with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that would be required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement were this Guarantee Agreement to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and shall, to the extent applicable, and unless otherwise provided herein, be governed by such provisions. If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of this Guarantee Agreement modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Guarantee Agreement as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 202. LIST OF HOLDERS.
(a) The Guarantor will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee a list of holders at the following times:
(i) semiannually, not more than 15 days after _________ and ____________ in each year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such ________ or _________, as applicable; and
(ii) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor 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.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 203. REPORTS BY THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. Not later than 60 days after ___________ of each year, commencing ___________, 20__, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports, if any, as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 204. PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, and the Holders such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act, in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 205. EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 206. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER. The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.
SECTION 207. EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE. The Guarantee Trustee shall give notice to the Holders of any default hereunder of which it has knowledge (within the meaning of Section 302(h) hereof) in the manner and to the extent required to do so by the Trust Indenture Act, unless such default shall have been cured or waived. 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.
SECTION 208. CONFLICTING INTERESTS. The Trust Agreement, relating to the Trust, and the Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 301. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee in the Trust Indenture Act, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee. For purposes of Sections 315(a) and 315(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the term "default" is hereby defined as an Event of Default which has occurred and is continuing.
(b) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any person except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 504(iv) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee hereunder. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee, as such, hereunder shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement. In case an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has actual knowledge has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred
(i) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee Agreement, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement.
(e) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proven that the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(f) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 504(iii), relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee, under this Guarantee Agreement.
(g) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity, satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee in its reasonable judgment, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(h) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Guarantee Agreement to the contrary, the duties and responsibilities of the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement shall be subject to the protections, exculpations and limitations on liability afforded to the Guarantee Trustee under the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, including those provisions of such Act deemed by such Act to be included herein.
(i) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Guarantee Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Guarantee Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 302. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. Subject to the provisions of Section 301 and to the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) the Guarantee 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;
(b) any request or direction of the Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate, or as otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer's Certificate,
(d) the Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice or written opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder pursuant to this Guarantee Agreement, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Guarantee Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Guarantee 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 Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Guarantee Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall (subject to applicable legal requirements) be entitled to examine, during normal business hours, the books, records and premises of the Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney;
(g) the Guarantee 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 Guarantee 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; and
(h) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless either (1) a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee shall have actual knowledge of the default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such default or Event of Default (which shall state that such notice is a "Notice of Default" or a "Notice of an Event of Default" hereunder, as the case may be) shall have been given to the Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor, any other obligor on Trust Preferred Securities or by any Holder of Trust Preferred Securities.
SECTION 303. COMPENSATION; INDEMNITY. The Guarantor shall
(a) pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Guarantee Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Guarantee Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs of collection (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except to the extent that any such expense, disbursement or advance may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and
(c) indemnify and hold harmless the Guarantee Trustee from and against any and all losses, demands, claims, liabilities, causes of action or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder or the performance of its duties hereunder (including the reasonable 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), except to the extent any such loss, demand, claim, liability, cause of action or expense may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and assume the defense of Guarantee Trustee with counsel acceptable to the Guarantee Trustee, unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to tho se available to the Guarantor.
The provisions of this Section shall survive termination of this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 401. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor;
(ii) be a corporation
(1) organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority, or
(2) if and to the extent permitted by the Commission by rule, regulation or order upon application, a corporation or other Person organized and doing business under the laws of a foreign government, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or the Dollar equivalent of the applicable foreign currency and subject to supervision or examination by authority of such foreign government or a political subdivision thereof substantially equivalent to supervision or examination applicable to United States institutional trustees, and, in either case, qualified and eligible under this Article IV and the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of such supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 401(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 402.
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof.
SECTION 402. APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and no appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the Successor Guarantee Trustee by written instrument executed by the Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Holders and the Guarantee Trustee.
(b) Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, a Guarantee Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Guarantor and the Holders. If the instrument of acceptance by the Successor Guarantee Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Guarantee Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee may be removed at any time by Act (within the meaning of Section 608 of the Trust Agreement) of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities, delivered to the Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If at any time:
(i) the Guarantee Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 401(c) after written request therefor by the Guarantor or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder for at least six months, or
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 401(a) and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Guarantor or by any such Holder, or
(iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Guarantee Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Guarantee Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation then, in any such case, the Guarantor may remove the Guarantee Trustee
(e) If the Guarantee Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Guarantee Trustee for any cause, the Guarantor, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 403. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities delivered to the Guarantor and the retiring Guarantee Trustee, the Successor Guarantee Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 403, become the Successor Guarantee Trustee and supersede the Successor Guarantee Trustee appointed by the Guarantor. If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been so a ppointed by the Guarantor or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 403, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Trust Preferred Security for at least six months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(f) So long as no event which is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and except with respect to a Guarantee Trustee appointed by Act of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, if the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Guarantee Trustee (i) a Board Resolution appointing a Successor Guarantee Trustee, effective as of a date specified therein, and (ii) an instrument of acceptance of such appointment, effective as of such date, by such Successor Guarantee Trustee in accordance with Section 403, the Guarantee Trustee shall be deemed to have resigned as contemplated in subsection (b) of this Section, the Successor Guarantee Trustee shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Guarantor pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section and such appointment shall be deemed to have been accepted as contemplated in Section 403, all as of such date, and all other provisions of this Section and Section 403 shall be applicable to such resignation, appointment and acceptance except to the extent inconsistent with this subsection (f).
(g) The Guarantor or, should the Guarantor fail so to act promptly, the Successor Guarantee Trustee, at the expense of the Guarantor, shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Guarantee Trustee and each appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders as their names and addresses appear in the Securities Register. Each notice shall include the name of the Successor Guarantee Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
SECTION 403. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) Every Successor Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Guarantor and to the retiring Guarantee Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Guarantee Trustee shall become effective and such Successor Guarantee Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Guarantee Trustee; but, on the request of the Guarantor or the Successor Guarantee Trustee, such retiring Guarantee Trustee shall, upon payment of all sums owed to it, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such Successor Guarantee Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Guarantee Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such Successor Guarantee Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Guarantee Trustee hereunder.
(b) Upon request of any such Successor Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantor shall execute any instruments which fully vest in and confirm to such Successor Guarantee Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in subsection (a) of this Section.
(c) No Successor Guarantee Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such Successor Guarantee Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 501. GUARANTEE. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Trust may have or assert, except the defense of payment. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders. The Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event it makes any direct payment hereunder.
SECTION 502. WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND. The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee, the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 503. OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED. The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Trust Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Trust;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the [Subordinated] Debentures as so provided in the Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Trust Preferred Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the Trust;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Trust Preferred Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment of the underlying obligation), it being the intent of this Section 503 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 504. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS. The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement, provided, however, that, subject to Section 301, the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Offi cer or Officers of the Guarantee Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of the Holders not party to such direction, and provided further that nothing in this Guarantee Agreement shall impair the right of the Guarantee Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Guarantee Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction; and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Trust or any other Person.
SECTION 505. GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT. This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Trust) or upon the distribution of [Subordinated] Debentures to Holders as provided in the Trust Agreement.
SECTION 506. SUBROGATION. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of the Holders against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 507. INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS. The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 503 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS [AND SUBORDINATION]
SECTION 601. SUBORDINATION.
This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture with respect to the [Subordinated] Debentures, and the provisions of Article XV of the Indenture will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder do not constitute Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor.
SECTION 602. PARI PASSU GUARANTEES.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall rank pari passu with any similar guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of preferred or Trust Preferred Securities issued by any other trust similar to the Trust and with any other security, guarantee or other obligation that is expressly stated to rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement.
SECTION 603. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, TRANSFER OR CONVEYANCE.
(a) The Guarantor shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell or otherwise dispose of its properties as or substantially as an entirety to any Person unless the Guarantor has delivered to the Guarantee Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer comply with this Section 603 and the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Guarantor is merged or the Person which receives such properties pursuant to such sale, transfer or other disposition (a) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; and (b) shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the Guarantee Payments and the performance of every covenant of this Guarantee Agreement on the part of the Guarantor to be performed or observed.
(b) Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, transfer or other disposition of the properties of the Guarantor substantially as an entirety in accordance with paragraph (a) hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Guarantor is merged or the Person to which such sale, transfer or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for and may exercise every right and power of, the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement with the same effect as if such successor corporation or Person had been named as the Guarantor herein and the Guarantor shall be released from all obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 701. TERMINATION. This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Trust Preferred Securities, (ii) the distribution of [Subordinated] Debentures to the Holders in exchange for all of the Trust Preferred Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with Article IX of the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder is required to restore payment of any sums paid under the Trust Preferred Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 801. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article XII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder, and any purported assignment that is not in accordance with these provisions shall be void.
SECTION 802. AMENDMENTS. Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely affect the rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings or consents of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 803. NOTICES. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or telecopy number set forth below or such other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such other Person as the Guarantor may give notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:
Great Plains Energy Incorporated
1201 Walnut
Kansas City, MO 64106-2124
Facsimile No. (816) 556-2992
Attention: ___________, _______________
(b) if given to the Trust, at the Trust's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address or telecopy number set forth below or such other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such other Person as the Trust or Guarantee Trustee may give notice to the Guarantee Trustee (if given by the Trust) and the Holders:
Great Plains Energy Capital Trust ___
c/o Great Plains Energy Incorporated
1201 Walnut
Kansas City, MO 64106-2124
Facsimile No.: (816) 556-2992
Attention: ____________, Administrator
with a copy to:
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Facsimile No.: _______
Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, to the address or telecopy number set forth below or such other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such other Person as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice to the Guarantor and the Holders:
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Facsimile No.: _______
Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration
(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 804. BENEFIT. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is not separately transferable from the Trust Preferred Securities.
SECTION 805. INTERPRETATION. In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in the preamble Hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 101;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 806. GOVERNING LAW.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
SECTION 807. COUNTERPARTS.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED |
|
By: |
_______________________________ |
Name: |
|
Title: |
________________________________________ |
|
as Guarantee Trustee, and not |
|
By: |
_______________________________ |
Name: |
|
Title: |
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
Exhibit 4.h.
----------
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST__
THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST of GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST (the "Trust"), dated ______________, 200_, is being duly executed and filed by [Name of trustee], a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, to form a business trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. ss. 3801 et seq.).
----------
1. Name. The name of the statutory trust formed hereby is "Great Plains Energy Capital Trust."
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and address of the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware is:
[Name and address of trustee].
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the Trust, has executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first written above.
[NAME OF TRUSTEE], |
FORM OF TRUST AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.i.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST
FORM OF TRUST AGREEMENT
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of ____________, 200__, is by and between (i) Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation (the "Depositor"), (ii) [name of Delaware trustee], a Delaware banking corporation, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and (iii) [name of administrative trustee], as administrative trustee (the "Administrative Trustee," and together with the Delaware Trustee, the "Trustees"). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:
1. The trust created hereby (the "Trust") shall be known as "Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __."
2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the Trust the sum of $10. Such amount shall constitute the initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare that they will hold the trust estate for the Depositor subject to the terms hereof.
3. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust created hereby constitutes a statutory trust under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss. 3801 (the "Statutory Trust Act"), and that this document constitutes the governing instrument of the Trust.
4. The Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the Statutory Trust Act.
5. The Depositor, the Trustees and others will enter into an amended and restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially in the form to be included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "1933 Act Registration Statement") referred to below, or in such other form as the Trustees and the Depositor may approve, to provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of Trust Preferred Securities referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise required by applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain, prior to such execution and delivery, any licenses, consents or approvals required by applicable law or ot herwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may take all actions deemed proper as are necessary to effect the transactions contemplated herein.
6. The Depositor and the Trustees hereby authorize and direct the Depositor, as the sponsor of the Trust, (i) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and to execute, in the case of the 1933 Act Registration Statement and 1934 Act Registration Statement (as herein defined), on behalf of the Trust (a) the 1933 Act Registration
Statement, including pre-effective or post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), of the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust, (b) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus or supplement thereto relating to the Trust Preferred Securities required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, and (c) a Registration Statement on Form 8-A or other appropriate form (the "1934 Act Registration Statement") (including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto) relating to the registration of the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to file with any national securities exchange and execute on behalf of the Trust a listing application and all other applications, statements, certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or desirable to caus e the Trust Preferred Securities to be listed on such exchange; (iii) to file and execute on behalf of the Trust such applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other papers and documents as shall be necessary or desirable to register the Trust Preferred Securities under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or desirable; and (iv) to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, an underwriting agreement with the Depositor and the underwriter or underwriters of the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust. In the event that any filing referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above is required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, any national securities exchange or state securities or Blue Sky laws to be executed on behalf of the Trust by the Trustees, the Trustees, in their capacity as trustees of the Trust, are hereby authorized and directed to j oin in any such filing and to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing, it being understood that [name of Delaware trustee], in its capacity as trustee of the Trust, shall not be required to join in any such filing or execute on behalf of the Trust any such document unless required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, any national securities exchange or state securities or Blue Sky laws. In connection with all of the foregoing, each of the Trustees, solely in its capacity as trustee of the Trust, and the Depositor hereby constitutes and appoints [ ], and each of them severally, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for the Depositor or in the Depositor's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments) to the 1933 Act Registration Statement and the 1934 Act Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits theret o, and any other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as the Depositor might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his respective substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
7. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts.
8. The number of trustees initially shall be two (2) and thereafter the number of trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor, who may increase or decrease the number of trustees; provided, however, that, to the extent required by the Statutory Trust Act, one trustee shall either be a natural person who is a resident of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity
which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any trustee at any time. Any trustee may resign upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the Depositor.
9. [Name of Delaware trustee], in its capacity as trustee of the Trust, shall not have any of the powers or duties of the Trustees as set forth herein and shall be a trustee of the Trust for the sole purpose of satisfying the requirements of Section 3807(a) of the Statutory Trust Act.
10. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws principles).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, have caused this Trust Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED, By: ________________________ |
|
[NAME OF DELAWARE TRUSTEE], |
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.j. |
FORM OF |
AMENDED AND RESTATED |
TRUST AGREEMENT |
AMONG |
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED |
AS DEPOSITOR, |
---------------------------------------------- |
AS PROPERTY TRUSTEE, |
AND |
---------------------------------------------- |
AS DELAWARE TRUSTEE |
DATED AS OF ____________________, 200_ |
---------------------------- |
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST __ |
---------------------------- |
TABLE OF CONTENTS* |
||
PARTIES |
1 |
|
RECITALS |
1 |
|
ARTICLE ONE |
||
Defined Terms |
||
SECTION 101 |
Definitions |
1 |
ARTICLE TWO |
||
Continuation of the Trust |
||
SECTION 201 |
Name |
11 |
SECTION 202 |
Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business |
11 |
SECTION 203 |
Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses |
11 |
SECTION 204 |
Issuance of the Trust Preferred Securities |
11 |
SECTION 205 |
Issuance of the Trust Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of [Subordinated] Debentures |
12 |
SECTION 206 |
Declaration of Trust |
12 |
SECTION 207 |
Authorization to Enter Into Certain Transactions |
13 |
SECTION 208 |
Assets of Trust |
15 |
SECTION 209 |
Trust Property |
16 |
ARTICLE THREE |
||
Payment Account |
||
SECTION 301 |
Payment Account |
16 |
ARTICLE FOUR |
||
Distribution; Redemption |
||
SECTION 401 |
Distribution |
16 |
SECTION 402 |
Redemption |
17 |
SECTION 403 |
Subordination of Trust Common Securities |
19 |
SECTION 404 |
Payment Procedures |
20 |
SECTION 405 |
Tax Returns and Reports |
20 |
SECTION 406 |
Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust |
21 |
SECTION 407 |
Payments Under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions |
21 |
SECTION 408 |
Liability of the Holder of Trust Common Securities |
21 |
*The Table of Contents is not part of the Agreement
ARTICLE FIVE |
||
Trust Securities Certificates |
||
SECTION 501 |
Initial Ownership |
21 |
SECTION 502 |
The Trust Securities Certificates |
21 |
SECTION 503 |
Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates |
22 |
SECTION 504 |
Global Trust Preferred Securities |
22 |
SECTION 505 |
Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally; Certain Transfers and Exchanges; Trust Preferred Securities Certificates |
24 |
SECTION 506 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates |
25 |
SECTION 507 |
Persons Deemed Holders |
26 |
SECTION 508 |
Access to List of Holders' Names and Addresses |
26 |
SECTION 509 |
Maintenance of Office or Agency |
26 |
SECTION 510 |
Appointment of Paying Agent |
26 |
SECTION 511 |
Ownership of Trust Common Securities by Depositor |
27 |
SECTION 512 |
Notices to Depositary |
27 |
SECTION 513 |
Rights of Holders |
28 |
ARTICLE SIX |
||
Acts of Holders; Meetings; Voting |
||
SECTION 601 |
Limitations on Holder's Voting Rights |
30 |
SECTION 602 |
Notice of Meetings |
30 |
SECTION 603 |
Meetings of Holders |
31 |
SECTION 604 |
Attendance at Meetings; Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings |
32 |
SECTION 605 |
Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings |
33 |
SECTION 606 |
Holder Action by Written Consent |
33 |
SECTION 607 |
Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes |
33 |
SECTION 608 |
Acts of Holders |
34 |
SECTION 609 |
Inspection of Records |
35 |
ARTICLE SEVEN |
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Representations and Warranties |
||
SECTION 701 |
Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee |
35 |
SECTION 702 |
Representations and Warranties of Depositor |
36 |
ARTICLE EIGHT |
||
The Trustees; The Administrators |
||
SECTION 801 |
Certain Duties and Responsibilities |
37 |
SECTION 802 |
Events of Default; Waiver |
38 |
SECTION 803 |
Certain Notices |
39 |
SECTION 804 |
Certain Rights of Property Trustee |
39 |
SECTION 805 |
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities |
40 |
SECTION 806 |
May Hold Securities |
40 |
SECTION 807 |
Compensation; Indemnity |
40 |
SECTION 808 |
Trustees Required; Eligibility of Trustees and Administrators |
41 |
SECTION 809 |
Conflicting Interests |
42 |
SECTION 810 |
Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee |
42 |
SECTION 811 |
Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor |
43 |
SECTION 812 |
Acceptance of Appointment by Successor |
45 |
SECTION 813 |
Merger, Conversion, Consolidation, or Succession to Business |
45 |
SECTION 814 |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust |
45 |
SECTION 815 |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
46 |
SECTION 816 |
Reports by Property Trustee |
46 |
SECTION 817 |
Reports to the Property Trustee |
47 |
SECTION 818 |
Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent |
47 |
SECTION 819 |
Number of Trustees |
47 |
SECTION 820 |
Delegation of Power |
47 |
SECTION 821 |
Appointment of Administrators |
47 |
SECTION 822 |
Delaware Trustee |
48 |
ARTICLE NINE |
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Dissolution, Liquidation, and Merger |
||
SECTION 901 |
Dissolution Upon Expiration Date |
49 |
SECTION 902 |
Early Dissolution |
49 |
SECTION 903 |
Termination |
49 |
SECTION 904 |
Liquidation |
49 |
SECTION 905 |
Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the Trust |
51 |
ARTICLE TEN |
||
Miscellaneous Provisions |
||
SECTION 1001 |
Limitations of Rights of Holders |
52 |
SECTION 1002 |
Amendment |
52 |
SECTION 1003 |
Separability |
53 |
SECTION 1004 |
Governing Law |
53 |
SECTION 1005 |
Payments Due on Non-Business Day |
54 |
SECTION 1006 |
Successors |
54 |
SECTION 1007 |
Headings |
54 |
SECTION 1008 |
Reports, Notices and Demands |
54 |
SECTION 1009 |
Agreement Not to Petition |
55 |
SECTION 1010 |
Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act |
55 |
SECTION 1011 |
Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement; Guarantee and Indenture |
55 |
EXHIBITS |
||
EXHIBIT A |
Certificate of Trust |
58 |
EXHIBIT B |
Certificate Evidencing Trust Common Securities |
59 |
EXHIBIT C |
Certificate Evidencing Trust Preferred Securities |
61 |
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST __
Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating to
Sections 310 through 318 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
Trust Agreement
Section of Act Section
310 (a) (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
808 |
(a) (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
808 |
(a) (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
810 |
(a) (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
207(a)(ii) |
(a) (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
809, 811 |
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
311 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
814 |
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
814 |
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
312 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
508 |
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
508 |
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
508 |
313 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
816 |
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
816 |
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
816 |
(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
816 |
314 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
817 |
(a) (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
818 |
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(c) (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
818 |
(c) (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
818 |
(c) (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
818 |
(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
315 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
801, 804 |
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
803 |
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
801 |
(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
801 |
(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
316 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
513 |
(a)(1)(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
513 |
(a)(1)(B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
513 |
(a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
513 |
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
607 |
317 (a) (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Not Applicable |
(a) (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
815 |
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
510 |
318 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
1010 |
-------------------------
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Trust Agreement.
AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT (this "Trust Agreement"), dated as of _____________________, 200_, by and among (i) Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation (including any successors or assigns, the "Depositor"), (ii) __________________________, a New York banking corporation, as property trustee (in such capacity, the "Property Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee, the "Bank"), (iii) _________________________________, a ___________________ banking corporation, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") (the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee are referred to collectively herein as the "Trustees"), and (iv) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined.
W I T N E S S E T H:
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Delaware Trustee have heretofore duly declared and established a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act by entering into a certain Trust Agreement, dated as of __________________________ (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing by the Delaware Trustee with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed on ______________________ (the "Certificate of Trust"), attached as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Delaware Trustee desire to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance of the Trust Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Trust Preferred Securities by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the [Subordinated] Debentures, (iv) the appointment of the Administrators and (v) the addition of the Property Trustee as a party to this Trust Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the benefit of the Holders, hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees, intending to be legally bound, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
Section 101 DEFINITIONS. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;
(c) the words "include," "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(d) all accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect at the time of computation;
(e) 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 Trust Agreement;
(f) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and
(g) all references to the date the Trust Preferred Securities were originally issued shall refer to the date the ______% Trust Preferred Securities were originally issued.
"ACT" has the meaning specified in Section 608.
"ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of [Subordinated] Debentures for such period.
"ADDITIONAL INTEREST" has the meaning specified in Section ___ of the Indenture.
"ADDITIONAL SUMS" has the meaning specified in Section ___ of the Indenture.
"ADMINISTRATORS" means each Person appointed in accordance with Section 821 solely in such Person's capacity as Administrator of the Trust continued hereunder and not in such Person's individual capacity, or any successor Administrator appointed as herein provided; with the initial Administrators being ___________________ and __________________________.
"AFFILIATE" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "CONTROL" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "CONTROLLING" and "CONTROLLED" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"APPLICABLE PROCEDURES" means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Trust Preferred Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Trust Preferred Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
"BANK" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement.
"BANKRUPTCY EVENT" means, with respect to any Person:
(a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; (i) judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent; (ii) approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law; (iii) appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property; (iv) ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs; or
(b) (i) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent; (ii) the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it; (iii) the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law; (iv) the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property; (v) 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 and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt; (vi) the taking of corporate action by such Person in furtherance of any such action.
"BANKRUPTCY LAWS" has the meaning specified in Section 1009.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means either the board of directors of the Depositor or any committee thereof duly authorized to act or any director or directors and/or officer or officers of the Depositor to whom that board or committee shall have duly delegated its authority in respect of matters relating to this Trust Agreement.
"BOARD RESOLUTION" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustees.
"BUSINESS DAY" means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or (c) a day on which the Property Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or the Delaware Trustee's corporate trust office or the corporate trust office of the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
"CEDE" means Cede & Co.
"CERTIFICATE OF TRUST" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement.
"CLOSING DATE" means the Closing Time, which date is also the date of execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement.
"CLOSING TIME" means the First Closing Date, as that term is used throughout the Underwriting Agreement.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, as amended, 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.
"CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE" means the principal corporate trust office of the Property Trustee located in the City of New York which at the time of the execution of this Trust Agreement is located at ____________________________.
"DEBENTURE EVENT OF DEFAULT" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the Indenture.
"DEBENTURES PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means the [Subordinated] Deferrable Interest Debentures Purchase Agreement dated as of ________________ between the Depositor and the Trust, as the same may be amended from time to time.
"DEBENTURE REDEMPTION DATE" means, with respect to any [Subordinated] Debentures to be redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption of such Debentures under the Indenture.
"DEBENTURE TRUSTEE" means ____________________, a New York banking corporation, as trustee under the Indenture, and any successor.
"DEFINITIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES" has the meaning specified in Section 504(c).
"DELAWARE STATUTORY TRUST ACT" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C.ss. 3801, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time.
"DELAWARE TRUSTEE" means the corporation identified as the "Delaware Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"DEPOSITARY" shall mean, with respect to Global Trust Preferred Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Depositor pursuant to Section 504(b).
"DEPOSITARY PARTICIPANT" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Depositary effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary.
"DEPOSITOR" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement.
"DIRECT ACTION" has the meaning specified in Section 513(c).
"DISTRIBUTION DATE" has the meaning specified in Section 401(a).
"DISTRIBUTIONS" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 401.
"EARLY TERMINATION EVENT" has the meaning specified in Section 902.
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" 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):
(a) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default;
(b) default by the Trust in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of 30 days;
(c) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of 1 day;
(d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is dealt with in clause (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Trustees and the Depositor by the Holders of at least 33% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder;
(e) the occurrence of any Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property Trustee or all or substantially all of its property if a successor Property Trustee has not been appointed within a period of 90 days thereof; or
(f) the occurrence of any Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Trust.
"EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as amended from time to time.
"EXPIRATION DATE" has the meaning specified in Section 901.
"GLOBAL TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE" means a Trust Preferred Securities Certificate evidencing ownership of Global Trust Preferred Securities.
"GLOBAL TRUST PREFERRED SECURITY" means a Trust Preferred Security, the ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by the Depositary as described in Section 504.
"GUARANTEE" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Depositor and __________________, as trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time.
"HOLDER" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Trust Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any such Person shall be deemed to be a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
"INDENTURE" means the Indenture, dated as of _____________, between the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee (as amended or supplemented from time to time) relating to the issuance of the [Subordinated] Debentures.
"INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
"INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Trust Preferred Securities.
"LIEN" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"LIKE AMOUNT" means (a) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion of the principal amount of [Subordinated] Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Indenture, allocated to the Trust Common Securities and to the Trust Preferred Securities pro rata based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes and (b) with respect to a distribution of [Subordinated] Debentures to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the Trust, [Subordinated] Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such [Subordinated] Debentures are distributed.
"LIQUIDATION AMOUNT" means the stated amount of $__________ per Trust Security.
"LIQUIDATION DATE" means the date on which [Subordinated] Debentures are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 904.
"LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION" has the meaning specified in Section 904(d).
"MAJORITY IN LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES" or
"MAJORITY IN LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF THE TRUST COMMON SECURITIES" means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Trust Preferred Securities or Trust Common Securities, as the case may be, representing more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities or Trust Common Securities, as the case may be.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any other duly authorized officer of the Depositor, and delivered to the party provided herein. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 817) shall include:
(a) a statement that each Person signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such Person, such Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"OPINION OF COUNSEL" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for or an employee of the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Trustee.
"ORIGINAL TRUST AGREEMENT" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement.
"OUTSTANDING," when used with respect to Trust Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:
(a) Trust Securities theretofore canceled by the Property Trustee or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Trust Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Trust Preferred Securities, provided that if such Trust Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(c) Trust Securities which have been paid, or in exchange for, or in lieu of which, other Trust Securities have been executed and delivered pursuant to Sections 504, 505 and 506, other than any such Trust Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Property Trustee proof satisfactory to it and the Depositor that such Trust Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser or purchasers in whose hands such Trust Securities are valid obligations of the Depositor; provided, however, that in determining whether or not the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities Outstanding under this Trust Agreement have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or whether or not a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Trust Securities, Trust Securities owned by the Depositor, any Trustee, any Administrator or any other obligor upon the Trust Securities or any Affiliate of the Depositor or of such other obligor (unless the Depositor, such Affiliate or such obligor owns all Trust Securities Outstanding under this Trust Agreement determined without regard to this proviso) shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (i) in determining whether any Trustee or any Administrator shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or upon any such determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Trust Preferred Securities that such Trustee or such Administrator, as the case may be, knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (ii) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Trustees, one or more of the Administrators and/or any such Affiliate; provided, however, that Trust Preferred Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the ple dgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrators the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Trust Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any other obligor upon the Trust Preferred Securities or any Affiliate of the Depositor or of such other obligor.
"OWNER" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of Global Trust Preferred Securities as reflected in the records of the Depositary or, if a Depositary Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Depositary (directly or indirectly), in accordance with the rules of such Depositary.
"PAYING AGENT" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 510 and shall initially be the Property Trustee.
"PAYMENT ACCOUNT" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust account maintained with the Property Trustee in its corporate trust department for the benefit of the Holders in which all amounts paid in respect of the [Subordinated] Debentures will be held and from which the Property Trustee, through the Paying Agent, shall make payments to the Holders in accordance with Sections 401 and 402.
"PERSON" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"PROPERTY TRUSTEE" means the Person identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as herein provided.
"REDEMPTION DATE" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided that each Debenture Redemption Date and the stated maturity of the [Subordinated] Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities, including but not limited to any date of redemption pursuant to the occurrence of any Special Event.
"REDEMPTION PRICE" means a price equal to 100% of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Security to be redeemed, together with accumulated Distributions to but excluding the date fixed for redemption and the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption of the [Subordinated] Debentures.
"RELEVANT TRUSTEE" has the meaning specified in Section 811.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" when used with respect to the Property Trustee means any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any managing director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer, assistant secretary, trust officer, senior trust officer or any other officer of the Property Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"SECURITIES REGISTER" and "SECURITIES REGISTRAR" have the respective meanings specified in Section 505.
"SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" has the meaning specified in the Indenture.
"SPECIAL EVENT" means any Tax Event or Investment Company Event.
"[SUBORDINATED] DEBENTURES" means the aggregate principal amount of the Depositor's _______% [Subordinated] Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series __ due _______________, issued pursuant to the Indenture.
"SUCCESSOR TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE" of any particular Trust Preferred Securities Certificate means every Trust Preferred Securities Certificate issued after, and evidencing all or a portion of the same beneficial interest in the Trust as that evidenced by, such particular Trust Preferred Securities Certificate; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Trust Preferred Securities Certificate executed and delivered under Section 506 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Preferred Securities Certificate shall be deemed to evidence the same beneficial interest in the Trust as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Preferred Securities Certificate.
"SUCCESSOR TRUST PREFERRED SECURITY" has the meaning specified in Section 905.
"TAX EVENT" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of the Trust Preferred Securities (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing arising with respect to, or resulting from, any proceeding or other action commencing on or before such date), there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the [Subordinated] Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Depositor on the [Subordinated] Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel will not be, deductible by the Depositor, in whole or in part, for United States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
"TRUST" means Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __.
"TRUST AGREEMENT" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including (i) all exhibits hereto, and (ii) for all purposes of this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and any modification, amendment or supplement, respectively.
"TRUST COMMON SECURITIES CERTIFICATE" means a certificate evidencing ownership of Trust Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B.
"TRUST COMMON SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means the Trust Common Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of __________________ between the Trust and the Depositor, as the same may be amended from time to time.
"TRUST COMMON SECURITY" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $____________and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force and effect as of the date of execution of this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is succeeded by another statute or is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" shall mean such successor statute or the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended, to the extent such successor statute or amendment is applicable to this Trust Agreement or to the actions of the Depositor or the Property Trustee under or pursuant to this Trust Agreement.
"TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE" means a certificate evidencing ownership of Trust Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.
"TRUST PREFERRED SECURITY" means a preferred undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $___________and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"TRUST PROPERTY" means (a) the [Subordinated] Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account, (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and (d) any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust Agreement.
"TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATE" means any one of the Trust Common Securities Certificates or the Trust Preferred Securities Certificates.
"TRUST SECURITY" means any one of the Trust Common Securities or the Trust Preferred Securities.
"TRUSTEES" means, collectively, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
"UNDERWRITERS" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting Agreement.
"UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of _________, among the Trust, the Depositor and the Underwriters, as the same may be amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
CONTINUATION OF THE TRUST
Section 201 NAME. The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __," as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrators following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the Trustees, in which name the Administrators and the Trustees may engage in the transactions contemplated hereby, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued.
Section 202 OFFICE OF THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE; PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is ____________________, Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department, or such other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the Holders and the Depositor. The principal executive office of the Trust is in care of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, 1201 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Section 203 INITIAL CONTRIBUTION OF TRUST PROPERTY; ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES. The Property Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor in connection with this Trust Agreement of the sum of $_____________, which constitutes the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay all organizational expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such expenses paid by such Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses.
Section 204 ISSUANCE OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES. The Depositor and the Trust executed and delivered the Underwriting Agreement as of ___________, pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, an Administrator, on behalf of the Trust, shall by manual or facsimile signature execute in accordance with Section 503 and the Property Trustee shall authenticate in accordance with Section 503 and deliver to the Underwriters, Trust Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the names requested by the Underwriters, in an aggregate amount of _________ Trust Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $_________ against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Trust Preferred Securities of $__________, by the Property Trustee.
If the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase all or any portion of an additional ____________ Trust Preferred Securities pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, then an Administrator, on behalf of the Trust, shall by manual or facsimile signature execute in accordance with Section 503 and the Property Trustee shall authenticate in accordance with Section 503 and deliver to the Underwriters, additional Trust Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the names requested by the Underwriters, in an aggregate amount of up to _______________ additional Trust Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of up to $________, against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such additional Trust Preferred Securities of up to $________ by the Property Trustee.
The certificates of authentication to be executed by the Property Trustee shall be substantially in the forms as set forth on Exhibits B and C attached hereto.
Section 205 ISSUANCE OF THE TRUST COMMON SECURITIES; SUBSCRIPTION AND PURCHASE OF [SUBORDINATED] DEBENTURES. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, an Administrator, on behalf of the Trust, shall by manual or facsimile signature execute or cause to be executed in accordance with Section 503 and the Property Trustee shall authenticate in accordance with Section 503 and shall deliver to the Depositor Trust Common Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of ______ Trust Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $___________ against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Trust Common Securities of $_________ by the Property Trustee. Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrator, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe for and purchase from the Depositor the [Subordinated] Debentures, registered in the name of the Property Trustee and having an aggregate principal a mount equal to $_________, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such [Subordinated] Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $_________, (being the sum of the amounts delivered to the Property Trustee pursuant to (i) the second sentence of Section 204, and (ii) the first sentence of this Section 205) and receive on behalf of the Trust such [Subordinated] Debentures.
If the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Trust Preferred Securities pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, then an Administrator, on behalf of the Trust, shall by manual or facsimile signature execute in accordance with Section 503 and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositor additional Trust Common Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of up to ______ additional Trust Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of up to $_______ against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such additional Trust Common Securities of up to $________ by the Property Trustee. Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrator, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe for and purchase from the Depositor the [Subordinated] Debentures, registered in the name of the Property Trustee and having an aggregate principal amount of up to $_______, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such [Subordinated] Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor an aggregate amount equal to the sum of the amounts delivered to the Property Trustee pursuant to (i) the third sentence of Section 204, and (ii) the third sentence of this Section 205.
Section 206 DECLARATION OF TRUST. The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are to (a) issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the [Subordinated] Debentures, and (b) engage in only those other activities necessary, convenient or incidental thereto. The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and the Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders. The Depositor hereby appoints the Administrators, with such Administrators having all rights, powers and duties set forth herein with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust, and the Administrators hereby accept such appointment; provided, however, that it is the intent of the parties hereto that such A dministrators shall not be trustees or, to the fullest extent permitted by law, fiduciaries with respect to the Trust and this Trust Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with such intent. The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrators set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and for taking such actions as are required to be taken by a Delaware trustee under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
Section 207 AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.
(a) The Trustees and the Administrators shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section and in accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees and the Administrators shall act as follows:
(i) Each Administrator, acting jointly or singly, shall:
(1) comply with the Underwriting Agreement regarding the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;
(2) assist in compliance with the Securities Act, applicable State securities or blue sky laws, and the Trust Indenture Act;
(3) assist in the listing of the Trust Preferred Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor, with the registration of the Trust Preferred Securities under the Exchange Act, if required, and the preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing;
(4) execute the Trust Securities on behalf of the Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(5) execute and deliver an application for a taxpayer identification number for the Trust;
(6) assist in the filing with the Commission, at such time as determined by the Depositor, any registration statement under the Securities Act, including any amendments thereto;
(7) unless otherwise required by the Trust Indenture Act, execute on behalf of the Trust any documents that the Administrators have the power to execute pursuant to this Trust Agreement, including without limitation, the Debentures Purchase Agreement and the Trust Common Securities Purchase Agreement and send notices (other than notices of default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the [Subordinated] Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement; and
(8) take any action incidental to the foregoing as necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement.
(ii) The Property Trustee shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:
(1) the establishment of the Payment Account;
(2) the receipt of the [Subordinated] Debentures;
(3) the receipt and collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the [Subordinated] Debentures in the Payment Account;
(4) the distribution, through the Paying Agent, of amounts owed to the Holders in respect of the Trust Securities;
(5) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the [Subordinated] Debentures (subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement);
(6) the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the [Subordinated] Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(7) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;
(8) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding-up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of ________________ ; and
(9) after an Event of Default (other than under paragraph (b), (c), (d), or (e) of the definition of such term if such Event of Default is by or with respect to the Property Trustee), comply with the provisions of this Trust Agreement and take any action to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this Section 207(a)(ii) shall require the Property Trustee to take any action that is not otherwise required in this Trust Agreement.
(iii) the Property Trustee shall have none of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrators as set forth in Section 207(a)(i).
(b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees or Administrators acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transactions except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, neither the Trustees nor the administrators shall (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would cause the Trust to become taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt, or (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property. The Property Trustee shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Trust Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the preparation, execution and filing with the Commission of a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities;
(ii) the determination of the states in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Trust Preferred Securities and the determination of any and all such acts, other than actions that must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice to the Administrators of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation for execution and filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States in connection with the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities;
(iii) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities; and
(iv) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrators and the Property Trustee are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, and will not be taxable other than as a grantor trust for the United States Federal income tax purposes and so that the [Subordinated] Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States Federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Administrators, the Property Trustee and the Holders of Trust Common Securities are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust Agreement, that the Administrators, Property Trustee and Holders of Trust Common Securities determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the holders of the Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities. In no event shall the Administrators or the Trustees be liable to the Trust or the Holders for any failure to comply with this Section that results from a change in law or regulations or in the interpretation thereof. It is understood that (i) by performing its duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have complied with the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 207(d) and (ii) nothing in this Section 207(d) shall require the Property Trustee to take any actions other that those specifically required by this Trust Agreement to be taken by it.
Section 208 ASSETS OF TRUST. The assets of the Trust shall consist solely of the Trust Property.
Section 209 TITLE TO TRUST PROPERTY. Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE III
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
Section 301 PAYMENT ACCOUNT.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and its agents shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All moneys and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Holders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other payments or proceeds with respect to, the [Subordinated] Debentures. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTION; REDEMPTION
Section 401 DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the Trust Property, and Distributions (including of Additional Amounts) will be made on the Trust Securities at the rate and on the dates that payments of interest (including of Additional Interest) are made on the [Subordinated] Debentures. Accordingly:
(i) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative and will accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for the payment of Distributions. Distributions shall accumulate from __________, 20__, and, except in the event (and to the extent) that the Depositor exercises its right to defer the payment of interest on the [Subordinated] Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on _________, ________, _________, and ________ of each year, commencing on _________, 20__. If any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (without any additional Distributions or other payment in respect of any such delay), with the same force and effect as if made on the date on which such payment was originally payable (each date on which distributions are payable in accordance with this Section 401(a), a "Distribu tion Date").
(ii) The Trust Securities shall be entitled to Distributions payable at a rate of ____% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any period less than a full Distribution period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in a partial month in a period. Distributions payable for each full Distribution period will be computed by dividing the rate per annum by four. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include any Additional Amounts in respect of such period.
(iii) So long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Depositor has the right under the Indenture to defer the payment of interest on the [Subordinated] Debentures at any time and from time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly periods (an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Periods the Depositor shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date (as defined in the Indenture) and at the end of which the Depositor shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond ___________________ or end on a day other than an Interest Payment Date. As a consequence of any such deferral, quarterly Distributions on the Trust Securities by the Trust will also be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to which Holders of the Trust Securities are entitled will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at a rate of _______% per annum, compounded quarterly from the relevant payme nt date for such Distributions, computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual days elapsed in a partial month in such period). Additional Distributions payable for each full Distribution period will be computed by dividing the rate per annum by four. The term "Distributions" as used in this Section 401 shall include any such additional Distributions provided pursuant to this Section 401(a)(iii).
(iv) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Property Trustee from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions.
(b) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities at the close of business on the relevant record date, which shall be at the close of business on the fifteenth day (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the relevant Distribution Date.
Section 402 REDEMPTION.
(a) On each Debenture Redemption Date and on the stated maturity of the [Subordinated] Debentures, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price.
(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee 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 Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price;
(iii) the CUSIP number or CUSIP numbers of the Trust Preferred Securities affected;
(iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the identification and the total Liquidation Amount of the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed;
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that Distributions thereon will cease to accumulate on and after said date, except as provided in Section 402(e) below; and
(vi) the place or places where Trust Securities are to be surrendered for the payment of the Redemption Price.
(c) The Trust in issuing the Trust Securities may use "CUSIP" or "private placement" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall indicate the "CUSIP" or "private placement" numbers of the Trust Securities in notices of redemption and related materials 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 Trust Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and related material.
(d) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of [Subordinated] Debentures. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.
(e) If the Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Trust Preferred Securities, then, by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Depositor shall deposit sufficient funds with the Property Trustee to pay the Redemption Price. If such deposit has been made, then by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, subject to Section 402(c), the Property Trustee will, with respect to Trust Preferred Securities held in global form, irrevocably deposit with the Depositary for such Trust Preferred Securities, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give such Depositary irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities. With respect to Trust Preferred Securities that are not held in global form, the Property Trustee, subject to Section 402(c), will irrevocably deposit with the Payi ng Agent, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities upon surrender of their Trust Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then, upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Holders to receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution payable in respect of the Trust Securities on or prior to the Redemption Date, but without interest, and such Trust Securities will cease to be Outstanding. In the event that any date on which any applicable Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the applicable Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any Trust Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accumulate, as set forth in Section 401 and in accordance with the continued accrual of interest on the [Subordinated] Debentures, from the Redemption Date originally establish ed by the Trust for such Trust Securities to the date such applicable Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the applicable Redemption Price.
(f) Subject to Section 403(a), if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Trust Common Securities and the Trust Preferred Securities based on the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The amount of premium, if any, paid by the Depositor upon the redemption of all or any part of the [Subordinated] Debentures to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date shall be allocated to the redemption pro rata of the Trust Preferred Securities and the Trust Common Securities. The particular Trust Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Property Trustee by such method (including, without limitation, on a pro rata basis based on their respective Liquidation mounts or by lot) as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate, which may provide for the select ion for redemption of portions (equal to $_____ or integral multiples thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $______, not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date from the Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption, or if the Trust Preferred Securities are then held in the form of a Global Trust Preferred Security, by the Depositary in accordance with the customary procedures for the Depositary. In any such proration, the Property Trustee shall make such adjustments so that any Trust Preferred Security to be redeemed shall, after such redemption, be in an authorized denomination. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of the Trust Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Trust Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise re quires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Trust Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Trust Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Preferred Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.
Section 403 SUBORDINATION OF TRUST COMMON SECURITIES.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, the Redemption Price of, and the Liquidation Distribution in respect of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made, subject to Section 402(e), pro rata among the Trust Common Securities and the Trust Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date any Event of Default resulting from a Debenture Event of Default in Sections 8.01(a)(1) or (2) of the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including any
Additional Amounts) on, Redemption Price of, or Liquidation Distribution in respect of, any Trust Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Trust Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on all Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or, in the case of payment of the Redemption Price, the full amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities then called for redemption, or in the case of payment of the Liquidation Distribution, the full amount of such Liquidation Distribution on all Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on, or the Redemption Price of, or Liquidation Distribution in respect of, Trust Preferred Securities then due and payable. The existence of an Event of Default does not entitle the Holders of Trust Preferred Securities to accelerate the
maturity thereof.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default resulting from any Debenture Event of Default, the Holder of the Trust Common Securities shall be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement until the effects of all such Events of Default with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities and not on behalf of the Holder of the Trust Common Securities, and only the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
Section 404 PAYMENT PROCEDURES. Payments of Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) in respect of the Trust Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the Trust Preferred Securities are held by the Depositary, such Distributions shall be made to the Depositary in immediately available funds, which will credit the relevant accounts on the applicable Distribution Dates. Payments in respect of the Trust Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Trust Common Securities.
Section 405 TAX RETURNS AND REPORTS. The Administrators shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the Depositor's expense, and file all United States Federal, State and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. In this regard, the Administrators shall (a) prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all Internal Revenue Service forms required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year of the Trust and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to each Holder all Internal Revenue Service forms required to be provided by the Trust. The Administrators shall provide the Depositor and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly after such filing or furnishing. The Property Trustee shall comply with United States Federal withholding and backup withholding tax laws and information reporting requirements with respect to any payments to Holders under the Trust Securities.
On or before December 15 of each year during which any Trust Preferred Securities are outstanding, the Administrators shall furnish to the Paying Agent such information as may be reasonably requested by the Property Trustee in order that the Property Trustee may prepare the information which it is required to report for such year on Internal Revenue Service Forms 1096 and 1099 pursuant to Section 6049 of the Code. Such information shall include the amount of original issue discount includable in income for each outstanding Trust Preferred Security during such year, if any.
Section 406 PAYMENT OF TAXES, DUTIES, ETC. OF THE TRUST. Upon receipt under the [Subordinated] Debentures of Additional Sums and the written direction of any of the Administrators, the Property Trustee shall promptly pay any taxes, duties or governmental charges of whatsoever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed on the Trust by the United States or any other taxing authority.
Section 407 PAYMENTS UNDER INDENTURE OR PURSUANT TO DIRECT ACTIONS. Amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Trust Preferred Securities shall be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder has directly received pursuant to Section 8.04 of the Indenture or Section 513 of this Trust Agreement.
Section 408 LIABILITY OF THE HOLDER OF TRUST COMMON SECURITIES. The Holder of Trust Common Securities shall be liable for the debts and obligations of the Trust as set forth in Section 9.06 of the Indenture regarding allocation of expenses.
ARTICLE V
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
Section 501 INITIAL OWNERSHIP. Upon the creation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor pursuant to Section 203 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are Outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.
Section 502 THE TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Trust Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in fully registered form in denominations of $_____ Liquidation Amount or integral multiples thereof. The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrator. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall become a Holder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 505.
(b) Upon their original issuance, Trust Preferred Securities Certificates representing Global Trust Preferred Securities shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Trust Preferred Securities Certificates registered in the name of Cede as the Depositary's nominee and deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the Owners thereof (or such other accounts as they may direct). Except as set forth herein, record ownership of the Global Trust Preferred Securities may be transferred, in whole or in part, only to the Depositary, another nominee of Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee.
(c) A single Trust Common Securities Certificate representing the Trust Common Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Trust Common Securities Certificate.
Section 503 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES. At the Closing Time, and on the date, if any, on which the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Trust Preferred Securities pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, as applicable, an Administrator shall cause Trust Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 204 and 205, to be executed on behalf of the Trust and delivered to the Property Trustee and upon such delivery the Property Trustee shall authenticate such Trust Securities Certificates and deliver such Trust Securities Certificates upon the written order of the Trust, executed by an Administrator thereof, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations. Only such Trust Securities Certificates as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Property Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
Section 504 GLOBAL TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES.
(a) The Global Trust Preferred Securities issued under this Trust Agreement shall be registered in the name of the nominee of the Depositary and delivered to the Property Trustee as custodian therefor, and such Global Trust Preferred Security shall constitute a single Trust Preferred Security for all purposes of this Trust Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, except as contemplated by the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Trust Preferred Security expressly permit such Global Trust Preferred Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for individual Trust Preferred Securities, a Global Trust Preferred Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 505, only to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Trust Preferred Security, or to the Depositary, or to a successor Depositary for such Global Trust Preferred Security selected or approved by the Depositor, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(c) (1) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Trust Preferred Security notifies the Depositor that it is unwilling or unable to continue as the Depositary for such Global Trust Preferred Security or if at any time the Depositary for the Trust Preferred Securities shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Depositor shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Trust Preferred Security. If a successor Depositary for such Global Trust Preferred Security is not appointed by the Depositor within 90 days after the Depositor receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, an Administrator will execute, and the Property Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Trust Preferred Securities in the form of definitive certificates of like tenor and terms ("Definitive Trust Preferred Securities") in a Liquidation Amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Global Trust Preferred Security in exchange for such Global Trust Preferred Security. Such Definitive Trust Preferred Securities will be issued in the form of a Trust Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates to and registered in the name of such Person or Persons as are specified by the Depositary.
(2) The Trust may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Trust Preferred Securities issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Trust Preferred Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Trust Preferred Security or Securities. In any such event an Administrator will execute, and the Property Trustee will authenticate and deliver without service charge to each Person specified by the Depositary a Trust Preferred Securities Certificate of like tenor in a Liquidation Amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Global Trust Preferred Security, or the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Global Trust Preferred Securities, in exchange for such Global Trust Preferred Security or Securities.
(3) Within seven days after the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Global Trust Preferred Securities, the Administrator shall execute, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver without service charge to each Person specified by the Depository a Trust Preferred Securities Certificate of like tenor in a Liquidation Amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Global Trust Preferred Security, or the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Global Trust Preferred Securities in exchange for such Global Trust Preferred Security or Securities.
(4) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding subparagraphs, an Administrator shall execute and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Trust Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of the entire Liquidation Amount of a Global Trust Preferred Security for Definitive Trust Preferred Securities, such Global Trust Preferred Security shall be canceled by the Property Trustee. Definitive Trust Preferred Securities issued in exchange for a Global Trust Preferred Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Trust Preferred Security, acting pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Property Trustee. Provided that the Depositor and the Property Trustee have so agreed, the Property Trustee shall deliver a Trust Preferred Securities Certificate to the Persons in whose names the Trust Preferred Securities are so to be registered.
(5) Any endorsement of a Global Trust Preferred Security to reflect the Liquidation Amount thereof, or any increase or decrease in such Liquidation Amount, or changes in the rights of Holders of Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified in or pursuant to any applicable letter of representations or other arrangement entered into with, or procedures of, the Depositary with respect to such Global Trust Preferred Security. Subject to the provisions of Section 503, the Property Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any such Global Trust Preferred Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified in or pursuant to any applicable letter of representations or other arrangement entered into with, or procedures of, the Depositary with respect to such Global Trust Preferred Security.
(6) The Depositary or, if there be one, its nominee, shall be the Holder of a Global Trust Preferred Security for all purposes under this Trust Agreement; and beneficial owners with respect to such Global Trust Preferred Security shall hold their interests pursuant to applicable procedures of such Depositary. The Depositor, the Property Trustee and the Trust Preferred Security Registrar shall be entitled to deal with such Depositary for all purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to such Global Trust Preferred Security (including the payment of any Distributions and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the beneficial owners of such Global Trust Preferred Security as the sole Holder of such Global Trust Preferred Security) and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof (including any direct or indirect participants in such Depositary). None of the Depositor, the Property Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Securities Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any a spect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Trust Preferred Security in or pursuant to any applicable letter of representations or other arrangement entered into with, or procedures of, the Depositary with respect to such Global Trust Preferred Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 505 REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE GENERALLY; CERTAIN TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES; TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATES. The Property Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept at its Corporate Trust Office a register or registers for the purpose of registering Trust Preferred Securities Certificates and transfers and exchanges of Trust Preferred Securities Certificates in which the registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities (the "Securities Registrar"), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Trust Preferred Securities Certificates and Trust Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 511 in the case of Trust Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Trust Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. Such register is herein sometimes referred to as the "Securities Register." The Property Trustee is hereby appointed Se curities Registrar for the purpose of registering Trust Preferred Securities and transfers of Trust Preferred Securities as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Trust Preferred Security Certificate at the offices or agencies of the Property Trustee designated for that purpose an Administrator shall execute, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Trust Preferred Securities Certificates of any authorized denominations of like tenor and aggregate Liquidation Amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Trust Agreement.
At the option of the Holder, Trust Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Trust Preferred Securities Certificates of any authorized denominations, of like tenor and aggregate Liquidation Amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Trust Agreement, upon surrender of the Trust Preferred Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Trust Preferred Securities are so surrendered for exchange, an Administrator shall execute and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Trust Preferred Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Trust Preferred Securities Certificates issued upon any transfer or exchange of Trust Preferred Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Trust, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Trust Agreement, as the Trust Preferred Securities Certificates surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
Every Trust Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Property Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Property Trustee and the Securities Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or exchange of Trust Preferred Securities, but the Property Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Trust Preferred Securities.
Neither the Trust nor the Property Trustee shall be required, pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (x) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Trust Preferred Security during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of Trust Preferred Securities pursuant to Article IV and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of such notice of redemption, or (y) to register the transfer of or exchange any Trust Preferred Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any such Trust Preferred Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.
None of the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Securities Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Trust Preferred Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 506 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES. If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrators such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Administrators, or any one of them, on behalf of the Trust shall execute and make available for delivery, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate has become or is about to become due and payable, the Trust, in its discretion (by an Administrator) may, instead of issuing a new Trust Securities Certificate, pay such Trust Securities Certificate.
In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this Section, the Administrators or the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust corresponding to that evidenced by the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.
The provisions of this Section 506 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificates.
Section 507 PERSONS DEEMED HOLDERS. Prior to due presentment of a Trust Preferred Securities Certificate for registration of transfer, the Trustees, the Administrators or the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name any Trust Securities are issued as the owner of such Trust Securities for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever (subject to the record date provisions hereof), and none of the Trustees, the Administrators nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.
Section 508 ACCESS TO LIST OF HOLDERS' NAMES AND ADDRESSES. Semiannually, not later than _______________ and _______________ in each year, commencing with the year 200_, and at such other times as the Property Trustee may request in writing, the Depositor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Property Trustee information as to the names and addresses of the Holders, and the Property Trustee shall preserve such information and similar information received by it in any other capacity and afford to the Holders access to information so preserved by it, all to such extent, if any, and in such manner as shall be required by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that no such list need be furnished so long as the Property Trustee shall be the Securities Registrar. Every holder of Trust Securities by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Depositor and the Property Trustee that neither the Depositor nor the Property Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Trust Securities in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, or any successor section of such Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Property Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, or any successor section of such Act.
Section 509 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY. The Property Trustee shall designate, with the consent of the Administrators, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, an office or offices or agency or agencies where Trust Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served. The Property Trustee initially designates its Corporate Trust Office [ ], Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department, as its corporate trust office for such purposes.
The Property Trustee shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor, the Administrators and to the Holders of any change in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency.
Section 510 APPOINTMENT OF PAYING AGENT. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Holders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property Trustee and the Administrators. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account solely for the purpose of making the Distributions referred to above. The Property Trustee may revoke such power and remove any Paying Agent in its sole discretion. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrators, and the Property Trustee. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the Property Trustee shall appoint a successor (which shall be a bank or trust company) that is reasonably acceptable to the Administrators to act as Paying Agent. Such successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Property Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Holders in trust for the benefit of the Holders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Holders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 801, 803 and 806 herein shall apply to the Bank also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Bank shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Trust Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any c o-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee unless the context requires otherwise.
Section 511 OWNERSHIP OF TRUST COMMON SECURITIES BY DEPOSITOR. At each Closing Time, the Depositor shall acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Trust Common Securities. Neither the Depositor nor any successor Holder of the Trust Common Securities may transfer less than all the Trust Common Securities, and the Depositor or any such successor Holder may transfer the Trust Common Securities only (i) in connection with a consolidation or merger of the Depositor into another entity or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Depositor of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, pursuant to Section 12.01 of the Indenture, or (ii) to an Affiliate of the Depositor in compliance with applicable law (including the Securities Act and applicable State securities and blue sky laws); provided that any such transfer shall be subject to the condition that the transferor shall have obtained (A) either a ruling from the Internal Revenu e Service or an unqualified written opinion addressed to the Trust and delivered to the Trustees of nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such transfer will not (1) cause the Trust to be treated as issuing a class of interests in the Trust differing from the class of interests represented by the Trust Common Securities originally issued to the Depositor, (2) result in the Trust acquiring or disposing of, or being deemed to have acquired or disposed of, an asset, or (3) result in or cause the Trust to be treated as anything other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes and (B) an unqualified written opinion addressed to the Trust and delivered to the Trustees of a nationally recognized independent counsel experienced in such matters that such transfer will not cause the Trust to be an "investment company" or controlled by an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any attempted transfer of the Trust Common Securities, other than as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, shall be void. The Administrators shall cause each Trust Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT TO THE DEPOSITOR OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE DEPOSITOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION 511 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT."
Section 512 NOTICES TO DEPOSITARY. To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is required under this Trust Agreement, with respect to Trust Preferred Securities represented by Global Trust Preferred Securities Certificates, the Administrators and the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to the Depositary, and shall have no obligations to the Owners.
Section 513 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.
(a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 209, and the Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and delivered to Holders against payment of the purchase price therefor, as provided herein, will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Except as otherwise provided in Section 408, the Holders of the Trust Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of pri vate corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(b) For so long as any Trust Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a Debenture Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of the outstanding [Subordinated] Debentures fail to declare the principal of all of the [Subordinated] Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of at least 33% in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have such right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the [Subordinated] Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences
(i) the Depositor has paid or deposited with the Debenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(1) all overdue installments of interest on all of the [Subordinated] Debentures,
(2) any accrued Additional Interest on all of the [Subordinated] Debentures,
(3) the principal of any [Subordinated] Debentures which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional Interest thereon at the rate borne by the [Subordinated] Debentures, and
(4) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee and the Property Trustee, their agents and counsel; and
(ii) all Debenture Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of the [Subordinated] Debentures which has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 8.07 of the Indenture.
The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Trust Preferred Securities, waive any past default under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of principal or interest (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding [Subordinated] Debentures. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities all or part of which is represented by Global Trust Preferred Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Property Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such no tice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice which has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 513(b).
(c) For so long as any Trust Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement and the Indenture, upon a Debenture Event of Default specified in Sections 8.01(a)(1) or (2) of the Indenture, any Holder of Trust Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor, pursuant to Section 8.04 of the Indenture, for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal amount of [Subordinated] Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action"). Except as set forth in Sections 513(b) and 513(c), the Holders of Trust Preferred Securities shall have no right to exercise directly any right or remedy available to the holders of, or in respect of, the [Subordinated] Debentures.
The holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, the Property Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Property Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Property Trustee in good faith shall determine that the proceedings so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of Trust Preferred Securities not parties to such direction, and provided further that nothing in this Trust Agreement shall impair the right of the Property Trustee to take a ny action deemed proper by the Property Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders.
ARTICLE VI
ACTS OF HOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
Section 601 LIMITATIONS ON HOLDER'S VOTING RIGHTS.
(a) Except as provided in this Trust Agreement and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Trust Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any
manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth or contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates be construed so as to constitute the Holders from time to time as members of an association.
(b) So long as any [Subordinated] Debentures are held by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the Property Trustee shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or execute any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to such [Subordinated] Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that may be waived under Section 8.07 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the [Subordinated] Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the [Subordinated] Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities, provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture wou ld require the consent of each holder of [Subordinated] Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each Holder of Trust Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of Trust Preferred Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of Trust Preferred Securities. Subject to Section 803, the Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities of any notice of default received with respect to the [Subordinated] Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Property Trustee shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such action will not cause the Trust to be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purpo ses.
(c) If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trust otherwise proposes to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect in any material respect the interests, powers, preferences or special rights of the Trust Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Trust Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities; except as otherwise provided in Section 1002(c). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be made if, as a result of such amendment, it would cau se the Trust to be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
Section 602 NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Notice of all meetings of the Holders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 1008, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
Section 603 MEETINGS OF HOLDERS.
(a) A meeting of any class of Holders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article VI to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Trust Agreement to be made, given or
taken by Holders.
(b) The Property Trustee, by giving notice as provided in Section 602, may at any time call a meeting of Holders for any purpose specified in subsection (a) of this Section, to be held at such time and at such place in the ________________________, as the Property Trustee shall determine, or, with the approval of the Administrators, at any other place. If the Property Trustee shall have been requested to call a meeting of the Holders of Trust Preferred Securities by the Holders of 33% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of all Trust Preferred Securities, for any purpose specified in subsection (a) of this Section, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Property Trustee shall not have given the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Holders of Trust Preferred Securities in the Liquidation Amount above specified, as the c ase may be, may determine the time and the place in the ____________________, or in such other place as shall be determined or approved by the Administrators, for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in this subsection (b). The Administrators or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of Holders of Trust Preferred Securities to vote on any matters as to which Holders are entitled to vote.
(c) Any meeting of Holders shall be valid without notice if the Holders of all Outstanding Trust Securities, Trust Common Securities or Trust Preferred Securities, as the case may be, are present in person or by proxy and if representatives of the Depositor, the Trust and the Property Trustee are present, or if notice is waived in writing before or after the meeting by such Holders, or by such of them as are not present at the meeting in person or by proxy, and by the Depositor, the Trust and the Property Trustee.
(d) To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Trust Securities, a Person shall be (a) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Trust Securities, Trust Common Securities or Trust Preferred Securities, as the case may be, or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for such Holder or Holders by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to attend any meeting of Holders of Trust Securities shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Property Trustee and its counsel, any representatives of the Trust and its counsel and any representatives of the Depositor and its counsel.
(e) The Persons entitled to vote at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Securities with respect to which a meeting shall have been called as herein before provided, considered as one class, shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of such Trust Securities; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting which this Trust Agreement expressly provides may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount, of such Outstanding Trust Securities, considered as one class, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in Liquidation Amount of such Outstanding Trust Securities, considered as one class, shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within one hour of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of such Trust Securities, be dissolved. In any other cas e the meeting may be adjourned for such period as may be determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for such period as may be determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Except as provided by Section 604(e), notice of the reconvening of any meeting adjourned for more than 30 days shall be given as provided in subsection (b) of this Section not less than ten days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Securities which shall constitute a quorum.
(f) Except as limited by Section [ ] of the Indenture, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Securities, Trust Common Securities or Trust Preferred Securities, as the case may be, with respect to which such meeting shall have been called, considered as one class; provided, however, that, except as so limited, any resolution with respect to any action which this Trust Agreement expressly provides may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount, of such Outstanding Trust Securities, considered as one class, may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percent age in Liquidation Amount of such Outstanding Trust Securities, considered as one class.
(g) Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Trust Securities, Trust Common Securities or Trust Preferred Securities, as the case may be, duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all such Holders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.
Section 604 ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS; DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS; CONDUCT AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS.
(a) Attendance at meetings of Holders may be in person or by proxy; and, to the extent permitted by law, any such proxy shall remain in effect and be binding upon any future Holder of the Trust Securities with respect to which it was given unless and until specifically revoked by the Holder or future Holder of such Trust Securities before being voted.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders in regard to proof of the holding of such Trust Securities and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Trust Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 608 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 608. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 608 or ot her proof.
(c) The Property Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Administrators or by Holders as provided in Section 603(b), in which case the Administrators or the Holders of Trust Securities calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Securities represented at the meeting, considered as one class.
(d) At any meeting each Holder or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $___ Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Trust Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Trust Security or proxy.
(e) Any meeting duly called pursuant to Section 603 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Securities as may be represented at the meeting, considered as one class; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
Section 605 COUNTING VOTES AND RECORDING ACTION OF MEETINGS. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the aggregate Liquidation Amount and serial numbers of the Outstanding Trust Securities with respect to which the meeting shall have been called, held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports of all votes cast at the meeting. A record of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 602. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Administrators, and another to the Property Trustee to be preserved by the Property Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
Section 606 HOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. In lieu of a vote of Holders at a meeting as hereinbefore contemplated in this Article, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be made, given or taken by Holders by written instruments as provided in Section 608.
Section 607 RECORD DATE FOR VOTING AND OTHER PURPOSES. For the purposes of determining the Holders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other action, the Administrators or Property Trustee may from time to time fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Holders or the payment of a distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Holders of record for such purposes.
Section 608 ACTS OF HOLDERS.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other action provided by this Trust Agreement to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing or, alternatively, may be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of this Article VI, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Property Trustee. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrume nt or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Trust Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 801) conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 605.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof or may be proved in any other manner which the Property Trustee or the Administrator receiving the same 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.
(c) The Liquidation Amount and serial numbers of Trust Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Securities Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act of a Holder shall bind every future Holder of the same Trust Security and the Holder of every Trust 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 Trustees, the Administrators or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
(e) Until such time as written instruments shall have been delivered to the Property Trustee with respect to the requisite percentage of Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities for the action contemplated by such instruments, any such instrument executed and delivered by or on behalf of a Holder may be revoked with respect to any or all of such Trust Securities by written notice by such Holder or any subsequent Holder, proven in the manner in which such instrument was proven.
(f) Trust Securities authenticated and delivered after any Act of Holders of such Trust Securities may, and shall if required by the Property Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Property Trustee as to any action taken by such Act of Holders. If the Administrators shall so determine, new Trust Securities, so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Property Trustee and the Administrators, to such action may be prepared and executed on behalf of the Trust by an Administrator and authenticated and delivered by the Property Trustee in exchange for such Outstanding Trust Securities.
(g) If the Trust (by the Administrators) shall solicit from Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Trust (by the Administrators) may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the Outstanding Trust Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Out standing Trust Securities shall be computed as of the record date.
(h) If any dispute shall arise among the Holders, the Administrators or the Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Holder or Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
(i) A Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Depositor under the Guarantee to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee (as defined in the Guarantee), the Trust, any Trustee, any Administrator or any person or entity.
Section 609 INSPECTION OF RECORDS. Upon reasonable notice to the Administrators and the Property Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Holders during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Holder's interest as a Holder.
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 701 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Holders that:
(a) The Property Trustee is a banking corporation with corporate trust powers, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, with corporate trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of this Trust Agreement.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Property Trustee; and this Trust Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Property Trustee, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Property Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement by the Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Property Trustee.
(d) At the Closing Time, the Property Trustee has not knowingly created any Liens on the Trust Securities.
(e) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any New York State or Federal banking authority governing the banking or trust powers of the Property Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee, of this Trust Agreement.
(f) The Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Trust Agreement.
(g) The execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee; and this Trust Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(h) The execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement by the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee.
(i) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to any Delaware, State or Federal banking authority governing the trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee, of this Trust Agreement.
(j) The Delaware Trustee is an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware.
Section 702 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DEPOSITOR. The Depositor
hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Holders that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued at the Closing Time on behalf of the Trust have been duly authorized and will have been duly and validly executed, and, subject to payment therefor, issued and delivered by the Trust pursuant to the terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Trust Agreement, and the Holders will be, as of each such date, entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by the Trust (or the Administrators or Trustees on behalf of the Trust) under the laws of the State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by either the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
THE TRUSTEES; THE ADMINISTRATORS
Section 801 CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Administrators shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement, and, in the case of the Property Trustee, by the Trust Indenture Act, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Trust Agreement against the Property Trustee. For purposes of Sections 315(a) and 315(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the term "default" is hereby defined as an Event of Default which has occurred and is continuing.
(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that neither the Trustees nor the Administrators are personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 801(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case of the Property Trustee, i n the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) The Property Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Trust Agreement. In case an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Property Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred
(i) the duties and obligations of the Property Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Trust Agreement, and the Property Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Trust Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Trust Agreement against the Property Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Property Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Trust Agreement; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Trust Agreement.
(e) The Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Property Trustee, unless it shall be proven that the Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(f) The Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Holders of Trust Preferred Securities pursuant to Section 513, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee, under this Trust Agreement.
(g) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the Property Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity, satisfactory to the Property Trustee in its reasonable judgment, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(h) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Trust Agreement to the contrary, the duties and responsibilities of the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement shall be subject to the protections, exculpations and limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee under the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, including those provisions of such Act deemed by such Act to be included herein.
(i) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Property Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Section 802 EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER. Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Trust Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences, except a default described in clause (b) or (c) of the definition of "Event of Default" contained in Section 101, a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under this Trust Agreement cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Trust Preferred Security or a Debenture Event of Default that the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities would not be entitled to waive pursuant to Section 513(b). Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Trust Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Even t of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.
Section 803 CERTAIN NOTICES.
(a) Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any default hereunder of which the Property Trustee has knowledge (within the meaning of Section 804(h) hereof), the Property Trustee shall give notice thereof to the Holders in the manner and to the extent required to do so by the Trust Indenture Act, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in clause (d) under the subheading "Event of Default" in Section 101, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default.
(b) Within five Business Days after the receipt of notice of the Depositor's exercise of its right to defer the payment of interest on the [Subordinated] Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 1008, notice of such exercise to the Holders and the Administrators, unless such exercise shall have been revoked.
Section 804 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE. Subject to the provisions of Section 801 and to the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) the Property 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;
(b) any request or direction of the Depositor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate, or as otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer's Certificate,
(d) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Property 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 Property Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Property Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall (subject to applicable legal requirements) be entitled to examine, during normal business hours, the books, records and premises of the Trust and the Depositor, personally or by agent or attorney;
(g) the Property 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 Property 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; and
(h) the Property Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless either (1) a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee shall have actual knowledge of the default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such default or Event of Default (which shall state that such notice is a "Notice of Default" or a "Notice of an Event of Default" hereunder, as the case may be) shall have been given to the Property Trustee by the Depositor, any Administrator, any other obligor on Trust Preferred Securities or by any Holder of Trust Preferred Securities.
Section 805 NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES. The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be taken as the statements of the Trust, and the Trustees and the Administrators do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees and the Administrators shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the [Subordinated] Debentures.
Section 806 MAY HOLD SECURITIES. Except as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article I, the Administrators, any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and, subject to Sections 809 and 814, may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not an Administrator, Trustee or such other agent.
Section 807 COMPENSATION; INDEMNITY. The Depositor, as borrower, shall
(a) pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement, including the costs of collection (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except to the extent that any such expense, disbursement or advance may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and
(c) indemnify and hold harmless each Trustee and each Administrator (each referred to herein as an "Indemnified Person") from and against any and all losses, demands, claims, liabilities, causes of action or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder or the performance of its duties hereunder (including the reasonable 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), except to the extent any such loss, demand, claim, liability, cause of action or expense may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and assume the defense of such Indemnified Person with counsel acceptable to such Indemnified Person, unless such Indemnified Person shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are diff erent from or additional to those available to the Depositor.
No Trustee may claim any Lien on any Trust Property as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section.
When a Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in clause (e) under the subheading "Event of Default" in Section 101, the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive termination of this Trust Agreement.
Section 808 TRUSTEES REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY OF TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATORS.
(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be
(i) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority, or
(ii) if and to the extent permitted by the Commission by rule, regulation or order upon application, a corporation or other Person organized and doing business under the laws of a foreign government, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or the Dollar equivalent of the applicable foreign currency and subject to supervision or examination by authority of such foreign government or a political subdivision thereof substantially equivalent to supervision or examination applicable to United States institutional trustees, and, in either case, qualified and eligible under this Article VIII and the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of such supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth i n its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VIII.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrators hereunder. Each Administrator shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that entity. An employee, officer or Affiliate of the Depositor may serve as an Administrator.
(c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity with its principal lace of business in the State of Delaware and that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law that shall act through one or morepersons authorized to bind such entity.
Section 809 CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
(a) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property 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 Trust Agreement.
(b) The Guarantee, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreement dated as of ______________ between the Depositor and ____________, as guarantee trustee, relating to Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __, and the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of _________________ among the Depositor, as depositor, ______________________, as property trustee, _________________________, as Delaware trustee and the administrators named therein, relating to Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __, shall be deemed to be sufficiently described in this Trust Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 810 CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE TRUSTEE. At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of any applicable jurisdiction, the Depositor and the Property Trustee shall have power to appoint, and, upon the written request of the Property Trustee or of the Holders of at least thirty-three per centum (33%) in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities then Outstanding, the Depositor and the Administrators shall for such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the execution and delivery of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, or to act as separate trustee, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or persons, in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. If the Depositor or the Administrators do not join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by them of a request so to do, or if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment.
Should any written instrument or instruments from the Depositor be required by any co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed to more fully confirm to such co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right or power, any and all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Depositor.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following conditions:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates shall be authenticated and delivered, and all rights, powers, duties and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Property Trustee hereunder, shall be exercised solely, by the Property Trustee;
(b) the rights, powers, duties and obligations hereby conferred or imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by such appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed either by the Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co-trustee or separate trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed by such co-trustee or separate trustee;
(c) the Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing executed by it, with the concurrence of the Depositor, may accept the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this Section, and, if a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any such co-trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence of the Depositor. Upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the execution and delivery of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section;
(d) no co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee, or any other such trustee hereunder; and
(e) any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee.
Section 811 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.
(a) No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant 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 812.
(b) A Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Depositor. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 812 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the Relevant Trustee may petition any court of the State of Delaware for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(c) The Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust) and to the Depositor.
(d) If at any time:
(1) a Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 809 after written request therefor by the Depositor or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder for at least six months, or
(2) a Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 808 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Depositor or by any such Holder, or
(3) a Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Relevant Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Relevant Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (x) the Depositor by a Board Resolution may remove the Relevant Trustee or (y) any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of the State of Delaware for the removal of the Relevant Trustee and the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
(e) If a Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any cause (other than as contemplated in clause (y) in subsection (d) of this Section), the Depositor, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 812. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Relevant Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities then Outstanding delivered to the Depositor and the retiring Trustee, the successor Relevant Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 812, become the successor Relevant Trustee and to that extent supersede the successor Relevant Trustee appoi nted by the Depositor. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Depositor or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 812, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Trust Preferred Security for at least six months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of the State of Delaware for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
(f) So long as no event which is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and except with respect to a Trustee appointed by Act of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Preferred Securities pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, if the Depositor shall have delivered to the Relevant Trustee (i) a Board Resolution appointing a successor Relevant Trustee, effective as of a date specified therein, and (ii) an instrument of acceptance of such appointment, effective as of such date, by such successor Relevant Trustee in accordance with Section 812, the Relevant Trustee shall be deemed to have resigned as contemplated in subsection (b) of this Section, the successor Relevant Trustee shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Depositor pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section and such appointment shall be deemed to have been accepted as contemplated in Section 812, all as of such date, and all other provisions of this Section and Section 812 shall be applicable to such resignation, appointment and acceptance except to the extent inconsistent with this subsection (f).
(g) The Depositor or, should the Depositor fail so to act promptly, the successor Relevant Trustee, at the expense of the Depositor, shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of any Trustee and each appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to al Holders of Trust Preferred Securities as their names and addresses appear in the Securities Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its corporate trust office.
Section 812 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, every such successor Relevant Trustee so appointed with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust
shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Depositor and to the retiring Relevant Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective and such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on the request of the Depositor or the successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall, upon payment of all sums owed to it, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Relevant Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust.
(b) Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Depositor shall execute any instruments which fully vest in and confirm to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in subsection (a) of this Section.
(c) No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article VIII.
Section 813 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS. Any corporation into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware 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 such Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of the Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VIII, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Trust Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Relevant Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Trust Securities so authenticate d with the same effect as if such successor Relevant Trustee had itself authenticated such Trust Securities.
Section 814 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST DEPOSITOR OR TRUST. If the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Depositor or any other obligor upon the Trust Securities (other than by reason of a relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), the Property Trustee shall be subject to any and all applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or such other obligor. For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) the term "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 or bankers and payable upon demand;
(b) the term "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Depositor 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 Property Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Depositor arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.
Section 815 TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Trust or any other obligor upon the Trust Securities or the property of the Trust or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on the Trust Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Property Trustee shall have made any demand on the Trust for the payment of overdue Distributions) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any Distributions owing and unpaid in respect of the Trust Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Property Trustee (including any claim for amounts due to the Property Trustee under Section 807) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event that the Property Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Property Trustee any amounts due it under Section 807.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property 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 Trust Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Property Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 816 REPORTS BY PROPERTY TRUSTEE.
(a) Not later than _________ of each year commencing with ___________, 20__, the Property Trustee shall transmit to all Holders in accordance with Section 1008, and to the Depositor, a brief report dated as of the immediately preceding ________ concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this Trust Agreement if and as may be required pursuant to Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) In addition the Property Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this Trust Agreement as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with the Depositor.
Section 817 REPORTS TO THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE. The Depositor and the Administrators on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Depositor and the Administrators shall annually file with the Property Trustee a certificate specifying whether
such Person is in compliance with all the terms and covenants applicable to such Person hereunder, such compliance certificate to be delivered annually on or before ________________ of each year beginning in ________________.
Section 818 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. Each of the Depositor and the Administrators on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
Section 819 NUMBER OF TRUSTEES.
(a) The number of Trustees shall be two. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person, in which case, the number of Trustees may be one.
(b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason, a vacancy shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with an Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 811.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of an Trustee shall not operate to dissolve, terminate or annul the Trust or terminate this Trust Agreement.
Section 820 DELEGATION OF POWER.
(a) Any Administrator may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 207(a) or making any governmental filing; and
(b) The Administrators shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrators or otherwise as the Administrators may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
Section 821 APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATORS.
(a) The Administrators shall be appointed by the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Common Securities and may be removed by the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Common Securities or may resign at any time. Upon any resignation or removal, the Depositor shall appoint a successor Administrator. Each Administrator shall execute this Trust Agreement thereby agreeing to comply with, and be legally bound by, all of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Trust Agreement. If at any time there is no Administrator, the Property Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of Trust Securities for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of one or more Administrators.
(b) Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrators shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrator in accordance with this Section 821, the Administrators in office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrators and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrators by this Trust Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event any Administrator who is a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Common Securities, incompetent, or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the remaining Administrators, if there were at least two of them prior to such vacancy, and by the Depositor, if there were not two such Administrators immediately prior to such vacancy (with the successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrators set forth in Section 808).
Section 822 DELAWARE TRUSTEE.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of the Administrators or the Property Trustee described in this Trust Agreement. The Delaware Trustee shall be a trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
(b) It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that in fulfilling its obligations as Delaware Trustee hereunder on behalf of the Trust (i) any agreements or instruments executed and delivered by_____________________________ are executed and delivered not in its individual capacity but solely as Delaware Trustee under this Trust Agreement in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, (ii) each of the representations, undertakings and agreements herein made on the part of the Trust is made and intended not as representations, warranties, covenants, undertakings and agreements by ________________________________ in its individual capacity but is made and intended for the purpose of binding only the rust, and (iii) under no circumstances shall _________________
_________________________________ be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Trust or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Trust under this Trust Agreement, except if such breach or failure is due to any gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Delaware Trustee.
ARTICLE IX
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
Section 901 DISSOLUTION UPON EXPIRATION DATE. Unless earlier dissolved, pursuant to an Early Termination Event, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on ________________ (the "Expiration Date"), and thereafter the Trust Property shall be distributed in accordance with Section 904.
Section 902 EARLY DISSOLUTION. The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early Termination Event," upon the occurrence of which the Trust shall dissolve:
(a) the occurrence of the appointment of a receiver or other similar official in any liquidation, insolvency or similar proceeding with respect to the Depositor or all or substantially all of its property, or a court or other governmental agency shall enter a decree or order relating to the Depositor for relief in a voluntary or involuntary case under Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any other similar State or Federal law now or hereafter in effect and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and undischarged for a period of 60 days, unless the Depositor shall transfer the Trust Common Securities as provided by Section 511, in which case this provision shall refer instead to any such successor Holder of the Trust Common Securities;
(b) the written direction to the Property Trustee from the Holder of the Trust Common Securities at any time to dissolve the Trust and to distribute the [Subordinated] Debentures to Holders in exchange for the Trust Preferred Securities (which direction, subject to Section 904(a), is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Holder of the Trust Common Securities);
(c) the redemption of all of the Trust Preferred Securities in connection with the repayment or redemption of all the [Subordinated] Debentures; and
(d) the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 903 TERMINATION. As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 901 or 902, and upon the completion of the winding-up and liquidation of the Trust, the Administrators and the Trustees (each of whom is hereby authorized to take such action) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware terminating the Trust and, upon such filing, the respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees, the Administrators and the Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate, except as otherwise required by law or this Trust Agreement.
Section 904 LIQUIDATION.
(a) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of Section 902 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall be wound-up and liquidated by the Property Trustee as expeditiously as the Property Trustee determines to be possible by distributing, after paying or making reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust in accordance with Section 3808(e) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, to each Holder a Like Amount of [Subordinated] Debentures, subject to Section 904(d). Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not later than 15 nor more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date;
(ii) state that, from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of [Subordinated] Debentures; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for [Subordinated] Debentures, or if Section 904(d) applies receive a Liquidation Distribution, as the Administrators or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate.
(b) Except where Section 902(c) or 904(d) applies, in order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the [Subordinated] Debentures to Holders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 30 days prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of [Subordinated] Debentures in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates.
(c) Except where Section 902(c) or 904(d) applies, after the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) the Depositary for the Trust Preferred Securities or its nominee, as the registered Holder of the Global Trust Preferred Securities Certificates, shall receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the [Subordinated] Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution with respect to Trust Preferred Securities held by the Depositary or its nominee, and, (iii) any Trust Securities Certificates not held by the Depositary for the Trust Preferred Securities or its nominee as specified in clause (ii) above will be deemed to represent [Subordinated] Debentures having a principal amount equal to the stated Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities represented thereby and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid Distributions o n such Trust Securities until such certificates are presented to the Securities Registrar for transfer or reissuance.
(d) If, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 904, whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the [Subordinated] Debentures is not practical, or if any Early Termination Event specified in clause (c) of Section 902 occurs, the Trust shall be dissolved, and the Trust Property shall be liquidated, by the Property Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee determines. In such event, on the date of the dissolution of the Trust, Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders, after paying or making reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust in accordance with Section 3808(e) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, an amount equal to the aggregate of Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amo unt being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If, upon any such dissolution, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holders of the Trust Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such dissolution, pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Trust Preferred Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trust Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Trust Common Securities as provided in Section 403.
Section 905 MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE TRUST. The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or bereplaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any entity, except pursuant to this Section 905 or Section 904. At the request of the Holders of the Trust Common Securities, and with the consent of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities, but without the consent of the Trustees, the Trust may merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, however, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities or (b) substitutes for the Trust Preferred Securities other securitie s having substantially the same terms as the Trust Preferred Securities (the "Successor Trust Preferred Securities") so long as the Successor Trust Preferred Securities have the same priority as the Trust Preferred Securities with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise; (ii) a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee is appointed to hold the [Subordinated] Debentures; (iii) the Trust Preferred Securities or any Successor Trust Preferred Securities are listed or quoted, or any Successor Trust Preferred Securities will be listed or quoted upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or with another organization on which Trust Preferred Securities are then listed or quoted; (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities (including any Succes sor Trust Preferred Securities) in any material respect; (v) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust; (vi) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Property Trustee has received an Opinion of Counsel from independent counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights preferences and privileges of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities (including any Successor Trust Preferred Securities) in any material respect, and (b) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; and (vii) the Depositor or any permitted transferee to whom it has transferred the Trust Common Securities hereunder owns all of the T rust Common Securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Trust Preferred Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes. Any merger or similar agreement shall be executed by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 1001 LIMITATIONS OF RIGHTS OF HOLDERS. Except as set forth in Section 902, the bankruptcy, dissolution, termination, death or incapacity of any Person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such person or any Holder for such person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding-up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.
Section 1002 AMENDMENT.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Property Trustee and the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Common Securities, without the consent of any Holder of the Trust Preferred Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that such amendment shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holder; (ii) to facilitate the tendering, remarketing and settlement of the trust preferred securities, as herein contemplated (iii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes at any time that any Trust Securities are Outstanding or to ensure that the Trus t will not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or (iv) in accordance with the requirements of Section 812.
(b) Except as provided in Section 1002(c) hereof, any provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Property Trustee and the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Common Securities with (i) the consent of Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust's being taxable as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes or the Trust's exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Holder (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 603 or 606 hereof), this Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act or be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary, without the consent of the Depositor and the Administrators, this Trust Agreement may not be amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor or the Administrators.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the Administrators or the Property Trustee shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such amendment.
(g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement which affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement or otherwise. The Property Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers' Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance with this Trust Agreement.
(h) The Administrators shall give notice to the Holders of each amendment to this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that any failure by the Administrators to deliver, or any defect in, such notice, shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of any such amendment.
Section 1003 SEPARABILITY. In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust Securities Certificates 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 1004 GOVERNING LAW.
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE HOLDERS, THE TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR, THE TRUSTEES AND THE ADMINISTRATORS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION THAT WOULD CALL FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THERE SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE HOLDERS, THE TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR, THE TRUSTEES, THE ADMINISTRATORS OR THIS TRUST AGREEMENT ANY PROVISION OF THE LAWS (STATUTORY OR COMMON) OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE PERTAINING TO TRUSTS OTHER THAN THE DELAWARE STATUTORY TRUST ACT THAT RELATE TO OR REGULATE, IN A MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS HEREOF (A) THE FILING WITH ANY COURT OR GOVERNMENTAL BODY OR AGENCY OF TRUSTEE ACCOUNTS OR SCHEDULES OF TRUSTEE FEES AND CHARGES, (B) AFFIRMATIVE REQUIREMENTS TO POST BONDS FOR TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES OF A TRUST, (C) THE NECESSITY FOR OBTAINING COURT OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL CONCERNING THE ACQUISITION, HOLDING OR DISPOSITION OF REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY, (D) FEES OR OTHER SUMS PAYABLE TO TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES OF A TRUST, (E) THE ALLOCATION OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES TO INCOME OR PRINCIPAL, (F) RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS ON THE PERMISSIBLE NATURE, AMOUNT OR CONCENTRATION OF TRUST INVESTMENTS OR REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE TITLING, STORAGE OR OTHER MANNER OF HOLDING OR INVESTING TRUST ASSETS OR (G) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FIDUCIARY OR OTHER STANDARDS OF R RESPONSIBILITY OR LIMITATIONS ON THE ACTS OR POWERS OF TRUSTEES THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE LIMITATIONS OR LIABILITIES OR AUTHORITIES AND POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES OR THE ADMINISTRATOR AS SET FORTH OR REFERENCED IN THIS TRUST AGREEMENT. SECTION 3540 OF TITLE 12 OF THE DELAWARE CODE SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE TRUST. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE I MMUNITIES AND STANDARD OF CARE OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF ITS TRUSTS AND DUTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 1005 PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS DAY. If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day that is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (except as otherwise provided in Section 402(d)), with the same force and effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no Distributions shall accumulate on such unpaid amount for the period after such date.
Section 1006 SUCCESSORS. This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust, the Administrators and any Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is permitted under Article XII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Depositor's obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
Section 1007 HEADINGS. The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.
Section 1008 REPORTS, NOTICES AND DEMANDS. Any report, notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Holder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit thereof, first class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder of Trust Preferred Securities, to such Holder as such Holder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b) in the case of the Holder of Trust Common Securities or the Depositor, to _____________________________, Attention: ____________________, Facsimile No. _____________________ or to such other address as may be specified in a written notice by the Depositor to the Property Trustee. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Holder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Depositor shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Depositor.
Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or, the Administrators shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as follows: (a) with respect to the Property Trustee to _________________, _____________________, Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department (b) with respect to the Delaware Trustee to ___________________, _____________________, Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department; (c) with respect to the Administrators, to them at the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked "Attention: Office of the Chief Financial Officer" and (d) with respect to the Trust to Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __, c/o Great Plains Energy Incorporated, 1201 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, Attention:____________________. Such notice, demand or other comm unication to or upon the Trust or the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust, the Property Trustee, or such Administrator.
Section 1009 AGREEMENT NOT TO PETITION. Each of the Trustees, the Administrators and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the Holders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 1009, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Holders, that at the expense of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agree d in writing not to take such action and should be estopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Property Trustee or the Trust may assert. If any Trustee or Administrator takes action in violation of this Section 1009, the Depositor agrees, for the benefit of the Holders, that at the expense of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by such Person against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that such Person has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be estopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Depositor may assert. The provisions of this Section 1009 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement.
Section 1010 TRUST INDENTURE ACT; CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
(a) Trust Indenture Act; Application. (i) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a part of this Trust Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions; (ii) if and to the extent that any provision of this Trust Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control; (iii) if any provision of this Trust Agreement 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 Trust Agreement as so modified or excluded as the case may be, (iv) for purposes of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or the rules and
regulations of the Commission, shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act; and (v) the application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement shall not affect the nature of the Trust Preferred Securities and the Trust Common Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
(b) Disclosure Information. The disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Trust Securities in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, shall not be deemed to be a violation of any existing law or any law hereafter enacted which does not specifically refer to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, nor shall the Property Trustee be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 1011 ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS OF TRUST AGREEMENT, GUARANTEE AND INDENTURE.
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY OR ON BEHALF OF A HOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE HOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT, THE GUARANTEE AND THE INDENTURE, AND THE AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE INDENTURE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.
* * * *
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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
as Depositor
By: ____________________________
Name:
Title:
[Name of Property Trustee],
as Property Trustee, and not in its
individual capacity
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Name of Delaware Trustee],
as Delaware Trustee, and not in its
individual capacity
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
Agreed to and Accepted by,
___________________________
Name:
Title:
___________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
[INSERT CERTIFICATE OF TRUST FILED WITH DELAWARE]
EXHIBIT B
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT TO THE
DEPOSITOR OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE DEPOSITOR
IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND
SECTION 511 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT
|
NUMBER OF TRUST |
1 |
_________ |
($____________ AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT)
CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING TRUST COMMON SECURITIES
OF
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST __
_________% TRUST COMMON SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $______ PER TRUST COMMON SECURITY)
Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware, (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Great Plains Energy Incorporated (the "Holder") is the registered owner of ______________________(________ ) Trust Common Securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and designated as the Great Plains Energy Capital Trust _______% Trust Common Securities (liquidation amount $______ per Trust Common Security) (the "Trust Common Securities"). Except in accordance with Section 511 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below) the Trust Common Securities are not transferable and any attempted transfer hereof other than in accordance therewith shall be void. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Trust Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Trust Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shal l in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of _______________________, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement") among _____________________________, as
Depositor, ______________________________________, as Property Trustee,
__________________________________________ , as Delaware Trustee, the Administrators named therein and the Holders of Trust Securities, including the designation of the terms of the Trust Common Securities as set forth therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrators of the Trust has executed this certificate this ___ day of ______________, 200_.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST __
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title: Administrator
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:
THIS IS ONE OF THE TRUST COMMON SECURITIES REFERRED TO IN THE WITHIN MENTIONED TRUST AGREEMENT.
________________________________,
as Property Trustee
By: _____________________________
Name:
Title: [Authorized Officer]
EXHIBIT C
[IF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE IS TO BE A GLOBAL TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE, INSERT:] This Trust Preferred Securities Certificate is a Global Trust Preferred Securities Certificate within the meaning of the Trust Agreement hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Trust Preferred Securities Certificate is exchangeable for Trust Preferred Securities Certificates registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Trust Agreement 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, except in the limited circumstances described in the Trust Agreement.
Unless this Trust Preferred Securities Certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depositary Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __ or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Trust Preferred Securities Certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO A PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
NO EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OR OTHER PLAN OR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH, A "PLAN"), NO ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY (A "PLAN ASSET ENTITY"), AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN, MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING IS COVERED BY THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF PROVIDED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION ("PTCE") 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN THAT IS A PLAN OR A PLAN ASSET ENTITY OR IS PURCHASING SUCH SECURITIES ON BEHALF OF OR WITH "PLAN AS SETS" WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING HEREOF THAT (A) THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES IS COVERED BY THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF PROVIDED BY PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION, (B) THE DEPOSITOR AND THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE NOT "FIDUCIARIES" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(21) OF ERISA AND THE REGULATIONS THEREUNDER, WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PERSON'S INTEREST IN THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES OR THE [SUBORDINATED] DEBT SECURITIES, AND (C) IN PURCHASING THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES SUCH PERSON APPROVES THE PURCHASE OF THE [SUBORDINATED] DEBENTURES AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE TRUSTEES.
CERTIFICATE NUMBER |
AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT |
D-1 |
$_____________ |
(__________ TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES)
CUSIP NO. ___________________
CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
OF
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST __
________% TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $_____ PER TRUST PREFERRED SECURITY)
Great Plains Energy Capital Trust __, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that ______________________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner of _______________________ Dollars ($________) aggregate liquidation amount of Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust representing a preferred undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated as the Great Plains Energy Capital Trust _________% Trust Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $_______ per Trust Preferred Security) (the "Trust Preferred Securities"). The Trust Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section 505 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Trust P referred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Trust Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of ______________, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), among _______________________, as Depositor, _____________________, as Property Trustee, __________________________, as Delaware Trustee, the Administrators named herein and the Holders of Trust Securities, including the designation of the terms of the Trust Preferred
Securities as set forth therein. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee Agreement entered into by Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, as Guarantor, and __________________________, as Guarantee Trustee, dated as of ___________ (the "Guarantee Agreement"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrators of the Trust has executed this certificate this ____ day of _____________________________.
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST __
By: ______________________________
Name:
Title: Administrator
ADMINISTRATOR
This is one of the Trust Preferred Securities referred to in the within mentioned Trust Agreement.
______________________________
as Property Trustee
By:___________________________
Name:
Title: [Authorized Officer]
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Trust Preferred Security to:
____________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
agent to transfer this Trust Preferred Securities Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:________________________
Signature:_________________________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Trust Preferred Securities Certificate)
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Exhibit 5
Great Plains Energy Incorporated
1201 Walnut
Kansas City, MO 64106
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As counsel to the Company, in connection with the filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with respect to up to $648,200,000 maximum aggregate offering price of (1) Senior Debt Securities (the "SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES") to be issued by the Company, (2) Subordinated Debt Securities (the "SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES") to be issued by the Company, (3) Trust Preferred Securities to be issued by one or more business trusts (the "TRUST PREFERRED SECUTITIES"), (4) the Company's guarantees (the "GUARANTEES") relating to the Trust Preferred Securities, (5) Common Stock (the "COMMON STOCK"), to be issued by the Company, (6) contracts to purchase shares of Common Stock (the "STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS") and (7) units, each comprised of a Stock Purchase Contract and either Senior Debt Securitie s or Subordinated Debt Securities, debt obligations of third parties (including U.S. Treasury securities) or Trust Preferred Securities, in each such case pledged to secure the holder's obligations to purchase Common Stock under the Stock Purchase Contract (the "STOCK PURCHASE UNITS"), together with the foregoing securities, (the "SECURITIES"), in each case, to be issued and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT").
The Senior Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to the form of Indenture (Exhibit 4.c) between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "SENIOR INDENTURE"), the Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to the form of Indenture (Exhibit 4.e) between the Company and a trustee to be determined (the "SUBORDINATED INDENTURE") and the Guarantees will be issued pursuant to one or more guarantee agreements between the Company and the trustee named therein (each, a "GUARANTEE AGREEMENT") (Exhibit 4.g).
I have reviewed copies of the Registration Statement (including the exhibits thereto), the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company as in effect on the date hereof, corporate and other relevant documents, records and papers. I am a member of the Bar of the State of Missouri and, for purposes of this opinion, do not hold myself out as an expert of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Missouri.
On the basis of such review and assuming that (i) the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the securities or "blue sky" laws of various states shall have been complied with, (ii) appropriate resolutions have been adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and (iii) the applicable Securities have been issued and sold upon the terms specified in such resolutions and in any required orders of the Commission or other applicable regulatory approvals, I am of the opinion that:
1. When (i) the Senior Indenture to be entered into, or otherwise executed or adopted, in connection with the issuance of the Senior Debt Securities, (ii) the Subordinated Indenture executed or adopted, in connection with the issuance of the Subordinated Debt Securities or (iii) the Guarantee Agreements, as applicable, have been duly executed and delivered by the proper officers of the Company and the trustees named therein, and when the Senior Debt Securities, the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Guarantees, as the case may be, have been duly executed, authenticated, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture and the Guarantee Agreements, respectively, and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein and the applicable supplement thereto, the Senior Debt Securities, the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Guarantees will be legally issued and will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights.
2. When (i) the applicable Trust has been duly created, (ii) the Trust Agreement for such Trust has been duly executed and delivered by the proper officers of the Company, and (iii) the Trust Preferred Securities of such Trust have been executed, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of such Trust Agreement and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein and the applicable supplement thereto, the Trust Preferred Securities of such Trust will represent valid, fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of such Trust.
3. When the Common Stock has been issued and sold on the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein and the applicable supplement thereto and, if issued pursuant to Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units or warrants, in accordance with the terms thereof, and upon receipt by the Company of the full purchase price thereof, the Common Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
4. When (i) the Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units have been issued and sold on the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein and the applicable supplement thereto and (ii) the applicable purchase contract agreement and any related pledge agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, the Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors' rights.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to us under the heading "Legal Matters" in the related prospectus.
Very truly yours, |
Exhibit 12
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
(Thousands) |
||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
before cumulative effect of changes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in accounting principles |
|
|
$ |
153,613 |
|
$ |
133,155 |
|
$ |
(16,966 |
) |
$ |
128,631 |
|
$ |
81,915 |
|
Add: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity investment (income) loss |
|
|
|
2,018 |
|
|
1,173 |
|
|
(24,639 |
) |
|
19,441 |
|
|
24,951 |
|
Minority interests in subsidiaries |
|
|
|
(1,263 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(897 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Income subtotal |
|
|
|
154,368 |
|
|
134,328 |
|
|
(42,502 |
) |
|
148,072 |
|
|
106,867 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Add: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taxes on income |
|
|
|
55,514 |
|
|
48,275 |
|
|
(26,813 |
) |
|
53,166 |
|
|
3,180 |
|
Kansas City earnings tax |
|
|
|
418 |
|
|
635 |
|
|
583 |
|
|
421 |
|
|
602 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Total taxes on income |
|
|
|
55,932 |
|
|
48,910 |
|
|
(26,230 |
) |
|
53,587 |
|
|
3,782 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest on value of leased |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
property |
|
|
|
5,944 |
|
|
7,093 |
|
|
10,679 |
|
|
11,806 |
|
|
8,577 |
|
Interest on long-term debt |
|
|
|
58,847 |
|
|
65,837 |
|
|
83,581 |
|
|
60,956 |
|
|
51,327 |
|
Interest on short-term debt |
|
|
|
5,442 |
|
|
6,312 |
|
|
9,915 |
|
|
11,537 |
|
|
4,362 |
|
Mandatorily redeemable Preferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
|
9,338 |
|
|
12,450 |
|
|
12,450 |
|
|
12,450 |
|
|
12,450 |
|
Other interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and amortization |
|
|
|
3,912 |
|
|
3,760 |
|
|
5,188 |
|
|
2,927 |
|
|
3,573 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total fixed charges |
|
|
|
83,483 |
|
|
95,452 |
|
|
121,813 |
|
|
99,676 |
|
|
80,289 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings before taxes on |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
income and fixed charges |
|
|
$ |
293,783 |
|
$ |
278,690 |
|
$ |
53,081 |
|
$ |
301,335 |
|
$ |
190,938 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
|
|
|
3.52 |
|
|
2.92 |
|
|
(a) |
|
|
3.02 |
|
|
2.38 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
(a) |
|
|
A $68.7 million deficiency in earnings caused the ratio of earnings |
|
|
|
|
|
to fixed charges to be less than a one-to-one coverage. A $195.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
million net write-off before income taxes related to the bankruptcy |
|
|
|
|
|
filing of DTI was recorded in 2001. |
|
|
Exhibit 23.a.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Great Plains Energy Incorporated on Form S-3 of our report dated March 9, 2004 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of new accounting principles), appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Great Plains Energy Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 2003 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
April 14, 2004
Exhibit 23.b.
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on
Form S-3 of our report dated February 5, 2002, except with respect to the reclassification of the 2001 information in Note 16 as to which the date is May 22, 2002; the 2001 transitional disclosures relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 as described in Note 6 as to which the date is February 21, 2003; and the reclassification described in the last paragraph of Note 4 relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145, the reclassification to the 2001 financial statements relating to the discontinued operations as described in Note 8, and the 2001 transitional disclosures relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143 as described in Note 15 as to which the date is August 13, 2003, relating to the financial statements of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, which appears in Great Plains Energy Incorporated' s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2003. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated February 5, 2002, except with respect to the reclassification to the 2001 financial statement schedule information relating to the discontinued operations as described in Note 1 as to which the date is August 13, 2003, relating to the 2001 financial statement schedule information of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, which also appears in such Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
April 14, 2004
Exhibit 23.c.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Great Plains Energy Incorporated on Form S-3 of our report dated January 30, 2002 (relating to the financial statements of DTI Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") not presented separately herein and which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs referring to the Company' s filing for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, substantial doubt about the Company' s ability to continue as a going concern and an impairment charge recorded by the Company), appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Great Plains Energy Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 2003 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
April 14, 2004
Exhibit 24
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/Michael J. Chesser |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared Michael J. Chesser, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/William H. Downey |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared William H. Downey, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/David L. Bodde |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared David L. Bodde, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/Mark A. Ernst |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared Mark A. Ernst, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/Randall C. Ferguson, Jr. |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared Randall C. Ferguson, Jr., to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/William K. Hall |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared William K. Hall, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/Luis A. Jimenez |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared Luis A. Jimenez, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/James A. Mitchell |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared James A. Mitchell, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/William C. Nelson |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared William C. Nelson, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, her true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/Linda H. Talbott |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared Linda H. Talbott, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that she executed the same as her free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned, a Director of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint Michael J. Chesser or Jeanie S. Latz, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power and authority to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as such director a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and all amendments thereto; hereby granting unto such attorney and agent full power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of April, 2004.
/s/Robert H. West |
STATE OF MISSOURI |
) |
|
) ss |
COUNTY OF JACKSON |
) |
On this 6th day of April, 2004, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public, personally appeared Robert H. West, to be known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who, being by me first duly sworn, acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
/s/Jacquetta L. Hartman |
Notary Public |
Ray County, Missouri |
My Commission Expires: |
April 8, 2008 |
Exhibit 25.a.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FORM T-1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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) |__|
___________________________
BNY MIDWEST TRUST COMPANY
(formerly known as CTC Illinois Trust Company)
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Illinois |
36-3800435 |
2 North LaSalle Street |
|
___________________________
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Missouri |
43-1916803 |
1201 Walnut Street |
|
___________________________
Senior Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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.
Name |
Address |
Office of Banks & Trust Companies of the State of Illinois |
500 E. Monroe Street |
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago |
230 S. LaSalle Street |
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
Yes.
2. Affiliations with Obligor.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
16. List of Exhibits.
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Act") and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).
1. A copy of Articles of Incorporation of BNY Midwest Trust Company (formerly CTC Illinois Trust Company, formerly Continental Trust Company) as now in effect. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with the Registration Statement No. 333-47688.)
2,3. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with the Registration Statement No. 333-47688.)
4. A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with the Registration Statement No. 333-47688.)
6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with the Registration Statement No. 333-47688.)
7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, BNY Midwest Trust Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Illinois, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 14th day of April, 2004.
BNY Midwest Trust Company
By: /S/ C. POTTER
Name: C. POTTER
Title: ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
Exhibit 7
OFFICE OF BANKS AND REAL ESTATE
Bureau of Banks and Trust Companies
CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION
OF
BNY Midwest Trust Company
2 North LaSalle Street
Suite 1020
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Including the institution's domestic and foreign subsidiaries completed as of the close of business on December 31, 2003, submitted in response to the call of the Office of Banks and Real Estate of the State of Illinois.
ASSETS |
Thousands of Dollars |
|
1. |
Cash and Due from Depository Institutions |
40,626 |
2. |
U.S. Treasury Securities |
- 0 - |
3. |
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions |
- 0 - |
4. |
Other Bonds, Notes and Debentures |
- 0 - |
5. |
Corporate Stock |
- 0 - |
6. |
Trust Company Premises, Furniture, Fixtures and Other Assets Representing Trust Company Premises |
741 |
7. |
Accounts Receivable |
5,938 |
8. |
Goodwill |
86,813 |
9. |
Intangibles |
-0- |
10. |
Other Assets |
59 |
|
(Itemize amounts greater than 15% of Line 10) |
|
11. |
TOTAL ASSETS |
134,177 |
OFFICE OF BANKS AND REAL ESTATE
Bureau of Banks and Trust Companies
CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION
OF
BNY Midwest Trust Company
2 North LaSalle Street
Suite 1020
Chicago, Illinois 60602
|
LIABILITIES |
Thousands of Dollars |
12. |
Accounts Payable |
- 0 - |
13. |
Taxes Payable |
2,810 |
14. |
Other Liabilities for Borrowed Money |
25,425 |
15. |
Other Liabilities |
|
|
(Itemize amounts greater than 15% of Line 14) |
10,332 |
16. |
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
38,567 |
|
EQUITY CAPITAL |
|
17. |
Preferred Stock |
- 0 - |
18. |
Common Stock |
2,000 |
19. |
Surplus |
67,130 |
20. |
Reserve for Operating Expenses |
- 0 - |
21. |
Retained Earnings (Loss) |
26,480 |
22. |
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL |
95,610 |
23. |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CAPITAL |
134,177 |
I, Robert L. DePaola, Vice President
(Name and Title of Officer Authorized to Sign Report)
of BNY Midwest Trust Company certify that the information contained in this statement is accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that submission of false information with the intention to deceive the Commissioner or his Administrative officers is a felony.
/s/ Robert L. DePaola (Signature of Officer Authorized to Sign Report) |
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23rd day of January , 2004.
My Commission expires May 15, 2007.
/s/ Joseph A. Giacobino, Notary Public
(Notary Seal)
Person to whom Supervisory Staff should direct questions concerning this report.
Emmie Chan |
Assistant Treasurer |
Name |
Title |
(212) 437-5639 |
|
eychan@bankofny.com |
|
|
|