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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2023

Registration No. 333-          

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

94-3025021

(IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

 

3000 Schwab Way

Westlake, TX 76262

(817) 859-5000

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

 

 

Peter Crawford

Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer

The Charles Schwab Corporation

3000 Schwab Way

Westlake, TX 76262

(817) 859-5000

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

 

 

With a copy to:

Edward D. Herlihy, Esq.

Matthew M. Guest, Esq.

Kathryn Gettles-Atwa, Esq.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, NY 10019

Telephone: (212) 403-1000

 

 

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

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

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

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

 


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Explanatory Note

This Registration Statement contains:

 

   

a base prospectus to be used by The Charles Schwab Corporation in connection with offerings of its debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock, purchase contracts, warrants and units consisting of two or more of the securities and by affiliates of The Charles Schwab Corporation, including Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., in connection with market-making transactions from time to time in the securities described therein after they are initially offered and sold; and

 

   

a market-making prospectus intended for use by affiliates of The Charles Schwab Corporation, including Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., in connection with offers and sales related to the secondary market transactions in debt securities and depositary shares of The Charles Schwab Corporation that were initially registered, and were initially offered and sold, under registration statements previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by The Charles Schwab Corporation.


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Prospectus

The Charles Schwab Corporation

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Common Stock

 

 

Purchase Contracts

Warrants

Units Consisting of Two or More Securities

The Charles Schwab Corporation from time to time may offer and sell debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock, purchase contracts, warrants and units consisting of two or more of the securities being offered by this prospectus. Our debt securities, preferred stock, purchase contracts and warrants may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or other securities.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “SCHW.”

We will provide the specific terms of any securities to be offered and the specific manner in which they may be offered in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or supplements carefully before you invest.

This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement for those securities.

These securities are not deposits or other obligations of any bank or savings association and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 2.

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

 

 

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. or any of our other affiliates may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction for any of the securities listed above or similar securities after their initial sale. Unless you are informed otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this prospectus is being used in a market-making transaction.

The date of this prospectus is December 1, 2023


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     2  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     3  

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

     4  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     5  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     6  

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

     12  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     15  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     17  

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

     19  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     19  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     22  

GLOBAL SECURITIES

     23  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

     27  

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

     29  

EXPERTS

     29  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. We may offer debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock, purchase contracts and units consisting of two or more securities. We may also offer warrants to purchase debt securities or warrants to purchase or sell, or whose cash value is determined by reference to the performance level, or value of, one or more of:

 

   

securities of one or more issuers, including our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, other securities described in this prospectus or the debt or equity securities of third parties;

 

   

one or more currencies, currency units or composite currencies;

 

   

one or more commodities;

 

   

any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance; and

 

   

one or more indices or baskets of the items described in this paragraph.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” The prospectus supplement may also contain information about United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.

References in this prospectus to “we,” “us” and “our” mean The Charles Schwab Corporation.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before making a decision to invest in any of our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, together with any changes contained in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors specific to particular securities will be detailed in one or more supplements to this prospectus.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements, including the documents incorporated by reference, contain not only historical information but also “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (referred to here as the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (referred to here as the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “may,” “estimate,” “appear,” “could,” “would,” “expand,” “aim,” “maintain,” “continue,” “seek,” and other similar expressions. These statements, which may be expressed in a variety of ways, including the use of future or present tense language, refer to future events. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s beliefs, objectives and expectations as of the date of this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, or in the case of any documents incorporated by reference, as of the date of those documents, are estimates based on the best judgment of our senior management. Achievement of the expressed beliefs, objectives and expectations described in these statements is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expressed beliefs, objectives and expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus, the prospectus supplement or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference, as of the date of those documents.

You should refer to our periodic and current reports filed with the SEC or to the applicable prospectus supplement for specific risks which could cause actual results to be significantly different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including risks described in the “Risk Factors” section. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus for information about how to obtain copies of our periodic and current reports.

Statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and any documents incorporated by reference speak only as of the date on which those statements are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC relating to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement and does not include all of the information in the registration statement.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available to download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with the SEC, at our corporate website at www.aboutschwab.com. The website addresses of the SEC and us are included as inactive textual references only, and the information contained on those websites is not a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over earlier information included in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC after the date of this prospectus under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until our offering is completed, other than, in each case, documents or portions of documents furnished and not filed:

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022;

 

   

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2023, June  30, 2023 and September 30, 2023;

 

   

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2023, May  5, 2023, May  19, 2023, May  22, 2023, August  21, 2023, August  24, 2023 and November 17, 2023; and

 

   

The description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.11 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description.

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing, telephoning or sending an email to us at the following address:

The Charles Schwab Corporation

211 Main Street

San Francisco, California 94105

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (415) 667-7000

Email: investor.relations@schwab.com

 

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THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

The Charles Schwab Corporation was incorporated in 1986, and we engage, through our subsidiaries, in wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody and financial advisory services.

We are a savings and loan holding company and are subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). We are dependent upon the earnings and cash flow of our subsidiaries to meet our obligations. Our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of debt securities, to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.

Our principal executive office is located at 3000 Schwab Way, Westlake, Texas 76262. Our telephone number is (817) 859-5000. Our corporate Internet website is http://www.aboutschwab.com. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only, and none of the information contained in or that can be accessed through our website is a part of this prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes include working capital, capital expenditures, purchasing securities to augment liquidity, investments in or loans to our subsidiaries, refinancing or repayment of debt, including outstanding commercial paper and other short-term indebtedness, if any, redemption or repurchase of our outstanding securities, funding of possible acquisitions and satisfaction of other obligations.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and will be issued in one or more series under one or more separate indentures between us and a trustee. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture, which currently are forms and may be entered into at a later date and each shall be governed by New York law (the “Senior Indenture” and the “Subordinated Indenture,” respectively, and together, the “indentures”). Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will be the trustee under the indentures (the forms of which are exhibits to the registration statement). The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. serves as trustee for our senior indebtedness outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. The debt securities may provide that they may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or other securities. When we refer to the “trustee,” we mean both the senior trustee and the subordinated trustee unless we indicate otherwise. Each indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and the terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the applicable indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act.

This section of the prospectus summarizes certain terms of the indentures and the debt securities to be offered by any prospectus supplement. It is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the respective indentures as they may be amended or supplemented, including the definitions of terms, and the Trust Indenture Act. The material terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities. The terms of any series of debt securities may differ from the terms described below. For additional information, you should look at the applicable indenture and certificates evidencing the applicable debt security that is filed (or incorporated by reference) as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. We encourage you to read these indentures.

General

We may issue the debt securities from time to time, without limitation as to aggregate principal amount, and in one or more series. We are not limited as to the amount of debt securities that we may issue under the indentures. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, a series of debt securities may be reopened to issue additional debt securities of such series. This section summarizes the terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, whether senior or subordinated. Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be secured by any of our property or assets. All of the discussions below are subject to, and qualified by, the information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities upon the satisfaction of conditions contained in the indentures. Most of the material financial and other specific terms of the debt securities of your series will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to your series, including:

 

   

the title of your series of debt securities;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount or initial offering price of your series of debt securities;

 

   

the date or dates on which your series of debt securities will mature;

 

   

the price or prices at which your series of debt securities will be issued;

 

   

the annual rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which your series of debt securities will bear interest, if any, and the date or dates from which the interest, if any, will accrue;

 

   

the dates on which interest, if any, on your series of debt securities will be payable and the regular record dates for those interest payment dates;

 

   

the place where the principal and interest are payable;

 

   

the person to whom interest is payable if other than the registered holder on the record date;

 

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any mandatory or optional sinking funds or analogous provisions or provisions for mandatory or optional redemption;

 

   

the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which your series of debt securities may, in accordance with any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed and the other detailed terms and provisions of any such optional or mandatory redemption provision;

 

   

if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination in which your series of debt securities will be issuable;

 

   

any events of default in addition to those in the indenture;

 

   

any other covenant or warranty in addition to those in the indenture;

 

   

if debt securities are sold for one or more foreign currencies or foreign currency units, or principal, interest or premium are payable in foreign currencies or foreign currency units, the restrictions, elections, tax consequences and other information regarding the issue and currency or currency units;

 

   

the currency of payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on your series of debt securities if other than in United States dollars;

 

   

any index or formula used to determine the amount of payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on your series of debt securities;

 

   

the portion of the principal amount that will be payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the entire principal amount;

 

   

if the principal amount payable at a stated maturity will not be determinable as of any date prior to stated maturity, the amount or method of determining the amount which will be deemed to be the principal amount;

 

   

any paying agents, authenticating agents, security registrars or other agents for the debt;

 

   

the applicable discharge, defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions;

 

   

whether any debt securities will be certificated securities or will be issued in the form of one or more global securities and the depositary for the global security or securities;

 

   

whether your series of debt securities are subordinated debt securities or senior debt securities;

 

   

if your series of debt securities are subordinated debt securities, whether the subordination provisions summarized below or different subordination provisions will apply;

 

   

if debt securities are sold bearing no interest or below market interest, known as “original issue discount” securities, the amount payable upon acceleration and special tax, accounting and other considerations;

 

   

the convertibility or exchangeability, if any, of your series of debt securities into any other debt or equity securities; and

 

   

any other material terms of your series of debt securities.

The terms may vary from the terms described here. This summary is qualified by reference to the description of the terms of your series to be described in the prospectus supplement.

Prospective purchasers of debt securities should be aware that special federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable to instruments such as the debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to an issue of debt securities will describe these considerations, if they apply.

A debt security may be an original issue discount debt security. A debt security of this type is issued at a price lower than its principal amount and provides that, upon redemption or acceleration of its maturity, an

 

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amount less than its principal amount will be payable. An original issue discount debt security may be a zero coupon debt security. A debt security issued at a discount to its principal may, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be considered to be issued with original issue discount. If we issue an original issue discount debt security, the prospectus supplement will contain a description of the U.S. federal income tax consequence related to the issuance.

Senior Debt

Our senior debt securities will be issued under the Senior Indenture and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt, including that issued and outstanding under our Senior Indenture, dated as of June 5, 2009, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

Subordinated Debt

We may issue subordinated debt securities under the subordinated debt indenture. Subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our “senior indebtedness.”

In some circumstances relating to our liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, insolvency or similar proceedings, the holders of all senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment on the subordinated debt securities.

In addition, we are prohibited from making payments on the subordinated debt securities in the event:

 

   

there is a default in any payment or delivery on any senior indebtedness; or

 

   

there is an event of default on any senior indebtedness which permits the holders of the senior indebtedness to accelerate the maturity of the senior indebtedness.

By reason of this subordination in favor of the holders of senior indebtedness, in the event of an insolvency, our creditors who are not holders of senior indebtedness may recover less, proportionately, than holders of senior indebtedness.

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, “senior indebtedness” will include the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on our senior indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of the subordinated debt indenture or later created, that is:

 

   

for money that we borrowed, including capitalized lease obligations;

 

   

for money borrowed by others and guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by us; or

 

   

secured and unsecured purchase money indebtedness or indebtedness secured by property at the time of our acquisition of the property for the payment of which we are directly or contingently liable.

Senior indebtedness also includes all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of and amendments, modifications and supplements to the senior indebtedness described in the preceding sentence.

Senior indebtedness does not include:

 

   

our indebtedness to any of our subsidiaries for money borrowed or advances from any subsidiary;

 

   

the subordinated debt securities; or

 

   

any indebtedness if the terms creating or evidencing the indebtedness expressly provide that the indebtedness is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities and/or that the indebtedness is not superior in right of payment to any of our other indebtedness that is equal to or subordinated to the subordinated debt securities in right of payment.

 

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“Indebtedness” is obligations of, or guaranteed or assumed by, us for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including capitalized lease obligations.

The indenture does not limit the amount of senior debt that we are permitted to have, and we may in the future incur additional senior debt.

Restrictive Covenants

Neither of the indentures contains any significant financial or restrictive covenants, including covenants restricting either us or any of our subsidiaries from issuing, assuming or guaranteeing any indebtedness secured by a lien on any of our subsidiaries’ property or capital stock, or restricting us or any of our subsidiaries from entering into sale and leasehold transactions. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities may describe restrictive covenants, if any, to which we may be bound under the applicable indenture.

Legal Ownership of Debt Securities

We refer to those who have debt securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose, as “holders” of those debt securities. These persons are the legal holders of the debt securities. We refer to those who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in the debt securities that are not registered in their own name as indirect holders. As discussed under the heading “Global Securities,” indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in debt securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.

Additional Mechanics

Form, Exchange and Transfer. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued:

 

   

only in fully registered form;

 

   

without interest coupons; and

 

   

in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000.

You may have your debt securities broken into more debt securities of permitted smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. This is called an “exchange.”

The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered direct holders is called the “security registrar.” It will also perform exchanges and transfers. You may exchange or transfer debt securities at the office of the security registrar.

You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

In the event of any partial redemption of debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

 

   

issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, any debt security of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any debt security of that series selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion being redeemed in part.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the trustee will act as the securities registrar and we will appoint an office or agency in New York City for you to transfer or exchange debt securities having New York as the place of payment.

Payment and Paying Agents. We will pay interest, principal and any other money due on the debt securities at payment offices that we designate. These offices are called paying agents. You must make arrangements to have your payment paid by wire or picked up at that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks to the address specified in the security register.

We will pay interest to you if at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest you are a direct holder, even if you no longer own the debt security on the interest due date. That particular day is called the “regular record date” and will be stated in the prospectus supplement. Holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between them how to compensate for the fact that we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the one who is the registered holder on the regular record date. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to pro rate interest fairly between buyer and seller. This pro-rated interest is called “accrued interest.”

All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for payment on any debt security which remain unclaimed for a period ending the earlier of:

 

   

10 business days prior to the date the money would be turned over to the applicable state; or

 

   

at the end of two years after such payment was due, will be repaid to us. Thereafter, the holder may look only to us for payment.

Indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payment.

Notices

Notices to be given to holders of a global security will be given only in accordance with the policies of the depositary, as described in part under “Global Securities.” Notices to be given to holders of debt securities not in global form will be sent by mail to the address of the holder appearing in the trustee’s records. Indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive notice.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer, director or subsidiary of ours will have any liability for any obligations of ours, or because of the creation of any indebtedness under the debt securities, the indentures or supplemental indentures. The indentures provide that all such liability is expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of such indentures and the issuance of the debt securities.

Ranking

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities are not secured by any of our property or assets. Accordingly, your ownership of debt securities means you are one of our unsecured creditors. The senior debt securities are not subordinated to any of our other debt obligations, and therefore they rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities are subordinated to some of our existing and future debt and other liabilities.

Conversion or Exchange

If and to the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a series of debt securities may be convertible or exchangeable into other debt securities or common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares. The

 

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specific terms on which any series may be so converted or exchanged will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. These terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, whether mandatory, at the holder’s option or at our option, in which case the amount or number of securities the debt security holders would receive would be calculated at the time and in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Regarding the Trustee

The trustee under either indenture will be named in the prospectus supplement. We and some of our subsidiaries may conduct transactions with the trustee in the ordinary course of business and the trustee and their affiliates may conduct transactions with us and our subsidiaries.

Governing Law

The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture, and the senior and subordinated debt securities issued thereunder, will be, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York unless otherwise provided in any prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

This section of the prospectus contains a description of the general terms of the preferred stock that we may issue. Other terms of any series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. The terms of any series of preferred stock may differ from the terms described below.

In addition to the provisions of the preferred stock described below and in any prospectus supplement, you should also refer to our certificate of incorporation and the documents that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of a series of preferred stock.

General

Our certificate of incorporation permits our board of directors to authorize the issuance of up to 9,940,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, in one or more series. As of November 20, 2023, we have issued and outstanding 1,429,785 shares of preferred stock.

Our board of directors has the authority to divide the preferred stock into series and determine the designation and the rights and preferences of each series. Therefore, without stockholder approval, our board of directors can authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting, conversion and other rights that could dilute the voting power and other rights of our common stockholders.

The preferred stock will have the terms described below unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock. You should read the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of preferred stock being offered for specific terms, including:

 

   

the series designation of the preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

 

   

the amount of liquidation preference per share;

 

   

the dividend rate or method of determining that rate;

 

   

the date on which dividends will be paid;

 

   

voting rights;

 

   

the price at which the preferred stock will be issued;

 

   

dividend rights (which may be cumulative or noncumulative);

 

   

any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

 

   

any provisions relating to convertibility or exchangeability of the preferred stock into shares of our common stock or other securities;

 

   

the relative seniority and rank of the series with respect to other series then or thereafter issued;

 

   

whether we have elected to offer depositary shares as described under “Description of Depositary Shares”; and

 

   

any other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations, options and restrictions and special or relative rights, if any, on the preferred stock.

The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable. The rights of holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.

As described under “Description of Depositary Shares,” we may, at our option, with respect to any series of the preferred stock, elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, and provide for the issuance of depositary receipts representing depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest in a share of the series of the preferred stock. The fractional interest will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock.

 

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Rank

Any series of the preferred stock will, with respect to the priority of the payment of dividends and the priority of payments upon liquidation, winding-up and dissolution, rank:

 

   

senior to all classes of common stock and all equity securities issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that the equity securities will rank junior to the preferred stock (the junior securities);

 

   

equally with all equity securities issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that the equity securities will rank equally with the preferred stock (the parity securities); and

 

   

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

Dividends

Holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, cash dividends at the rates and on the dates described in the prospectus supplement. Different series of preferred stock may be entitled to dividends at different rates or based on different methods of calculation. The dividend rate may be fixed or variable or both. Dividends will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on record dates fixed by our board of directors, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Dividends on any series of the preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If our board of directors does not declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of noncumulative preferred stock, then the holders of that noncumulative preferred stock will have no right to receive a dividend for that dividend payment date, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for that period, whether or not dividends on that series are declared payable on any future dividend payment dates. Dividends on any series of cumulative preferred stock will accrue from the date we initially issue shares of such series or such other date specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, no full dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment of any dividends on any parity securities unless dividends have been paid or set apart for payment on the preferred stock. If full dividends are not paid, the preferred stock will share dividends pro rata with the parity securities. No dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment of dividends on any junior securities unless full cumulative dividends for all dividend periods terminating on or prior to the date of the declaration or payment will have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment set apart for payment on the preferred stock. The prospectus supplement for non-cumulative preferred stock may set forth certain restrictions on payments of dividends, or on setting aside funds for payment of dividends on junior securities if dividends on the non-cumulative preferred stock are not paid. Our ability to pay dividends on our preferred stock is subject to policies established by our regulators and our meeting the requirements of Delaware corporate law with regard to the payment of dividends.

Rights Upon Liquidation

If we dissolve, liquidate or wind up our affairs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, before any payment or distribution of assets is made to holders of junior securities, liquidating distributions in the amount described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends. If the amounts payable with respect to the preferred stock of any series and any other parity securities are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of that series and of the parity securities will share proportionately in the distribution of our assets in proportion to the full liquidation preferences to which they are entitled. After the holders of preferred stock and the parity securities are paid in full, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.

 

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Redemption

A series of the preferred stock may be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option and subject to policies established by our regulators. In addition, a series of preferred stock may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise. The redemption provisions that may apply to a series of preferred stock, including the redemption dates and the redemption prices for that series, will be described in the prospectus supplement.

In the event of partial redemptions of preferred stock, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, our board of directors will determine the method for selecting the shares to be redeemed, which may be by lot or pro rata or by any other method determined to be equitable.

On or after a redemption date, unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue on shares of preferred stock called for redemption. In addition, all rights of holders of the shares will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.

Voting Rights

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the preferred stock will have no voting rights except as discussed below, set forth in the prospectus supplement or as otherwise required by law or in our certificate of incorporation.

Under regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve, if the holders of any series of preferred stock are or become entitled to vote for the election of directors, such series will be deemed a “class of voting securities” and a company holding 25% or more of the series, or in certain circumstances a lesser percentage if it otherwise exercises a “controlling influence” over us, may then be subject to regulation as a savings and loan holding company in accordance with the Home Owners’ Loan Act of 1933, as amended (the “HOLA”). In addition, at the time the series is deemed a class of voting securities,

 

   

any other savings and loan holding company is required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to acquire or retain more than 5% of that series;

 

   

a banking holding company is required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to acquire or retain more than 5% of that series under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (“BHC Act”); and

 

   

any other persons (or group of persons acting in concert) other than a savings and loan holding company may be required to obtain the prior non-objection of the Federal Reserve to acquire or retain 10% or more of that series.

In addition, as described under “Description of Common Stock,” the requirements of Delaware law and the provisions of our certificate of incorporation may have an effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of The Charles Schwab Corporation in some circumstances.

Exchangeability and Convertibility

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock will state the terms, if any, on which shares of that series are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or other securities.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent, dividend and redemption price disbursement agent and registrar for shares of each series of preferred stock will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, which we call depositary shares, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will issue to the public receipts, called depositary receipts, for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction, to be described in the prospectus supplement, of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.

The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited with a depositary named in the prospectus supplement under a depositary agreement. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. Those rights may include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders.

If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

Withdrawal of Stock

Unless the related depositary shares have been previously called for redemption, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the office of the depositary and complying with any other requirement of the depositary agreement, the holder of the depositary shares will be entitled to delivery, at the office of the depositary to or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. In no event will the depositary deliver fractional shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

If we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing shares of the preferred stock so redeemed, so long as we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable on the preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata or by any other equitable method as may be determined by the depositary.

After the date fixed for redemption, depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the moneys payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were

 

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entitled upon redemption, upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares.

Voting the Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock. The record date for the depositary receipts relating to the preferred stock will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree to take all action which may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will not vote any shares of preferred stock except to the extent it receives specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing that number of shares of preferred stock.

Charges of Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement to be for their accounts.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us a notice of its election to do so, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal of the depositary will take effect upon our appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

Notices

The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and other communications from us that we deliver to the depositary and which we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

Limitation of Liability

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations. Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in good faith of our and its duties under the depositary agreement. We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

General

We have 3,000,000,000 shares of authorized common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 1,772,449,738 shares were outstanding as of November 20, 2023. We also have authorized nonvoting common stock, par value $0.01 per share, which we are not registering pursuant to this registration statement. Our nonvoting common stock was issued to an affiliate of The Toronto-Dominion Bank in connection with our acquisition of TD Ameritrade Holding LLC. Holders of our common stock, together with the holders of our nonvoting common stock, are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of any funds legally available for dividends. Holders of our common stock and holders of our nonvoting common stock are also entitled, upon our liquidation, and after claims of creditors and any class or series of preferred stock outstanding at the time of liquidation, to receive a pro rata distribution of our net assets. We pay dividends on our common stock and nonvoting common stock only if we have paid or provided for all dividends on any outstanding series of preferred stock, for the then current period and, in the case of any cumulative preferred stock, all prior periods. Our nonvoting common stock has the same rights and privileges as, and ranks equally and shares proportionately with, and is identical in all respects as to all matters to, the common stock, except that the nonvoting common stock has no voting rights other than voting rights required by law.

Our preferred stock will have preference over our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of our liquidation or dissolution. Our preferred stock also will also have such other preferences as may be fixed by our board of directors.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share that they hold and are vested with all of the voting power of our capital stock, except as our board of directors may provide with respect to any class or series of preferred stock issued after the date of this prospectus. See “Description of Preferred Stock.” Our certificate of incorporation provides for a classified board but does not provide for cumulative voting. Shares of our common stock are not redeemable, and have no subscription, conversion or preemptive rights.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.

Restrictions on Ownership

Under the HOLA, any “savings and loan holding company,” as defined in the HOLA, is required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve prior to the acquisition of more than 5% of our common stock. Under the BHC Act, a bank holding company is required to receive the Federal Reserve’s approval prior to acquiring more than 5% of our common stock. Any other person (or group of persons acting in concert), other than a savings and loan holding company, may be required to obtain prior non-objection of the Federal Reserve to acquire 10% or more of our common stock. Any company holding more than 25% of our common stock or total equity, or that otherwise exercises a “controlling influence” over us, is subject to regulation as a savings and loan holding company under the HOLA.

Business Combination Statute

Under Delaware law, a corporation is prohibited from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder, defined as the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the voting power of the corporation, for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

prior to that date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

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upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation; or

 

   

on or subsequent to that date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Under Delaware law, a corporation has the option to opt-out of the above business combination statute. Neither our Certificate of Incorporation nor our Bylaws excludes us from the restrictions imposed by this provision.

Supermajority Vote Requirement

Our Certificate of Incorporation requires the approval of a supermajority of our stockholders for some business combinations with interested stockholders. Our Certificate of Incorporation defines an interested stockholder as a person, partnership or group which directly or indirectly beneficially owns more than 15% of the voting power of our outstanding shares, or an affiliate or associate of a 15% owner. Notwithstanding any lesser percentage permitted by law, under our Certificate of Incorporation, 80% of the voting power of our stockholders, voting together as a single class, must approve any of the following business combinations:

 

   

a merger of CSC or any of our subsidiaries with an interested stockholder or an affiliate or associate of an interested stockholder;

 

   

any sale to an interested stockholder of assets of CSC or one of our subsidiaries, if those assets have a fair market value of $5,000,000 or more;

 

   

any sale to CSC or any of our subsidiaries of assets of the interested stockholder, if those assets have a fair market value of $5,000,000 or more;

 

   

the issuance or transfer by CSC or any of our subsidiaries of any of our securities or any securities of our subsidiaries to an interested stockholder, unless the fair market value of the property received has a fair market value of less than $5,000,000;

 

   

any reclassification of our securities, any merger or consolidation with any of our subsidiaries, or any similar transaction which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate amount of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of CSC or any of our subsidiaries which is directly or indirectly owned by any interested shareholder or its affiliate or associate; or

 

   

the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of CSC.

The supermajority vote requirement does not apply to business combinations approved by a majority of disinterested directors. A disinterested director is any member of our board who:

 

   

is not an interested stockholder;

 

   

is not an affiliate or a representative of an interested stockholder;

 

   

is not a party to an agreement or arrangement with an interested stockholder to act in concert with that interested stockholder to direct our management or policies; and

 

   

either was a member of our board before the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder or was nominated to succeed a disinterested director by a majority of the disinterested directors; provided that, this requirement does not apply if the business combination involves a party that was an interested stockholder of CSC on July 30, 1987.

The supermajority requirement does not apply to business combinations meeting fair price and procedural requirements set forth in our Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We may issue purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from or sell to us, or obligating us to purchase from or sell to the holders, a specified or variable number of shares of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or other securities that may be sold under this prospectus, as applicable, at a future date or dates. The price per share of common stock or preferred stock or per depositary share or the price of the other securities, as applicable, may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are entered into or may be determined by reference to a specific formula contained in the purchase contracts. We may issue purchase contracts in amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish, and the contracts may be put or call options, forward contracts, futures contracts or other types of contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts, or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under those contracts in a specified manner. Any purchase contract may include anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of shares issuable pursuant to the purchase contract upon the occurrence of specified events.

The applicable prospectus supplement may contain, where applicable, the following information about the purchase contracts issued under it:

 

   

whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or other securities, as applicable, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts;

 

   

whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;

 

   

whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or other securities;

 

   

any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts;

 

   

whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form; and

 

   

any other terms of the purchase contracts.

The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to the purchase contracts.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants that are either debt warrants or universal warrants. We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more additional securities, including other warrants, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue warrants in any amounts or in as many distinct series as we determine. Below is a description of some general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. Further terms of the warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Description of Debt Warrants

Debt warrants are rights for the purchase of debt securities. Debt warrants may be issued independently or together with our other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, our other securities. Any debt warrant

 

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agreement will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the registration statement. If debt warrants are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the debt warrants, including:

 

   

the offering price;

 

   

the designation, aggregated stated principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants;

 

   

whether the warrants will be issued in global or certificated form;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of some of the United States federal income tax consequences;

 

   

the identity of any warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents;

 

   

the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange;

 

   

the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of the debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities;

 

   

if applicable, the date after which the warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

the anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

   

any redemption or call provisions;

 

   

whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; and

 

   

any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Description of Universal Warrants

Universal warrants are rights for the purchase or sale of, or whose cash value is determined by reference to the performance, level or value of, one or more of the following:

 

   

securities of one or more issuers, including our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or other securities described in this prospectus or the debt or equity securities of third parties;

 

   

one or more currencies or currency units;

 

   

one or more commodities;

 

   

any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance; and

 

   

one or more of the indices or baskets of the items described above.

Universal warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the other securities. Any universal warrant agreement will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

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If universal warrants are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the universal warrants, including the following:

 

   

the offering price;

 

   

the title and aggregated number of the warrants;

 

   

the nature and amount of the warrant property that the warrants represent the right to buy or sell;

 

   

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

   

whether the warrants are put warrants or call warrants, including in either case whether the warrants may be settled by means of net cash settlement or cashless exercise;

 

   

whether the exercise price may be paid in cash or by exchange of the warrant property or both, the method of exercising the warrants and whether settlement will occur on a net basis or a gross basis;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of certain of the United States federal income tax consequences;

 

   

whether the warrants and underlying securities will be listed on any securities exchange;

 

   

whether the warrants will be issued in global or certificated form;

 

   

a description of the terms of any warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent that governs the warrants;

 

   

if applicable, the date after which the warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

the anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

   

any redemption or call provisions;

 

   

whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; and

 

   

any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Modification

Except as set forth in the prospectus supplement, we and the warrant agent, if any, may amend the terms of any warrant agreement and the warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants to cure any ambiguity, to correct any inconsistent provision or in any manner we deem necessary or desirable and which will not affect adversely the interests of the holders of the warrants. In addition, we may amend the warrant agreement, if any, and the terms of the warrants with the consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding unexercised warrants affected; provided that, no modification to the warrants can change the exercise price, reduce the amounts receivable upon exercise, cancellation or expiration, shorten the time period during which the warrants may be exercised or otherwise materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of the warrants or reduce the percentage of outstanding warrants required to modify or amend any warrant agreement or the terms of the warrants, without the consent of all of the affected holders.

Unsecured Obligations

Any warrants we issue will be our unsecured contractual obligations. No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

General

We may issue units consisting of one or more securities. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. Units may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as United States Treasury securities. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time or at any time before a specified date.

If units are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the units, including the following:

 

   

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may or may not be held or transferred separately;

 

   

the name of any unit agent;

 

   

a description of the terms of any unit agreement to be entered into between us and any unit agent that governs the units;

 

   

whether the units are to be prepaid or not;

 

   

whether the units will be listed on any securities exchange;

 

   

whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form; and

 

   

a description of any provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or the securities comprising the units.

Modification

Except as described in the prospectus supplement, we and the unit agent, if any, may amend the terms of any unit agreement and the units without the consent of the holders of the units to cure any ambiguity, to correct any inconsistent provision or in any manner we deem necessary or desirable and which will not affect adversely the interests of the holders of the units. In addition, we may amend the unit agreement, if any, and the terms of the units with the consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding unexpired units affected; provided that, no modification to the units can materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of the units or reduce the percentage of outstanding units required to modify or amend any unit agreement or the terms of the units, without the consent of all of the affected holders.

Unsecured Obligations

Any units we issue will be our unsecured contractual obligations. No unit agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no unit agent will be required to qualify as a trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Holders of units issued under a unit agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any units. The preceding description and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the relevant unit agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units that we will file with the SEC in connection with the offering of units.

 

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GLOBAL SECURITIES

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, securities will be issued in the form of one or more global certificates, or “global securities,” registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depositary will be The Depository Trust Company, commonly referred to as DTC.

The following is a summary of the depositary arrangements applicable to the securities issued in global form and for which DTC acts as depositary. If there are any changes from this summary, they will appear in a prospectus supplement.

If any securities are to be issued in global form, you will not receive a paper certificate representing the securities you have purchased. Instead, we will deposit with DTC or its custodian one or more fully registered global certificates, a “global certificate” registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s nominee) for the book-entry securities, representing in the aggregate the total number or aggregate principal balance of the securities.

Since the global certificate is registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, DTC or its nominee is said to have legal or record ownership of the global certificate. Persons who buy interests in the global security by purchasing securities are said to own a beneficial interest in the global security.

Only institutions (sometimes referred to as “participants”) that have accounts with DTC or its nominee or persons that may hold interests through participants, such as individual members of the public, may own beneficial interests in a global certificate. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global certificate by participants will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global certificate by persons that hold through participants will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest within that participant will be effected only through, records maintained by that participant.

DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the book-entry securities. 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 participants through which the beneficial owners purchase the securities.

DTC alone is responsible for any aspect of its records, any nominee or any participant relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a global certificate or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the records of DTC, any nominee or any participant relating to such beneficial interests.

The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global certificate.

We have been advised by DTC that upon the issuance of a global certificate and the deposit of that global certificate with DTC, DTC will immediately credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective amounts represented by that global certificate to the accounts of its participants.

We will pay principal of, interest and premium (if any) on debt securities and payments to holders with respect to warrants, purchase contracts, units, stock and depositary shares represented by a global certificate registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee to the relevant trustee (or agent) who in turn will make payments to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder of the global certificate representing those securities in immediately available funds. We have been advised by DTC that upon receipt of

 

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any payment of principal, interest, premium (if any) or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on a global certificate, DTC will immediately credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, accounts of participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal or stated amount of that global certificate as shown in the records of DTC. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global certificate held through those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

A global certificate will be exchangeable for definitive securities (paper certificates) registered in the name of, and a transfer of a global certificate may be registered to, any person other than DTC or its nominee, only if:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global certificate or if at any time DTC ceases to be registered under the Exchange Act;

 

   

we determine in our discretion that the global certificate shall be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form; or

 

   

in the case of debt securities, there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default with respect to the debt securities and certain other conditions have been met if and to the extent set forth in the applicable indenture.

Any global certificate representing a debt security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding paragraph will be exchangeable in whole for definitive debt securities in registered form, of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount as the global certificate, in denominations specified in the applicable prospectus supplement (if other than $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000). The definitive debt securities will be registered by the registrar in the name or names instructed by DTC. We expect that such instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global certificate.

Any global certificate representing a warrant, purchase contract or unit that is exchangeable pursuant to either of the first two conditions listed above will be exchangeable in whole for definitive warrants, purchase contracts or units in registered form, of like tenor and of an equal aggregate stated amount as the global certificate, in denominations specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The definitive warrants, purchase contracts or units will be registered by the registrar in the name or names instructed by DTC. We expect that such instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global certificate.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to any of the book-entry securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to the relevant trustee (or the relevant warrant agent, purchase contract agent or unit agent) and us. If a successor securities depositary is not obtained, definitive debt security (or definitive warrant, purchase contract or unit) certificates representing the debt securities (or warrant, purchase contract or unit) are required to be printed and delivered. We, at our option, may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor depositary).

Except as provided above, owners of the beneficial interests in a global certificate representing a debt security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the holders of securities for any purpose under the indentures.

No global security shall be exchangeable except for another global certificate of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the global security or the indentures.

 

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Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. as the registered holder of the book-entry securities. If less than all of a series of the debt securities are being redeemed, DTC will determine the amount of the interest of each direct participant to be redeemed in accordance with its then current procedures.

Although voting with respect to the book-entry securities is limited to the holders of record of the book-entry securities, in those instances in which a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect to book-entry securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy to the relevant trustee as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts such book-entry securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include both United States and non-United States securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which, in turn, is owned by a number of direct participants of DTC. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, referred to as “indirect participants”, such as both United States and non-United States securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a direct or indirect custodial relationship with a direct participant. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be accurate, but assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. We do not have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.

Clearstream Banking and Euroclear System

If specified in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus with respect to a particular series, investors may elect to hold interests in a particular series of securities outside the U.S. through Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”) or the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), if they are participants in those systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in those systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries. Those depositaries in turn hold those interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

Clearstream has advised us that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities, and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.

Distributions with respect to permanent global securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream.

 

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Euroclear holds securities for participants of Euroclear and clears and settles transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing, and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers, and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters for a particular offering of securities. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank SA/NV (the “Euroclear Operator”). Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. The Euroclear Operator holds all securities in Euroclear on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts.

Distributions with respect to permanent global securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of permanent global securities, initial settlement for permanent global securities will be made in immediately available funds. If the prospectus supplement specifies that interests in the permanent global securities may be held through Clearstream or Euroclear, Clearstream and/or Euroclear participants will conduct secondary market trading with other Clearstream and/or Euroclear participants in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear. Then secondary market trades will settle using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Investors should be aware that they will be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the securities through Clearstream and Euroclear only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the securities, or to receive or make a payment or delivery of the securities, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream or Euroclear is used.

The information in this section concerning Euroclear and Clearstream has been obtained from sources that we believe to be accurate, but we assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. We do not have any responsibility for the performance by Euroclear or Clearstream or its participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.

Although DTC, Clearstream, and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures described above in order to facilitate transfers of interests in permanent global securities among DTC participants, Clearstream, and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform those procedures, and those procedures may be discontinued at any time.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

We or our selling securityholders may sell or resell the securities from time to time as follows:

 

   

to or through underwriters or dealers, which may be affiliates;

 

   

through agents, which may be affiliates;

 

   

directly to purchasers; or

 

   

through a combination of any of these methods.

We or our selling securityholders may also offer and sell, resell, or agree to deliver, securities pursuant to, or in connection with, any put option agreement or other contractual arrangement, whether directly to investors or through one or more special purpose vehicles.

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

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

   

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

 

   

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

   

at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

 

   

at negotiated prices.

Each prospectus supplement will describe the method of distribution of the securities and any applicable restrictions.

The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities of a particular series will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including the following:

 

   

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

 

   

the public offering or purchase price;

 

   

any over-allotment options under which agents or underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;

 

   

any discounts, concessions and commissions to be allowed or paid to the agent or underwriters;

 

   

all other items constituting agent or underwriting compensation;

 

   

any discounts and commissions to be allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed.

Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

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If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, 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 described above. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to specified conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities. If agents are used in the sale of any securities, they generally will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment.

Only the agents, dealers or underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be the agents, dealers or underwriters in connection with the securities being offered. Under agreements that we may enter into, underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of securities by use of this prospectus and any prospectus supplements may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that those underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

As one of the means of direct issuance of offered securities, we may utilize the services of an entity through which we may conduct an electronic “dutch auction” or similar offering of the offered securities among potential purchasers who are eligible to participate in the auction or offering of the offered securities, if so described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the future date stated in such prospectus supplement. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates may have in the past provided, may be currently providing and may in the future from time to time provide, financial advisory, commercial banking, investment banking, research, trading, trustee, escrow, transfer agent and custody services to us or our subsidiaries (including as parties to our credit agreement), for which they have in the past received, and may currently or in the future receive, customary fees and expenses.

Any underwriter, agent or dealer that we use in the initial offering of debt securities will not confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of its customer.

If Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“CS&Co”) or any other broker-dealer subsidiary that we may have participates in the distribution of our securities, we will conduct the offering in accordance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s rules or any successor provisions.

Following the initial distribution of any of these securities, our affiliates, including CS&Co, may offer and sell these securities (as well as securities initially offered and sold under previous registration statements) in market-making transactions as part of their business as broker-dealers. CS&Co and our other affiliates may act as principals or agents in these transactions and may make any sales at varying prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale or otherwise. CS&Co and our other affiliates may use this prospectus in connection with such transactions.

Unless we or our agent inform you in your confirmation of sale that the security is being purchased in its original offering and sale, you may assume that you are purchasing the security in a market-making transaction.

The securities may be new issues of securities and may have no established trading market. The securities may or may not be listed on a securities exchange. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any of the securities.

 

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

The validity of the securities to be issued under this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, counsel to The Charles Schwab Corporation. If the securities are being distributed in an underwritten offering, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for the underwriters by counsel identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of The Charles Schwab Corporation incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and the effectiveness of The Charles Schwab Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PROSPECTUS

The Charles Schwab Corporation

This prospectus applies to market-making offers and sales of all outstanding debt securities and depositary shares issued by The Charles Schwab Corporation under the following Registration Statement numbers: 333-200939, 333-222063, 333-251156 and 333-259030.

 

 

The securities referenced above are not deposits or other obligations of any bank or savings association and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities referenced above or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of a specific series of securities. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

One or more broker-dealer subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation, including Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., expect to offer and sell the outstanding securities referenced above as part of their business, and may act as principal or agent in such transactions. These broker-dealer subsidiaries may use this prospectus in connection with these activities.

The date of this prospectus is December 1, 2023


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THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

     1  

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

     1  

MARKET-MAKING ACTIVITIES

     1  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     1  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     2  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

EXPERTS

     3  


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THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

The Charles Schwab Corporation was incorporated in 1986, and engages, through its subsidiaries, in wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The Charles Schwab Corporation is a savings and loan holding company and is subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

The Charles Schwab Corporation’s principal executive office is located at 3000 Schwab Way, Westlake, Texas 76262, its telephone number is (817) 859-5000 and its corporate Internet website is http://www.aboutschwab.com. The website address is included as an inactive textual reference only, and none of the information contained in or that can be accessed through the website is a part of this prospectus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

The securities referenced on the cover page of this prospectus have been issued under one of the registration statements listed on the cover of this prospectus. A prospectus supplement, if any, and prospectus describing each such security (each, a “disclosure document”) have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each of these disclosure documents is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, except for any portion of each disclosure document that incorporates by reference The Charles Schwab Corporation’s prior and future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

MARKET-MAKING ACTIVITIES

This prospectus, together with the relevant prospectus supplement, if any, and prospectus describing the terms of the specific securities being offered and sold, may be used by The Charles Schwab Corporation’s broker-dealer subsidiaries, including Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., in connection with offers and sales of such securities in market-making transactions at varying prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale. Any of these subsidiaries may act as principal or agent in these transactions. None of these subsidiaries is obligated to make a market in any of the securities referenced on the cover of this prospectus and any such subsidiary may discontinue any market making at any time without notice, at its sole discretion.

Each broker-dealer subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and may participate in distributions of the securities referenced on the cover page of this prospectus. Accordingly, the participation of any such entity in the offerings of such securities will conform with the requirements addressing conflicts of interest when distributing the securities of an affiliate set forth in FINRA Rule 5121.

USE OF PROCEEDS

The Charles Schwab Corporation will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the securities referenced on the cover page of this prospectus. All secondary market offers and sales made pursuant to this prospectus, prospectus supplement, if any, and prospectus describing the terms of the specific securities being offered and sold will be for the accounts of the broker-dealer subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation in connection with market-making transactions.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

The Charles Schwab Corporation has filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC relating to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement and does not include all of the information in the registration statement.

The Charles Schwab Corporation files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available to download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with the SEC, at The Charles Schwab Corporation corporate website at www.aboutschwab.com. The website addresses of the SEC and The Charles Schwab Corporation are included as inactive textual references only, and the information contained on those websites is not a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

The SEC allows The Charles Schwab Corporation to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information filed with the SEC, which means that The Charles Schwab Corporation can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. Information that The Charles Schwab Corporation files later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over earlier information included in this prospectus.

The Charles Schwab Corporation incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC after the date of this prospectus under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the offering is completed, other than, in each case, documents or portions of documents furnished and not filed:

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022;

 

   

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2023, June  30, 2023 and September 30, 2023;

 

   

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2023, May  5, 2023, May  19, 2023, May  22, 2023, August  21, 2023, August  24, 2023 and November 17, 2023; and

 

   

The description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.11 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description.

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing, telephoning or sending an email to the following address:

The Charles Schwab Corporation

211 Main Street

San Francisco, California 94105

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (415) 667-7000

Email: investor.relations@schwab.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain not only historical information but also “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (referred to here as the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of

 

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1934, as amended (referred to here as the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “may,” “estimate,” “appear,” “could,” “would,” “expand,” “aim,” “maintain,” “continue,” “seek,” and other similar expressions. These statements, which may be expressed in a variety of ways, including the use of future or present tense language, refer to future events. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s beliefs, objectives and expectations as of the date of this prospectus, or in the case of any documents incorporated by reference, as of the date of those documents, are estimates based on the best judgment of the company’s senior management. Achievement of the expressed beliefs, objectives and expectations described in these statements is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expressed beliefs, objectives and expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus, the prospectus supplement or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference, as of the date of those documents.

You should refer to the company’s periodic and current reports filed with the SEC or to the applicable prospectus supplement, if any, and prospectus relating to the specific securities for specific risks which could cause actual results to be significantly different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus for information about how to obtain copies of the company’s periodic and current reports.

Statements in this prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference speak only as of the date on which those statements are made, and The Charles Schwab Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of The Charles Schwab Corporation incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and the effectiveness of The Charles Schwab Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II.

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.

Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated fees and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the registration of the securities registered under this registration statement:

 

SEC registration fee*

   $             0

Printing fees and expenses

          ** 

Accounting fees and expenses

          ** 

Legal fees and expenses

          ** 
  

Miscellaneous

          ** 
  

 

 

 

Total

   $       ** 

 

*

Deferred in reliance upon Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

**

These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be calculated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation (or a person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action brought by or in the right of a corporation, the corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation (or a person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent a court finds that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses as the court shall deem proper. The indemnification provisions of the DGCL require indemnification of a director or officer who has been successful on the merits in defense of any action, suit or proceeding that he was a party to by virtue of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation.

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

Article 8 of our certificate of incorporation provides that, pursuant to Delaware law, none of our directors shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, with specific exceptions. The exceptions relate to (1) any breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to us or

 

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our stockholders, (2) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) approval by a director of certain unlawful dividend payments, distributions or stock redemptions or repurchases or (4) engaging in a transaction from which a director derives an improper personal benefit. Among the types of breaches for which directors will not be liable are those resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior.

Our bylaws also provide for the indemnification of both our directors and officers within the limitations permitted by Delaware law and we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors which provide that we will indemnify the directors to the fullest extent authorized by law.

We have obtained directors’ and officers’ liability and corporate reimbursement insurance covering all of our officers and directors and those of our subsidiaries and providing for the reimbursement of amounts paid by us or our subsidiaries to directors and officers pursuant to indemnification arrangements, subject to certain deductibles and coinsurance provisions.

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

 

Item 16.

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Offerings of Debt Securities
1.2    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Offerings of Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Common Stock, Purchase Contracts, Warrants and Units*
4.1    Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Charles Schwab Corporation, effective May  7, 2001, filed as Exhibit 3.11 to The Charles Schwab Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.1(i)    Amendment to the Fifth Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Charles Schwab Corporation, effective October  6, 2020, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to The Charles Schwab Corporation’s current report on Form 8-K dated October 2, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of The Charles Schwab Corporation, effective January 26, 2023, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the  Registrant’s Form 8-K dated January 26, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.3    Certificate of Designations of 5.95% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D, of The Charles Schwab Corporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March 7, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.4    Certificate of Designations of 5.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series F, of The Charles Schwab Corporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated October  31, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.6    Certificate of Designations of 5.375% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series G, of The Charles Schwab Corporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated April 30, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Exhibit
No.
  

Description

4.7    Certificate of Designations of 4.000% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series H, of The Charles Schwab Corporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated December 8, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.8    Certificate of Designations of 4.000% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I, of The Charles Schwab Corporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March 15, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.9    Certificate of Designations of 4.450% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J, of The Charles Schwab Corporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March 29, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.10    Certificate of Designations of 5.000% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series K, of The Charles Schwab Corporation, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March 3, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.11    Deposit Agreement, dated March  7, 2016, between The Charles Schwab Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Depositary (including the form of Depositary Share Receipt attached as Exhibit A thereto), filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March 7, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.12    Deposit Agreement, dated October  31, 2017, between The Charles Schwab Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Depositary (including the form of Depositary Share Receipt attached as Exhibit A thereto), filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated October 31, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.13    Deposit Agreement, dated April  30, 2020, between The Charles Schwab Corporation and Equiniti Trust Company, as Depositary (including the form of Depositary Share Receipt attached as Exhibit A thereto), filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated April 30, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.14    Deposit Agreement, dated December  11, 2020, between The Charles Schwab Corporation and Equiniti Trust Company, as Depositary (including the form of Depositary Share Receipt attached as Exhibit A thereto), filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated December 8, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.15    Deposit Agreement, dated March  18, 2021, between The Charles Schwab Corporation and Equiniti Trust Company, as Depositary (including the form of Depositary Share Receipt attached as Exhibit A thereto), filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March 15, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.16    Deposit Agreement, dated March  30, 2021, between The Charles Schwab Corporation and Equiniti Trust Company, as Depositary (including the form of Depositary Share Receipt attached as Exhibit A thereto), filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March 29, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.17    Deposit Agreement, dated March  4, 2022, between The Charles Schwab Corporation and Equiniti Trust Company, as Depositary (including the form of Depositary Share Receipt attached as Exhibit A thereto), filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March 3, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.18    Form of Certificate of Designations for The Charles Schwab Corporation.*
4.19    Form of Senior Indenture between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

 

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Exhibit
No.
  

Description

4.20    Form of Subordinated Indenture between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
4.21    Senior Indenture, dated as of June  5, 2009, between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., filed as Exhibit 4.14 to The Charles Schwab Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (registration number 333-222063), and incorporated herein by reference.
4.26    Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March  10, 2015 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.33 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March  10, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.27    Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of November  13, 2015 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.36 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated November  13, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.28    Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March  2, 2017 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.38 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March  2, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.29    Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of November  30, 2017 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated November  30, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.30    Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December  7, 2017 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.40 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated December  7, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.31    Eleventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of May  22, 2018 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.43 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated May  22, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.32    Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October  31, 2018 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.47 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated October  31, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.33    Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May  22, 2019 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.50 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated May  22, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.34    Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March  24, 2020 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.52 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March  20, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.35    Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December  11, 2020 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.55 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated December  8, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.36    Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March  18, 2021 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.58 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March  15 2021, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.37    Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May  13, 2021 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.62 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated May  13, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.38    Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August  26, 2021 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.66 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated August  26, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Exhibit
No.
  

Description

  4.39    Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September  24, 2021 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.73 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated September  24, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference.
  4.40    Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March  3, 2022 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.74 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated March  3, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference.
  4.41    Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May  19, 2023 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.78 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated May  17, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference.
  4.42    Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May  19, 2023 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.79 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated May  17, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference.
  4.43    Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August  24, 2023 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.82 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated August  24, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference.
  4.44    Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 17, 2023 by and between The Charles Schwab Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.85 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated November 17, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference.
  4.45    Form of Purchase Contract Agreement, including form of Security certificate.*
  4.46    Form of Unit Agreement, including form of Unit certificate.*
  4.47    Form of Warrant Agreement.*
  4.48    Form of Preferred Stock Certificate for The Charles Schwab Corporation.*
  4.49    Form of Senior Debt Security.*
  4.50    Form of Subordinated Debt Security.*
  4.51    Form of Warrant Certificate.*
  4.52    Form of Depositary Agreement.*
  4.53    Form of Depositary Receipt.*
  5.1    Opinion of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2    Consent of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page).
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as trustee for the form of the Senior Indenture.
25.2    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as trustee for the form of Subordinated Indenture.
107    Filing Fee Table.

 

*

To be filed by amendment or, if applicable, pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K or pursuant to any other report filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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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 this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of 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 this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

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

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

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

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

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

The registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933:

 

   

The information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the 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.

 

   

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.

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

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Westlake, State of Texas, on the 1st day of December, 2023.

 

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Walter W. Bettinger II
  Walter W. Bettinger II
Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Walter W. Bettinger II, Richard A. Wurster, and Peter Crawford, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, (1) to sign one or more registration statements pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act) thereto, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (2) to sign and file any and all documents and instruments required by state securities or blue sky laws in connection with the registration of any or all of the securities covered by the above registration statements; and (3) to sign any documents in connection with filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any filings related to applications for listing of the securities on any stock exchanges, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection with any of the above, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

This power of attorney shall be effective as of December 1, 2023 and shall continue in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a writing filed with the Secretary of the Corporation.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated as of December 1, 2023.

 

Name and Signature

  

Title

/s/ Walter W. Bettinger II

Walter W. Bettinger II

  

Co-Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Peter Crawford

Peter Crawford

  

Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Charles R. Schwab

Charles R. Schwab

   Co-Chairman of the Board

/s/ John K. Adams, Jr.

John K. Adams, Jr.

   Director

 

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Name and Signature

  

Title

/s/ Marianne C. Brown

Marianne C. Brown

  

Director

/s/ Joan T. Dea

Joan T. Dea

  

Director

/s/ Christopher V. Dodds

Christopher V. Dodds

  

Director

/s/ Stephen A. Ellis

Stephen A. Ellis

  

Director

/s/ Mark A. Goldfarb

Mark A. Goldfarb

  

Director

/s/ Frank C. Herringer

Frank C. Herringer

  

Director

/s/ Brian M. Levitt

Brian M. Levitt

  

Director

/s/ Gerri K. Martin-Flickinger

Gerri K. Martin-Flickinger

  

Director

/s/ Bharat B. Masrani

Bharat B. Masrani

  

Director

/s/ Todd M. Ricketts

Todd M. Ricketts

  

Director

/s/ Charles A. Ruffel

Charles A. Ruffel

  

Director

/s/ Arun Sarin

Arun Sarin

  

Director

/s/ Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz

Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz

  

Director

/s/ Paula A. Sneed

Paula A. Sneed

  

Director

 

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Exhibit 1.1

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

$[                ] [                ]% [                ] Notes due [                ]

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

[                ]


UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

[                ]

[Underwriters]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Charles Schwab Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as Representatives, $[                ] aggregate principal amount of its [                ]% [                ] Notes due [                ] (the “Securities”). The Securities are described in the Prospectus that is referred to below.

The Securities are to be issued by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Senior Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of [                ], as amended and supplemented by the [                ] supplemental indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Company has prepared and filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-[                ]) under the Act (the “registration statement”), including a prospectus, which registration statement incorporates by reference documents which the Company has filed, or will file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). Such registration statement has become effective under the Act.

Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein, means the registration statement, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to the respective Underwriters (the “Effective Time”), including (i) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, (ii) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Act, to be part of the registration statement at the Effective Time, and (iii) any registration statement filed to register the offer and sale of Securities pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act.

The Company has furnished or made available to you, for use by the Underwriters and by dealers in connection with the offering of the Securities, copies of one or more preliminary prospectus supplements, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, relating to the Securities. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Pre-Pricing Prospectus”, as used herein, means each such preliminary prospectus supplement, in the form so

 

2


furnished, including any basic prospectus (whether or not in preliminary form) furnished to you by the Company and attached to or used with such preliminary prospectus supplement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Basic Prospectus”, as used herein, means any such basic prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below).

Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus Supplement”, as used herein, means the final prospectus supplement, relating to the Securities, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier time as may be required under the Act), in the form furnished by the Company to you for use by the Underwriters and by dealers in connection with the offering of the Securities.

Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus”, as used herein, means the Prospectus Supplement together with the Basic Prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement.

Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses”, as used herein, means the documents listed on Schedule B attached hereto and each “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act), if any, related to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act). Each Underwriter severally covenants and agrees with the Company that such Underwriter has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell, without the Company’s consent, any Securities by means of any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) that is required to be filed by the Underwriters with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act, other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

Covered Free Writing Prospectuses”, as used herein, means (i) each “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(1) under the Act), if any, relating to the Securities, which is not a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

Disclosure Package”, as used herein, means any Pre-Pricing Prospectus together with any combination of one or more of the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, as of the Applicable Time.

Applicable Time” means [                ][a.m.][p.m.], New York City time, on the date of this Agreement.

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of such Basic Prospectus, such Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

 

3


As used in this Agreement, “business day” shall mean any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City. The terms “herein”, “hereof”, “hereto”, “hereinafter” and similar terms, as used in this Agreement, shall in each case refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph, sentence or other subdivision of this Agreement. The term “or”, as used herein, is not exclusive.

The Company and the Underwriters agree as follows:

1. Sale and Purchase. Upon the basis of the representations and warranties and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the respective Underwriters and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A attached hereto, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 8 hereof, at a purchase price equal to [                ]% of the principal amount thereof.

The Company is advised by you that the Underwriters intend (i) to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in your judgment is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the Securities upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus. You may from time to time increase or decrease the public offering price after the initial public offering to such extent as you may determine.

Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, represents and agrees as set forth in Appendix A hereto.

2. Payment and Delivery. Payment of the purchase price for the Securities shall be made to the Company by Federal Funds wire transfer against delivery of the Securities to you through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the respective accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery shall be made at [                ][a.m.][p.m.], New York City time, on [                ] (such time being referred to herein as the “Time of Purchase”, and such date being referred to herein as the “Closing Date”) (unless another time shall be agreed to by you and the Company or unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 hereof). Electronic transfer of the Securities shall be made to you at the Time of Purchase in such names and in such denominations as you shall specify.

Deliveries of the documents described in Section 6 hereof with respect to the purchase of the Securities shall be made at the offices of [                ], at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Closing Date.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

 

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(a) the Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof and has heretofore become effective under the Act; no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company; and no stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, are threatened by the Commission;

(b) the Registration Statement complied when it became effective, complies as of the date hereof and, as amended or supplemented, at the Time of Purchase, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities, will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”); the conditions to the use of Form S-3 in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities as contemplated hereby have been satisfied; as of the determination date applicable to the Registration Statement (and any amendment thereof) and the offering contemplated hereby, and as of each time, if any, an “offer by or on behalf of” (within the meaning of Rule 163 under the Act) the Company was made prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement, the Company is and was a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; the Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Securities as contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5) under the Act); the Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; each Pre-Pricing Prospectus complied, at the time it was filed with the Commission, and complies as of the date hereof, in all material respects with the requirements of the Act; at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of such Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the date such Pre-Pricing Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends at the Time of Purchase did or will any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and at no time during such period did or will any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, together with any combination of one or more of the then issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each Basic Prospectus complied, as of its date and the date it was filed with the Commission, complies as of the date hereof and, at the Time of Purchase and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities, will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Act; at no time during the period that begins on the date of such Basic Prospectus and ends at the Time of Purchase did or will any Basic Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material

 

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fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and at no time during such period did or will any Basic Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, together with any combination of one or more of the then issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each of the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus will comply, as of the date that it is filed with the Commission, the date of the Prospectus Supplement, the Time of Purchase and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Act (in the case of the Prospectus, including, without limitation, Section 10(a) of the Act); at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of the Prospectus Supplement and the date the Prospectus Supplement is filed with the Commission and ends at the later of the Time of Purchase and the end of the period during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities did or will any Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Act (to the extent required thereby); at no time during the period that begins on the date of each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and ends at the Time of Purchase did or will any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty in this Section 3(b) with respect to any statement contained in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information concerning an Underwriter and furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; each Incorporated Document, at the time such document was filed with the Commission or at the time such document became effective, as applicable, complied, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Exchange Act and did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(c) prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Securities by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities, in each case other than the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any; the Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus

 

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except in compliance with Rule 163 or with Rules 164 and 433 under the Act; assuming that such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus is so sent or given after the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission (and after such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus was, if required pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, filed with the Commission), the sending or giving, by any Underwriter, of any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus will satisfy the provisions of Rule 164 and Rule 433 (without reliance on subsections (b), (c) and (d) of Rule 164); the conditions set forth in one or more of subclauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of Rule 433(b)(1) under the Act are satisfied, and the registration statement relating to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby, as initially filed with the Commission, includes a prospectus that, other than by reason of Rule 433 or Rule 431 under the Act, satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Act; neither the Company nor the Underwriters are disqualified, by reason of subsection (f) or (g) of Rule 164 under the Act, from using, in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, “free writing prospectuses” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the Act; the Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Act, in each case at the times specified in the Act in connection with the offering of the Securities; the parties hereto agree and understand that the content of any and all “road shows” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) related to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby is solely the property of the Company;

(d) the Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, right of first refusal or similar right under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Company’s charter or bylaws or any agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party;

(e) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, to execute and deliver this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver the Securities as contemplated herein;

(f) the Company is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on (i) the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby (the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to as a “Material Adverse Effect”);

 

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(g) the Company owns directly or indirectly all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each of [                        ] (collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”), complete and correct copies of the charters and the bylaws of the Company and each Significant Subsidiary and all amendments thereto have been delivered or made available to you, and no material changes therein will be made on or after the date hereof through and including the Time of Purchase; each Significant Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any; each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Significant Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws, were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, right of first refusal or similar right and are owned by the Company subject to no security interest or other encumbrance; no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligation into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Significant Subsidiaries are outstanding; and the Company has no “significant subsidiary”, as that term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Act, other than [                        ];

(h) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(i) the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and when validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”); the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

(j) the Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;

 

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(k) the Indenture (including the form of Securities), which will be in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any;

(l) none of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of or in default under (nor has any event occurred which, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) (A) its charter or bylaws, (B) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or affected, (C) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, (D) any rule or regulation of any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the rules and regulations of The New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”)), or (E) any decree, judgment or order applicable to it or any of its properties (other than in the case of (A), except for breaches, violations or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect);

(m) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Indenture and the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not conflict with, result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) (or result in the creation or imposition of a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to) (A) the charter or bylaws of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, (B) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (C) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, (D) any rule or regulation of any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the rules and regulations of the NYSE), or (E) any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties (other than in the case of (A), except for conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect);

 

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(n) The Company is duly registered as a savings and loan holding company under the Home Owners’ Loan Act of 1933, as amended (“HOLA”), has elected to be treated and is qualified as a financial holding company under the applicable provisions of the HOLA and the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and is subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), and Charles Schwab Bank, SSB is a savings association for purposes of Section 10 of HOLA, a member of the Federal Reserve System and duly chartered as a state savings bank with the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending;

(o) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance with all laws administered by the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and any other federal or state bank regulatory authorities (together with the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the CFPB, the “Bank Regulatory Authorities”) with jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, except for failures to be so in compliance that would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, and the deposit accounts of Charles Schwab Bank, SSB are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC and no proceeding for the termination or revocation of such insurance is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened;

(p) except as disclosed in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, or except for confidential supervisory information, which, under applicable law and regulation, the Company may not address in this representation, there are no material written agreements, memoranda of understanding, cease and desist orders, orders of prohibition or suspension or consent decrees, in each case that are material to the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries between any Bank Regulatory Authority and the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries;

(q) no approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or of or with any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the NYSE), or approval of the stockholders of the Company, is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (i) registration of the Securities under the Act, which has been effected (or, with respect to any registration statement to be filed hereunder pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, will be effected in accordance herewith), (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Securities are being offered by the Underwriters, (iii) under the Conduct Rules of FINRA, or (iv) the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, which has been effected;

(r) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any applicable law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals from other persons, in order to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to have such licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and make such filings would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default under, or has received notice of any proceedings relating to revocation or modification of, any such license, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except where such violation, default, revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(s) other than as set forth in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus, there are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, or contemplated by the Company, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or officers is or would be a party or of which any of their respective properties is or would be subject at law or in equity, before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or before or by any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the NYSE), except any such action, suit, claim, investigation or proceeding which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(t) Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report on the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries is included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Act and by the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;

(u) the financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, together with the related notes and schedules, of the Company present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company for the periods specified and have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Act and Exchange Act and in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved; the other financial and statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, are accurately and fairly presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Company; there are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not included or incorporated by reference as required; the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not disclosed in the Registration Statement, each Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus; all disclosures contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Act, to the extent applicable; and the interactive data in

 

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eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, each Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package fairly present the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto;

(v) neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Pre-Pricing Prospectus, there has not been any material change in the capital stock or long term debt of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(w) the Company is not, and at no time during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities will it be, and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, it will not be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

(x) each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries owns or has licensed all material inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), tradenames, service names, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified as being owned or licensed by it or which is necessary or material to the conduct of its businesses (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”). To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries has infringed or is infringing the intellectual property of a third party. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has received written notice of any claim by a third party of infringement or conflict with any such rights of others to Intellectual Property, except for such claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(y) all taxes and other assessments of a similar nature (whether imposed directly or through withholding), including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto, due or claimed to be due from the Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries have been timely paid, except (i) those being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided, or (ii) where the failure to pay such taxes or other assessments would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(z) neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the material contracts or agreements referred to or described in any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or referred to or described in, or filed as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement or any Incorporated Document, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party to any such contract or agreement;

(aa) the Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; (v) interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto; and (vi) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls;

(bb) the Company has established and maintains and evaluates “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) and “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by others within those entities, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established; the Company’s independent auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies, if any, in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data; and (ii) all fraud, if any, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a role in the Company’s internal controls; all material weaknesses, if any, in internal controls have been identified to the Company’s independent auditors; since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses; the principal executive officers (or their equivalents) and principal financial officers (or their equivalents) of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission;

 

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(cc) all statistical or market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent required;

(dd) neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or agent acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries or any affiliate that directly or indirectly is controlled by the Company (such affiliate, a “downstream affiliate”) has violated or is in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder; the Company, the Significant Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Company, its downstream affiliates have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance therewith; and no part of the proceeds of the offering will be used by the Company, directly or indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder;

(ee) the operations of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all relevant jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator or non-governmental authority involving the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened;

(ff) neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is currently subject to any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States (including any administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”)) or any other relevant sanction authority; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Significant Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or any other relevant sanction authority;

 

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(gg) no Significant Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Significant Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Significant Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Significant Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Significant Subsidiary, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, each Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any;

(hh) neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities; and

(ii) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of its material information technology equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) and data (including personally identifiable or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used by the Company and each of its subsidiaries. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there have been no breaches or unauthorized uses of or access to the IT Systems or Personal Data. The Company and each of its subsidiaries are presently in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws or statutes and all applicable judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and their public-facing policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

In addition, any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries and delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

4. Certain Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees:

(a) to prepare the Prospectus in a mutually agreed form and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the date of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, prior to the Time of Purchase unless mutually agreed; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of the Securities, in a form set forth in Schedule C hereto and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time required by such Rule; to file promptly all other material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act (without reliance on Rule 164(b) under the Act), and to comply with Rule 433(g) under the Act;

 

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(b) to furnish such information as may be required and otherwise to cooperate in qualifying the Securities for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such states or other jurisdictions as you may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as you may request for the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to consent to the service of process under the laws of any such jurisdiction (except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Securities); and to promptly advise you of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;

(c) to make available to the Underwriters, as soon as practicable after this Agreement becomes effective, and thereafter from time to time to furnish to the Underwriters, as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as the Underwriters may request for the purposes contemplated by the Act; in case any Underwriter is required to deliver (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Securities, a prospectus after the nine-month period referred to in Section 10(a)(3) of the Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, promptly upon request such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Act, as the case may be;

(d) if, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it is necessary or appropriate for a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or a Registration Statement under Rule 462(b) under the Act, to be filed with the Commission and become effective before the Securities may be sold, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment or such Registration Statement to be filed and become effective, and will pay any applicable fees in accordance with the Act, as soon as possible; and the Company will advise you promptly and, if requested by you, will confirm such advice in writing, (i) when such post-effective amendment or such Registration Statement has become effective, and (ii) if Rule 430A under the Act is used, when the Prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act (which the Company agrees to file in a timely manner in accordance with such Rules);

 

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(e) if, at any time during the period when a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with the offering and sale of Securities, the Registration Statement shall cease to comply with the requirements of the Act with respect to eligibility for the use of the form on which the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission or the Registration Statement shall cease to be an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) or the Company shall have received, from the Commission, a notice, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2), of objection to the use of the form on which the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission, to (i) promptly notify you, (ii) promptly file with the Commission a new registration statement under the Act, relating to the Securities, or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, which new registration statement or post-effective amendment shall comply with the requirements of the Act and shall be in a form satisfactory to you, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such new registration statement or post-effective amendment to become effective under the Act as soon as practicable, (iv) promptly notify you of such effectiveness and (v) take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the Prospectus; all references herein to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include each such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, if any;

(f) if the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement (within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(5) under the Act) shall occur at any time during the period when a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any offering and sale of Securities, to file with the Commission, prior to such third anniversary, a new registration statement under the Act relating to the Securities, which new registration statement shall comply with the requirements of the Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(6) under the Act) and shall be in a form satisfactory to you; such new registration statement shall constitute an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act); provided, however, that if the Company is not then eligible to file an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), then such new registration statement need not constitute an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), but the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such new registration statement to become effective under the Act as soon as practicable, but in any event within 180 days after such third anniversary and promptly notify you of such effectiveness; the Company shall take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the Prospectus; all references herein to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include each such new registration statement, if any;

(g) at any time during the period when a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with the offering and sale of Securities, to advise you promptly, confirming such advice in writing, of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information with respect thereto, or of notice of institution of proceedings for, or the entry of a stop order, suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and, if the Commission should enter a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to

 

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use the Company’s reasonable best efforts to obtain the lifting or removal of such order as soon as possible; to advise you promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, and to provide you and Underwriters’ counsel copies of any such documents for review and comment a reasonable amount of time under the circumstances prior to any proposed filing and to file no such amendment or supplement to which you shall object in writing;

(h) subject to Section 4(g) hereof, to file promptly all reports and documents and any preliminary or definitive proxy or information statement required to be filed by the Company with the Commission in order to comply with the Exchange Act for so long as a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of the Securities; and to provide you, for your review and comment, with a copy of such reports and statements and other documents to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during such period a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing; and to promptly notify you of such filing;

(i) to pay the fees applicable to the Registration Statement in connection with the offering of the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Act (without reliance on the proviso to Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Act) and in compliance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Act;

(j) to advise the Underwriters promptly of the happening of any event within the period during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, which event could require the making of any change in the Prospectus then being used so that the Prospectus would not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and to advise the Underwriters promptly if, during such period, it shall become necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to cause the Prospectus to comply with the requirements of the Act, and, in each case, during such time, subject to Section 4(g) hereof, to prepare and furnish, at the Company’s expense, to the Underwriters promptly such amendments or supplements to such Prospectus as may be necessary to reflect any such change or to effect such compliance;

(k) the Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to you and, if requested by you, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter a Covered Free Writing Prospectus or other document that will correct such conflict, statement or omission;

 

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(l) to make generally available to its security holders, and to deliver to you, an earnings statement of the Company (which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of twelve months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the termination of such twelve-month period;

(m) on your request, to furnish to you such reasonable number of copies of the Registration Statement, as initially filed with the Commission, and of all amendments thereto (including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and sufficient copies of the foregoing (other than exhibits) for distribution of a copy to each of the other Underwriters;

(n) to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities in the manner set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus Supplement;

(o) to pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, each Basic Prospectus, each Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the registration, issue, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer taxes and stamp or similar duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iii) the producing, word processing and/or printing of this Agreement, any dealer agreements, any Powers of Attorney and any closing documents (including compilations thereof) and the reproduction and/or printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and (except closing documents) to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (iv) the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state laws and the determination of their eligibility for investment under state law (including the reasonable legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) and the printing and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys or legal investment surveys to the Underwriters and to dealers, (v) any filing for review of the public offering of the Securities by FINRA, including the reasonable legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters relating to thereto, (vi) the fees and disbursements of any trustee or paying agent for the Securities (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties), (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to presentations or meetings undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering and sale of the Securities to prospective investors and the Underwriters’ sales forces, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel, lodging and other expenses incurred by the officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (viii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants, (ix) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities, and (x) the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder; provided, however, that except as otherwise set forth in this Section 4(o) and Sections 5 and 9 of this Agreement, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters;

 

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(p) not, at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, to offer or sell any Securities by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act), or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities, in each case other than the Prospectus;

(q) through and including the Closing Date, not to, and to cause each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries not to, take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has constituted, or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities; and

(r) beginning on the date hereof and ending on, and including, the Closing Date, without your prior written consent, not to issue, sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or with respect to, any Securities (except for the Securities offered hereby), any securities that are substantially similar to the Securities, or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive any such substantially similar securities of the Company.

5. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the Securities are not delivered for any reason other than the termination of this Agreement pursuant to the fifth paragraph of Section 8 hereof or the default by one or more of the Underwriters in its or their respective obligations hereunder, the Company shall, in addition to paying the amounts described in Section 4(o) hereof, reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of their counsel.

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company on the date hereof, the Applicable Time and the Closing Date and the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a) The Company shall furnish to you at the Time of Purchase an opinion and negative assurance letter of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, special counsel for the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the Closing Date, with executed copies for each of the other Underwriters in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

(b) The Company shall furnish to you at the Time of Purchase an opinion of the Office of Corporate Counsel of the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the Closing Date, with executed copies for each of the other Underwriters in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

(c) You shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP letters dated, respectively, the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters (with executed copies for each of the Underwriters) in the forms satisfactory to you, which letters shall cover, without limitation, the various financial disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, with respect to the Company.

 

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(d) You shall have received at the Time of Purchase the written opinion and negative assurance statement of [                ], counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Time of Purchase, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(e) No Prospectus or amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall have been filed to which you shall have objected in writing.

(f) The Registration Statement and any registration statement required to be filed, prior to the sale of the Securities, under the Act pursuant to Rule 462(b) shall have been filed and shall have become effective under the Act. The Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act at or before 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the second full business day after the date of this Agreement (or such earlier time as may be required under the Act). The final term sheet contemplated by Section 4(a) hereof, and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433.

(g) Prior to and at the Time of Purchase, (i) no stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Act or proceedings initiated under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Act; (ii) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (iii) none of the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses or the Prospectus, and no amendment or supplement thereto, shall include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; (iv) the Disclosure Package and any amendment or supplement thereto, shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; and (v) none of the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, shall include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

(h) The Company will at the Time of Purchase deliver to you a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, in the form attached as Exhibit C hereto.

(i) The Company shall have furnished to you such other documents and certificates as to the accuracy and completeness of any statement in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as of the Time of Purchase, as you may reasonably request.

 

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(j) FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the underwriting, or other arrangements of the transactions, contemplated hereby.

7. Effective Date of Agreement; Termination. This Agreement shall become effective when the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement.

The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, if (1) since the time of execution of this Agreement or the earlier respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any (in the case of the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been any change or any development involving a prospective change in the business, properties, management, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, the effect of which change or development is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any (in the case of the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), or (2) since the time of execution of this Agreement, there shall have occurred: (A) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the NYSE, NYSE American LLC or the NASDAQ Stock Market; (B) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s common stock on the NYSE; (C) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (D) an outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United States or a declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war; or (E) any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (D) or (E), in your sole judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any (in the case of the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), or (3) since the time of execution of this Agreement, there shall have occurred any downgrading, or any notice or announcement shall have been given or made of: (i) any intended or potential downgrading or (ii) any watch, review or possible change that does not indicate an affirmation or improvement in the rating accorded any securities of or guaranteed by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is used in Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act.

If the Representatives elect to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 7, the Company and each other Underwriter shall be notified promptly in writing.

 

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If the sale to the Underwriters of the Securities, as contemplated by this Agreement, is not carried out by the Underwriters for any reason permitted under this Agreement, or if such sale is not carried out because the Company shall be unable to comply with any of the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall not be under any obligation or liability under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Sections 4(o), 5 and 9 hereof), and the Underwriters shall be under no obligation or liability to the Company under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof) or to one another hereunder.

8. Increase in Underwriters’ Commitments. Subject to Sections 6 and 7 hereof, if any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to take up and pay for the Securities to be purchased by it hereunder (otherwise than for a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6 hereof or a reason sufficient to justify the termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Section 7 hereof) and if the aggregate principal amount of Securities which all Underwriters so defaulting shall have agreed but failed to take up and pay for does not exceed 10% of the total aggregate principal amount of Securities, the non-defaulting Underwriters (including the Underwriters, if any, substituted in the manner set forth below) shall take up and pay for (in addition to the principal amount of Securities they are obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 1 hereof) the principal amount of Securities agreed to be purchased by all such defaulting Underwriters, as hereinafter provided. Such Securities shall be taken up and paid for by such non-defaulting Underwriters in such amount or amounts as you may designate with the consent of each Underwriter so designated or, in the event no such designation is made, such Securities shall be taken up and paid for by all non-defaulting Underwriters pro rata in proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of such non-defaulting Underwriters in Schedule A.

Without relieving any defaulting Underwriter from its obligations hereunder, the Company agrees with the non-defaulting Underwriters that it will not sell any Securities hereunder unless all of the Securities are purchased by the Underwriters (or by substituted Underwriters selected by you with the approval of the Company or selected by the Company with your approval).

If a new Underwriter or Underwriters are substituted by the Underwriters or by the Company for a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters in accordance with the foregoing provision, the Company or you shall have the right to postpone the Time of Purchase for a period not exceeding five business days in order that any necessary changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and other documents may be effected.

The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall refer to and include any Underwriter substituted under this Section 8 with like effect as if such substituted Underwriter had originally been named in Schedule A hereto.

If the aggregate principal amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase exceeds 10% of the total aggregate principal amount of Securities which all Underwriters agreed to purchase hereunder, and if neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the Company shall make arrangements within the five business day period stated above for the purchase of all the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate without further act or

 

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deed and without any liability on the part of the Company to any Underwriter and without any liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter to the Company. Nothing in this paragraph, and no action taken hereunder, shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

9. Indemnity and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers, and any person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any “affiliate” that sells Securities on behalf of such Underwriters, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly or severally, any such Underwriter or any such person may incur under the Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Company) or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information concerning such Underwriter, as set forth in Section 10 hereof, furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Company expressly for use in, the Registration Statement or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in the Registration Statement in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was required to be stated in such Registration Statement or was necessary to make such information not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Prospectus (the term Prospectus for the purpose of this Section 9 being deemed to include any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to the foregoing), in any Covered Free Writing Prospectus, in any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) of the Company, which “issuer information” is required to be, or is, filed with the Commission, or in any Prospectus together with any combination of one or more of the Covered Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except, with respect to such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information concerning such Underwriter, as set forth in Section 10 hereof, furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Company expressly for use in, such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was necessary in order to make the statements in such information, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly or severally, the Company or any such person may incur under the Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information concerning such Underwriter, as set forth in Section 10 hereof, furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Company expressly for use in, the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Company), or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Registration Statement in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was required to be stated in such Registration Statement or was necessary to make such information not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information concerning such Underwriter, as set forth in Section 10 hereof, furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Company expressly for use in, a Prospectus or a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was necessary in order to make the statements in such information, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c) If any action, suit or proceeding (each, a “Proceeding”) is brought against a person (an “indemnified party”) in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company or an Underwriter (as applicable, the “indemnifying party”) pursuant to subsection (a) or (b), respectively, of this Section 9, such indemnified party shall promptly notify such indemnifying party in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and such indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the omission to so notify such indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which such indemnifying party may have to any indemnified party or otherwise. The indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or the indemnifying party shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to defend such Proceeding or such

 

25


indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to such indemnifying party (in which case such indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such indemnifying party and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that such indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent but, if settled with its written consent, such indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party or parties from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this Section 9(c), then the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have fully reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault or culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to an indemnified party under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 9 or insufficient to hold an indemnified party harmless in respect of any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the

 

26


Underwriters, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims referred to in this subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any Proceeding.

(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in subsection (d) above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by such Underwriter and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damage which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments and not joint.

(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 9 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, its partners, directors or officers or any person (including each partner, officer or director of such person) who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of the Company, its directors or officers or any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Securities. The Company and each Underwriter agree promptly to notify each other of the commencement of any Proceeding against it and, in the case of the Company, against any of the Company’s officers or directors in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities, or in connection with the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

10. Information Furnished by the Underwriters. The statements set forth in the fourth, seventh, eighth and tenth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Prospectus Supplement, only insofar as such statements relate to the amount of selling concession and reallowance or stabilization activities that may be undertaken by the Underwriters, constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters, as such information is referred to in Sections 3 and 9 hereof.

 

27


11. Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing or by facsimile or email, as applicable, and, if to the Underwriters, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to [                ], and if to the Company, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to the Company at the offices of the Company at 211 Main Street, San Francisco, California 94105, Attention: Peter Morgan, facsimile number: (415) 667-9814, with a copy, not constituting notice, to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, 51 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019 Attention: Matthew M. Guest; Kathryn Gettles-Atwa, facsimile number: (212) 403-2000.

12. Governing Law; Construction. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (“Claim”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.

13. Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Company consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. The Company hereby consents to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against any Underwriter or any indemnified party. Each Underwriter and the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The Company agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and may be enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which the Company is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

14. Parties at Interest. The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and, to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof, the controlling persons, partners, directors and officers and affiliates referred to in such Section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives and executors and administrators. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from any of the Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.

15. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis, and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, stockholders or creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the purchase and sale of the Securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters

 

28


hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including, but not limited to, any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for any of the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.

16. Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of the Underwriters’ respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

18. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their successors and assigns and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Company’s and any of the Underwriters’ respective businesses and/or assets.

19. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

29


For purposes of this Section 19, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

[The Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]

 

30


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the several Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the Underwriters, severally.

 

Very truly yours,
THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written, on behalf of itself and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule A.

 

[UNDERWRITER]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount
of the Securities
 

[         ]

     $[                ]  

[         ]

     $[                ]  

Total

     $[                ]  
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE B

Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses

Final Term Sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 4(a) and in the form of Schedule C.


SCHEDULE C

[Intentionally Omitted]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF OPINION AND NEGATIVE ASSURANCE LETTER OF

WACHTELL, LIPTON, ROSEN & KATZ

[Intentionally Omitted]


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF OPINION OF

OFFICE OF CORPORATE COUNSEL OF THE COMPANY

[Intentionally Omitted]


EXHIBIT C

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

[Intentionally Omitted]

Exhibit 4.19

FORM OF SENIOR INDENTURE

 

 

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

TO

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

Trustee

 

 

Dated as of [_], [_]

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

Section 1.1

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.2

  Compliance Certificate and Opinions      9  

Section 1.3

  Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee      9  

Section 1.4

  Acts of Holders      10  

Section 1.5

  Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company      12  

Section 1.6

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      13  

Section 1.7

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      14  

Section 1.8

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      14  

Section 1.9

  Successors and Assigns      14  

Section 1.10

  Separability Clause      14  

Section 1.11

  Benefits of Indenture      14  

Section 1.12

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury      14  

Section 1.13

  Non-Business Days      15  

Section 1.14

  Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations      15  

Section 1.15

  Force Majeure      15  

Section 1.16

  Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)      16  

ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS

     16  

Section 2.1

  Forms Generally      16  

Section 2.2

  Form of Securities      17  

Section 2.3

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      17  

Section 2.4

  Form of Legend for Global Securities      17  

Section 2.5

  Form of Conversion Notice      17  

ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES

     19  

Section 3.1

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series; Terms      19  

Section 3.2

  Denominations      22  

Section 3.3

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      22  

Section 3.4

  Temporary Securities      24  

Section 3.5

  Registration, Transfer and Exchange      25  

Section 3.6

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      26  

Section 3.7

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      27  

Section 3.8

  Persons Deemed Owners      28  

Section 3.9

  Cancellation      29  

Section 3.10

  Computation of Interest      29  

Section 3.11

  CUSIP Numbers      29  

ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     29  

 

i


Section 4.1

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      29  

Section 4.2

  Application of Trust Money      31  

ARTICLE V REMEDIES

     31  

Section 5.1

  Events of Default      31  

Section 5.2

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      32  

Section 5.3

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      33  

Section 5.4

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      34  

Section 5.5

  Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities      35  

Section 5.6

  Application of Money Collected      35  

Section 5.7

  Limitation on Suits      35  

Section 5.8

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      36  

Section 5.9

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      36  

Section 5.10

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      36  

Section 5.11

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      37  

Section 5.12

  Control by Holders      37  

Section 5.13

  Waiver of Past Defaults      37  

Section 5.14

  Undertaking for Costs      38  

Section 5.15

  Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws      38  

ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE

     38  

Section 6.1

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities      38  

Section 6.2

  Notice of Defaults      40  

Section 6.3

  Certain Rights of Trustee      40  

Section 6.4

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      41  

Section 6.5

  May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee Under Other Indentures      42  

Section 6.6

  Money Held in Trust      42  

Section 6.7

  Compensation and Reimbursement      42  

Section 6.8

  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      43  

Section 6.9

  Type of Trustee Required; Eligibility      43  

Section 6.10

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      43  

Section 6.11

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      45  

Section 6.12

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      46  

Section 6.13

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      46  

Section 6.14

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      46  

ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     48  

Section 7.1

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      48  

Section 7.2

  Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders      48  

Section 7.3

  Reports by Trustee      48  

Section 7.4

  Reports by Company      49  

Section 7.5

  Statement by Officers as to Default      49  

 

ii


ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

     49  

Section 8.1

  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      49  

Section 8.2

  Successor Corporation Substituted      50  

Section 8.3

  Opinion of Counsel Delivered to Trustee      50  

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     51  

Section 9.1

  Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders      51  

Section 9.2

  Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders      52  

Section 9.3

  Execution of Supplemental Indentures      53  

Section 9.4

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures      54  

Section 9.5

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      54  

Section 9.6

  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      54  

ARTICLE X COVENANTS

     54  

Section 10.1

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      54  

Section 10.2

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      54  

Section 10.3

  Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust      55  

Section 10.4

  Statement as to Compliance      56  

Section 10.5

  Waiver of Certain Covenants      56  

Section 10.6

  Corporate Existence      57  

Section 10.7

  Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of Trustee      57  

ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     57  

Section 11.1

  Applicability of this Article      57  

Section 11.2

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      57  

Section 11.3

  Selection of Securities to be Redeemed      57  

Section 11.4

  Notice of Redemption      58  

Section 11.5

  Deposit of Redemption Price      59  

Section 11.6

  Payment of Securities Called for Redemption      60  

Section 11.7

  Securities Redeemed in Part      60  

ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS

     60  

Section 12.1

  Applicability of Article      60  

Section 12.2

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      61  

Section 12.3

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      61  

ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     62  

Section 13.1

  Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      62  

Section 13.2

  Defeasance and Discharge      63  

Section 13.3

  Covenant Defeasance      63  

Section 13.4

  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      64  

 

iii


Section 13.5

  Deposited Money, Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions      66  

Section 13.6

  Reinstatement      66  

ARTICLE XIV CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

     67  

Section 14.1

  Applicability of Article      67  

Section 14.2

  Exercise of Conversion Privilege      67  

Section 14.3

  No Fractional Shares      68  

Section 14.4

  Adjustment of Conversion Price      68  

Section 14.5

  Notice of Certain Corporate Actions      69  

Section 14.6

  Reservation of Shares of Common Stock      70  

Section 14.7

  Payment of Certain Taxes upon Conversion      70  

Section 14.8

  Nonassessability      70  

Section 14.9

  Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets      70  

Section 14.10

  Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion      71  

Section 14.11

  Repayment of Certain Funds upon Conversion      72  

 

iv


THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (including cross-references to provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 which, pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the Trust Reform Act of 1990, are a part of and govern the Senior Indenture whether or not physically contained therein).

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

(S) 310    (a) (1), (2) and (5)    6.9
   (a) (3)    Not Applicable
   (a) (4)    Not Applicable
   (b)    6.8
      6.10
   (c)    Not Applicable
(S) 311    (a)    6.13
   (b)    6.13
   (c)    Not Applicable
(S) 312    (a)    7.1
      7.2(a)
   (b)    7.2(b)
   (c)    7.2(c)
(S) 313    (a)    7.3(a)
   (b)    7.3(a)
   (c)    7.3(a), 7.3(b)
   (d)    7.3(c)
(S) 314    (a) (1), (2) and (3)    7.4
   (4)    10.4
   (b)    Not Applicable
   (c) (1)    1.2
   (c) (2)    1.2
   (c) (3)    Not Applicable
   (d)    Not Applicable
   (e)    1.2
   (f)    Not Applicable
(S) 315    (a)    6.1(a)
   (b)    6.2
      7.3(a)
   (c)    6.1(b)
   (d)    6.1(c)
   (d) (1)    6.1(a) (1), (2)
   (d) (2)    6.1(c) (2)
   (d) (3)    6.1(c) (3)
   (e)    5.14
(S) 316    (a)    1.1
   (a) (1) (A)    5.12
   (a) (1) (B)    5.13
   (a) (2)    Not Applicable

 

v


Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

   (b)    5.8
   (c)    1.4(h)
(S) 317    (a) (1)    5.3
   (a) (2)    5.4
   (b)    10.3
(S) 318    (a)    1.7

 

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

 

vi


SENIOR INDENTURE, dated as of [_], [_] (the “Indenture”), between THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”) having its principal office at 3000 Schwab Way, Westlake, Texas 76262, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured senior debt securities in series (hereinafter called the “Securities”) of substantially the tenor hereinafter provided, and to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered.

All things necessary to make the Securities, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company, and to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with their and its terms, have been done.

NOW THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH: For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.1 Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

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

(2) To the extent that the Trust Indenture Act applies to this Indenture or any Securities, all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder will mean such accounting principles in the United States of America which are generally accepted at the date or time of such computation; provided that, when two or more principles are so generally accepted, it will mean that set of principles consistent with those in use by the Company;

(4) All references to “$” refer to the lawful currency of the United States;

 

 


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

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

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

“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.

“Applicable Procedures” of a Depositary means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors or such committee of the Board of Directors or officers of the Company to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking institutions in the Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the execution of this Indenture 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.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company or any other stock of any class of the Company which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which is not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, however, subject to the provisions of Section 14.9, shares issuable upon conversion of Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification thereof and which have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided further, that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

 

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

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, the written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any two of the following: the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer of the Company, or any other officer authorized by any of the foregoing to sign such request or order, and delivered to the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, if any of the foregoing titles is allocated to more than one Person, then such title shall include each such Person holding the title.

“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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meaning correlative to the foregoing.

“Corporate Trust Office” means (i) the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business will be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 311 South Wacker Drive – Suite 6200B, Floor 62, Mailbox #44, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration or (ii) such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or (iii) the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

“corporation” includes a corporation, association, company, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

“Covenant Breach” means, with respect to Securities of any series (i) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of such series; or (ii) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture or the Securities (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is specifically dealt with in Section 5.1(a) or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected thereby (voting together as a single class) a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Covenant Breach” hereunder; or (iii) any other Covenant Breach provided pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of that series. For the avoidance of doubt, a Covenant Breach shall not be an Event of Default with respect to any Security, except to the extent otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to such Security.

 

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“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to such series (or any successor thereto).

“Discount Security” means any security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

“Dollar” means the currency of the United States that, as at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Electronic Means” shall mean the following communications methods: e-mail, facsimile transmission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.

“Event of Default,” unless otherwise specified in the supplemental indenture creating a series of Securities, has the meaning specified in Article V.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.4(h).

“Global Security” means a Security, in the form prescribed in Section 2.4, evidencing all or part of a series of Securities issued to the Depositary or its nominee for such series, and registered in the name of such Depositary or its nominee.

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

 

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“Holder” means Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Securities Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of each particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1; provided, however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.1, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemented hereto executed and delivered after such Person has become such Trustee, but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided further, that in the event that the Indenture is supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term “Indenture” for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

“interest,” when used with respect to a Discount Security, which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

“Interest Payment Date” means as to each series of Securities the date specified in such Securities as the fixed date on which an installment of interest is due and payable.

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal (or premium, if any) of such Security becomes due and payable as provided by this Indenture or the Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, repurchase at the option of the Holder, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 6.2.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two of the following: the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer the President, the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer of the Company or an officer authorized by any of the foregoing to sign such certificate, and delivered to the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, if any of the foregoing titles is allocated to more than one Person, then such title shall include each such Person holding the title.

 

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“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company. Each such opinion shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and include the statements provided for in Section 1.2 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

“Original Issue Date” means the date of issuance specified as such in each Security.

“Outstanding” means, when used in reference to any Securities of a series, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

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

(ii) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(iii) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.2; and

(iv) Securities in substitution for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered or which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by Holders in whose hands such Securities are valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of a Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.2, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.1, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more non-Dollar currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated in Section 3.1, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined

 

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as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor. Upon the written request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of the Company, or any other obligor on the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such obligor, and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

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

“Place of Payment” means, with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series are payable pursuant to Section 3.1.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

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

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

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date with respect to the Securities of a series means, unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of a series, (i) in the case of Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities, the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date and (ii) in the case of Securities of a series not represented by one or more Global Securities, the date which is 15 days next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day).

 

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“Responsible Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs 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 such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Securities” or “Security” means any debt securities or debt security, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Securities Register” and “Securities Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.

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

“Subsidiary” means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder and, if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbb), as amended and as in effect on the date as of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 9.5.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

 

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Section 1.2 Compliance Certificate and Opinions.

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

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 10.4) shall include:

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

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

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

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

Section 1.3 Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

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

 

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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 1.4 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given to or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments is or are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company copies of any such instrument or instruments delivered to the Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(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 the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority.

(c) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine.

(d) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.

(e) [Reserved.]

(f) The fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing, the authority of the Person executing the same and the date of holding the same may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

 

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

(h) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the identity of Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series; provided that, the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that, no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.2, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that, no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

 

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With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that, no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

(i) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

Section 1.5 Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company.

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

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Unit, or

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose (except as otherwise provided in Section 5.1(b)) hereunder if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company, Attention: Corporate Treasurer.

The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic

 

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Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Company understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by Company. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Company; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.

Section 1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any series of Securities of any event such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid, delivered by hand or overnight courier or by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission to each Holder of a Security affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In case it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, delivered by hand or overnight courier or by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, delivered by hand or overnight courier or by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission, neither the failure to so give such notice, nor any defect in any notice so given, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Securities given as provided above. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

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Section 1.7 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and governed by this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act, which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provisions shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

Section 1.8 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

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

Section 1.9 Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 1.10 Separability Clause.

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

Section 1.11 Benefits of Indenture.

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

Section 1.12 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED AS CONTEMPLATED BY SECTION 3.1 FOR THE SECURITIES OF SUCH SERIES, THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. The parties and (by their acceptance of the Securities) the Holders, agree that all actions and proceedings relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, this Indenture or any of the transactions contemplated hereby may be litigated in courts located within the State of New York. The parties and (by their acceptance of the Securities) the Holders, hereby submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts; hereby waive personal service of process upon them and consents that any such service of process may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed; and hereby waive the right to a trial by jury in any action or proceeding. All actions and proceedings brought by Company against the Trustee relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, this Indenture shall be litigated only in courts located within the State of New York. In this regard, the parties agree that the courts of the State of New York located in Manhattan are the most convenient forum to resolve such actions and, accordingly, will not argue to the contrary in such actions or proceedings.

 

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EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND (BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECURITIES) THE HOLDERS, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 1.13 Non-Business Days.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert a Security at a particular conversion price shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment or delivery of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or, if applicable to a particular series of Securities, conversion need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, until such next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day (in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity or on such last day for conversion, as the case may be)).

Section 1.14 Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereof or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer or director or subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or 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 issue of the Securities.

Section 1.15 Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, pandemics or epidemics, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services affecting the banking industry generally; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

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Section 1.16 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”), the Company agrees (i) to provide to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. upon reasonable request information the Company has in its possession about the applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, and (ii) that The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law. The terms of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.1 Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities may be listed or traded as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 with respect to the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be substantially in the form set forth in this Article.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons.

The definitive Securities shall be printed, or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

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Section 2.2 Form of Securities.

Each Security shall be in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. Upon or prior to the delivery of a Security in any such form to the Trustee for authentication, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee the following:

(a) the Board Resolution by or pursuant to which such form of Security has been approved, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company;

(b) the Officers’ Certificate required by Section 3.1;

(c) the Company Order required by Section 3.3; and

(d) the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 3.3.

Section 2.3 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:     THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
   

TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

    By  

 

      Authorized officer

Section 2.4 Form of Legend for Global Securities.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

Section 2.5 Form of Conversion Notice.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, conversion notices shall be in substantially the following form:

To The Charles Schwab Corporation:

 

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The undersigned owner of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, into shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable upon the conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares and any Securities representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the Holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If this Notice is being delivered on a date after the close of business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the opening of business on the related Interest Payment Date (unless this Security or the portion thereof being converted has been called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period being at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day), this Notice is accompanied by payment, in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date of the principal of this Security to be converted. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect hereto. Any amount required to be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.

 

Principal Amount to be Converted

(in an integral multiple of $1,000, if less than all)

U.S. $_____

  
Dated: ___________   
   Signature(s) must 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 Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15
  

 

Signature Guaranty

Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock and Securities if to be issued otherwise than to the Holder.

 

(Name)

  

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

 

Please Print Name and Address

(including zip code)

  

 

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ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series; Terms.

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

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. All Securities of each series issued under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to such series without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time or times of the authentication and delivery or Maturity of the Securities of such series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and, subject to Section 3.3, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of a series:

(a) the title of the Securities of such series, which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities;

(b) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect;

(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(d) the Stated Maturity or Maturities on which the principal of the Securities of such series is payable or the method of determination thereof, including any provisions providing for any extension or other change in the Stated Maturity or Maturities;

(e) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), if any, at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be determined;

(f) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable, the place or places where the Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;

 

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(g) the period or periods within or the date or dates on which, if any, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

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

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

(j) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be payable, or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.1;

(k) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest for such Securities are stated to be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

(l) the additions, modifications or deletions, if any, in the Events of Default or covenants or warranty of the Company set forth herein with respect to the Securities of such series;

(m) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof;

(n) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal shall be determined);

 

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(o) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 or both such Sections, or any other defeasance provisions applicable to any Securities of the series, and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(p) [Reserved.];

(q) any index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series or the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(r) whether the Securities of the series, or any portion thereof, shall initially be issuable in the form of a temporary Global Security representing all or such portion of the Securities of such series and provisions for the exchange of such temporary Global Security for definitive Securities of such series;

(s) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.4 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

(t) the appointment of any Paying Agents, Authenticating Agents, Securities Registrar or other such agents necessary in connection with the issuance of the Securities of such series; the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of such series into Common Stock of the Company or any other securities or property of the Company, and the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

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

(v) the relative degree, if any, to which the Securities of the series shall be senior to or be subordinated to other series of Securities in right of payment, whether such other series of Securities are Outstanding or not;

(w) if applicable, the terms of any guaranties for the Securities and any circumstances under which there may be additional obligors on the Securities;

(x) if applicable, the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of the series into shares of Common Stock or other securities or property of the Company and whether such conversion or exchange rights are mandatory, at the Holder’s option or at the Company’s option;

 

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(y) the governing law of this Indenture and the Securities; and

(z) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided in an indenture supplemental hereto, a series of Securities may be reopened to issue additional series of such Securities.

Section 3.2 Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such form and denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable only as Securities without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual, facsimile or electronic. For the avoidance of doubt, if any of the foregoing titles is allocated to more than one Person, then such title shall include each such Person holding the title.

Securities bearing the manual, facsimile or electronic signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, a copy of such Board Resolution, the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series and an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

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(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(3) that such Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication; and unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, any temporary Global Security shall be dated as of the date of the issuance of such Security.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by the manual, facsimile or electronic signature of one of its authorized officers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.9, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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Section 3.4 Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series in lieu of which they are issued in registered form, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Except in the case of temporary Global Securities, each of which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraph, if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations having the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms as such temporary Securities; Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

Without unnecessary delay, but in any event not later than five Business Days prior to the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary Global Securities as the “Exchange Date,” the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, or, if the Trustee appoints an Authenticating Agent pursuant to Section 6.14, to any such Authenticating Agent, definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary Global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge to the Depositary and the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary Global Securities, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary Global Security to be exchanged; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified in such temporary Global Security, upon such presentation by the Depositary, such temporary Global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date.

Upon any exchange of a portion of any such Global Security, the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent or the Depositary, as the case may be, shall indicate upon such temporary Global Security, the amount of such exchange to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon its remaining principal amount shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged. Until so exchanged in full, such temporary Global Security shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

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Section 3.5 Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall keep or cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. Such register is herein sometimes referred to as the “Securities Register.” The Trustee is hereby appointed “Securities Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Securities Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar for such series, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

Unless otherwise provided in the Securities to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company (unless otherwise provided in such Securities) 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 Securities other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, 9.6 or 11.7 not involving any transfer.

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, neither the Company nor any Securities Registrar shall be required (i) to issue, register the transfer or exchange of any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the transmission of a notice of redemption of such Securities selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the transmission of the relevant notice of redemption of Securities of such series so selected for redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

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The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

(1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security, in whole or in part, may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as depositary, in each case unless the Company has approved a successor Depositary within 90 days, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to such Global Security, (C) the Company in its sole discretion determines that such Global Security will be so exchangeable or transferable or (D) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

(3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

(4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.4, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.7 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

Section 3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same issue and series of like tenor and principal amount, having the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity, and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

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

 

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In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) connected therewith.

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

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.7 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security of any series which is payable or deliverable, and is punctually paid, delivered or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, shall be paid or delivered to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest in respect of Securities of such series, except that, unless otherwise provided in the Securities of such series, interest payable on the Stated Maturity of the principal of a Security shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid.

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not timely paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”), shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series in respect of which interest is in default (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money or other property equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed

 

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payment or delivery, such money or property when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment or delivery of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment or delivery and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment or delivery. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment or delivery of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment or delivery of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been given as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of the series in respect of which interest is in default may be listed or traded and, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange (or by the Trustee if the Securities are not listed), if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

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

Subject to the provisions of Section 14.2, in the case of any Security (or any part thereof) which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security the principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or any one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence or in Section 14.2, in the case of any Security (or any part thereof) which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security (or such part thereof) shall not be payable.

Section 3.8 Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and (subject to Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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Section 3.9 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures and the Trustee shall deliver to the Company upon request a certificate of such disposal.

Section 3.10 Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series for any period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and interest on the Securities of each series for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 3.11 CUSIP Numbers.

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

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided in this Section 4.1) and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

(1) either

 

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(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities and which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

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

and the Company, in the case of Clause (B) (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and coupons not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

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

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and the last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge. The Trustee may give notice to the Holders or Securities Outstanding of the immediate availability of the amount referred to in Clause (1) above.

In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of all series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met. The effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instruments from the Trustee.

 

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Section 4.2 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money or property deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 and Article XIII shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for the payment of which such money or obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

Section 5.1 Events of Default.

(a) “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to the Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate establishing such series, it is provided that such series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

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

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(3) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(4) the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or 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, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit for 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, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

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(5) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in the Board Resolutions, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate establishing that series.

(b) If a default occurs hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Clause (ii) under the definition of “Covenant Breach” in Section 1.1 with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to the Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 5.1(b), the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities of such series.

Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

Unless the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate establishing such series provides otherwise, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(3) or 5.1(4)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case, except for any series of Securities the principal of which shall have already become due and payable, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting together as a single class) may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Securities of the affected series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders) and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified portion thereof) of and the accrued interest on all the Securities of such affected series shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(3) or 5.1(4) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if the Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms of that series) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of such series, there shall be no rights of acceleration other than as described in the preceding paragraph. In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of a series, neither the Trustee nor any Holders of such Securities shall have the right to accelerate the payment of such Securities, nor shall the payment of any Securities be otherwise accelerated, as a result of a Covenant Breach. Further, for avoidance of doubt, if an Event of Default as described in Section 5.1(a)(5) is specified for a series of Securities, there will be no right to accelerate payment of such Securities on the terms described in the preceding paragraph unless such acceleration rights are granted specifically for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting together a single class), by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

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(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of that series,

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Securities,

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities; and

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

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or Covenant Breach or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

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

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay or deliver to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable or deliverable on such Securities for principal, including any sinking fund payment or analogous obligations (and premium, if any) and interest; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated.

 

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If an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem necessary to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

Section 5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors,

(a) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal (and premium, if any) or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amounts as may be due and payable pursuant to a declaration in accordance with Section 6.2 and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect to the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable and to take any and all actions as are authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have the claims of the Holders and any predecessor to the Trustee under Section 6.7 allowed in any such judicial proceedings; and

(ii) in particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same in accordance with Section 5.6; and

(b) 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 or deliveries to the Trustee for distribution in accordance with Section 5.6, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

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Section 5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities or any series may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of all the amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 5.6 Application of Money Collected.

Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to this Article, after reserving therefrom by the Trustee an amount sufficient, in the determination of the Trustee, to cover the expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee that may be incurred thereafter, shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any predecessor Trustee, its agents and counsel under Section 6.7;

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

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

Section 5.7 Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Securities of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

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

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting together as a single class) shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default or Covenant Breach in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

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

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

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.12;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing itself of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

Section 5.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.7) interest on such Security or payment on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) to convert such Securities in accordance with Article XIV to the extent that such right to convert is applicable to such Security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

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Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee, any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default or Covenant Breach shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or Covenant Breach or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (subject to the limitations contained in this Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 5.12 Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series (voting together as a single class) 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, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that:

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and the Trustee shall not have determined that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders of Securities of that series, or any other series, not taking part in such direction,

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

(3) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would otherwise be contrary to applicable law.

Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 5.2, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series as to which an Event of Default or Covenant Breach shall have occurred and be continuing (voting together as a single class) may, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such affected series, waive any past default hereunder and its consequences with respect to such series except:

(1) a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series,

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

(3) to the extent such right is applicable to such Security, a failure by the Company on request to convert any Security into Common Stock.

 

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

For purposes of this Section 5.13, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities of such series

Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs.

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, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that, neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require any such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with Article XIV.

This Section 5.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security.

Section 5.15 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 VI

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to a series of Securities,

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

 

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(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture, but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions 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).

(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as to a series of Securities as to which it is Trustee, 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 person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

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

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, 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 of Holders pursuant to Section 5.12 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.

(d) 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 there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

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Section 6.2 Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after receipt of written notice by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Securities Register, notice of such default, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be fully protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a committee of Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that, in the case of any default of the character specified in clause (ii) of the definition of Covenant Breach, no such notice to Holders of Securities of such series shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

Section 6.3 Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, Security, 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 Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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

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

 

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(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, indenture, Security or other paper or document, but the Trustee in its discretion may make such inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

(h) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(i) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities for which it is acting as Trustee unless written notice of such default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach, as the case may be, is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from the Company, any other obligor upon such Securities or by any Holder of such Securities, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

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

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

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

Section 6.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

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Section 6.5 May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee Under Other Indentures.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Securities Registrar or such other agent.

Subject to the limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, nothing in this Indenture shall prohibit the Trustee from becoming and acting as trustee under other indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest of participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding in the same manner as if it were not Trustee hereunder.

Section 6.6 Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money or other property received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

Section 6.7 Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for all services rendered by it, as may be applicable, hereunder in such amounts as the Company and the Trustee shall agree in writing from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be caused by its own negligence or bad faith; and

(3) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify each of the Trustee, and any predecessor trustee and their agents, for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, tax, penalty, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel) of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred without negligence or bad faith, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or the performance of their duties hereunder, including the enforcement of this provision and the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder. This indemnification shall survive the termination of this Indenture. This Section 6.7 shall survive the termination of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

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To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Company and the Holders agree that the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee except funds held in trust for the benefit of Holders of particular Securities. Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

In addition to and without prejudice to its rights hereunder, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency or similar law.

“Trustee” for the purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

Section 6.8 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

Section 6.9 Type of Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for the Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a corporation that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has (or if the Trustee is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation or bank holding company publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or bank holding company shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. Neither the Company nor any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company shall serve as Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder.

Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.11.

 

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

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (acting together as a single class), delivered to the Trustee and to the Company 30 days prior to the effectiveness of such removal. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee will fail to comply with Section 6.8 with respect to a series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee will cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 with respect to a series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(3) the Trustee will become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (i) the Company, acting pursuant to the authority of a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or (ii) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If the Trustee will resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, subject to Section 5.14, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.6. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject, nevertheless, to its lien provided for in Section 6.7.

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

 

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and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject, nevertheless, to its lien provided for in Section 6.7.

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

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

Section 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

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

Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the

 

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Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

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

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.6 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

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

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:     THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
    TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
    By  

 

      As Authenticating Agent
    By  

 

      Authorized officer

 

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ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

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

(a) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for each respective series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such series as of such Regular Record Date, as the case may be, or if there is no Regular Record Date, for such series of Securities, semi-annually, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 90 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, excluding from any such lists names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar.

Section 7.2 Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee.

(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act, at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

(b) Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than May 15 in each calendar year, commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Securities under this Indenture.

 

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(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed and also with the Commission and the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 7.4 Reports by Company.

The Company shall file with the Trustee and with the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a). Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of same shall not constitute actual or constructive notice or knowledge 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’ Certificate). The Company shall be deemed to have complied with the first sentence of this Section 7.4 to the extent that such information, documents and reports are filed pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the Commission via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure); provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed pursuant to the EDGAR system (or its successor).

Section 7.5 Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, promptly after and in any event within 30 days after one or more of the officers of the Company described in the definition of “Officers’ Certificate” becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Covenant Breach or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default or Covenant Breach, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Covenant Breach or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 8.1 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

Subject to Section 3.1, the Company covenants that it will not merge or consolidate with any other Person or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person (other than the sale, lease, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to one or more of the Company’s Subsidiaries), unless (i) either (a) the Company shall be the continuing corporation or (b) the successor Person, in any merger or consolidation (if other than the Company), or the Person which acquires by sale, lease or conveyance substantially all the assets of the Company, shall be a corporation and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the Securities, according to their

 

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tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such Person and (ii) the Company, such successor entity or such Person, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale, lease or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition.

Section 8.2 Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger by the Company with or into any other Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Company of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein.

Such successor Person may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company prior to such succession, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor Person instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to such provisions and any Securities which such successor Person thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee on its behalf for the purpose pursuant to such provisions. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, such changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

In the event of any such sale or conveyance (other than a conveyance by way of lease) the Company or any successor corporation which shall theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Article shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and may be liquidated and dissolved.

Section 8.3 Opinion of Counsel Delivered to Trustee.

The Trustee shall be provided with an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, and any such assumption, and any such liquidation or dissolution, complies with the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

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

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities in compliance with Article VIII; or

(2) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

(3) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 or 3.1; or

(4) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or to add any additional Events of Default or Covenant Breaches with respect to all or any series of the Securities (and, if such Event of Default or Covenant Breach is applicable to less than all the series of the Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default or Covenant Breach is applicable) for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of the Securities (and if such Events of Default or Covenant Breaches are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities stating that such Events of Default or Covenant Breaches are expressly included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such covenant or Event of Default or Covenant Breach such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default or Covenant Breach or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or Covenant Breach or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default or Covenant Breach; or

(5) [Reserved.]; or

(6) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided that, any such change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holders of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

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(7) to add or provide for a guaranty of the Securities or additional obligors on the Securities; or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11; or

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that, such action pursuant to this Clause (9) shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

(10) to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Articles IV and XIII; provided that, any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

(11) to provide for conversion rights of the Holders of Securities of any Series to enable such Holders to convert such Securities into other securities of the Company; or

(12) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

(13) to change any other provision under this Indenture; provided that such action pursuant to this clause (13) do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting together as a single class), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

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(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of principal of a Discount Security or any other Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date) or modify the provisions of this Indenture in the case of Securities of any series are convertible into Securities or other securities of the Company in a way that adversely affects the right of Holders to convert any of the Securities of such series other than as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, or

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

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.5, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this Clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 10.5, or the deletion of this provision, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and 9.1(3); or

(4) if applicable, make any change that adversely affects the right to convert any security as provided in Article XIV or pursuant to Section 3.1 (except as permitted by Section 9.1(11)) or decrease the conversion rate or increase the conversion price;

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

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

Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.1 and 6.3) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and that all conditions precedent have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Section 9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

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

Section 9.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

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

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

Section 10.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

Section 10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment and an office or agency where Securities of that series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. Unless otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof, the Place of Payment of any series of Securities shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all of such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and any change in the location of any such office or agency.

With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor, provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 10.3 Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or interest on any Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal and premium (if any) or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.

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

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest;

 

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

(4) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be paid on Company Request to the Company, or (if then held by the Company) shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee, its officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 10.4 Statement as to Compliance.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each calendar year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate covering the preceding calendar year, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of or compliance with any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture, and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge. For the purpose of this Section 10.4, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

Section 10.5 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series, the Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition provided pursuant to Section 3.1(l), 9.1(3), 9.1(4) and 9.1(7) with respect to the Securities of any series, if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such waiver (voting together as a single class) either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 10.6 Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence.

Section 10.7 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of the Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee so that there shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each series of Securities hereunder.

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.1 Applicability of this Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before their maturity. Redemption of Securities of any series (whether by operation of a sinking fund or otherwise) as permitted or required by any form of Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be made in accordance with such form of Security and this Article; provided, however, that if any provision of any such form of Security shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the provision of such form of Security shall govern.

Section 11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities redeemed at the option of the Company shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of any Securities of a series, the Company shall, not less than 5 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such date and of the principal amount of Securities of that series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction.

Section 11.3 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by lot or, for Global Securities, pursuant to the Depositary’s Applicable Procedures, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series, provided that the unredeemed portion of the

 

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principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination; provided that, Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part, but only in integral multiples of $1,000) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Securities Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for partial redemption and the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before the termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities that have been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for purposes of such selection.

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

Section 11.4 Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6 at least 10 but not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (or within such period a otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the relevant Securities), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register or, if the Securities to be redeemed are in the form of Global Securities, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

With respect to Securities of each series to be redeemed, each notice of redemption shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the Redemption Price;

 

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(c) if less than all Outstanding Securities of such particular series and having the same terms are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(d) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price, and, accrued interest, if any, will become due and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof, and that interest thereon, if any, shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

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

(f) the conversion price, the date on which the right to convert the principal of the Securities to be redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion;

(g) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

(h) the CUSIP and/or other similar numbers as contemplated by Section 3.11; and

(i) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request delivered at least five days prior to the date such notice is to be given (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee, which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. The notice if transmitted in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, a failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security.

Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in Section 11.4, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents (or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and any accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date, other than any Securities called for redemption on that date that have been converted prior to the date of such deposit.

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to the right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.7) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

 

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Section 11.6 Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.

If any notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 11.4, the Securities or portion of Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a Place of Payment in said notice specified, the said securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date. Installments of interest on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal of and premium, if any, on such Security shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

Section 11.7 Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and such Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge to the Holder, a new Security or Securities of the same Series and Stated Maturity, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security surrendered. If a Global Security is so surrendered, such new Security will also be a new Global Security.

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.1 Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any sinking fund payment in excess of such minimum amount which is permitted to be made by the terms of such Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

 

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Section 12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that has been converted pursuant to Article XIV or that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that, the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price for such Securities, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.1) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 12.2 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Such Officers’ Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the Company to deliver such Officers’ Certificate (or, as required by this Indenture, the Securities specified in such Officers’ Certificate), the sinking fund payment due on the succeeding sinking fund payment date for such series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of the Securities of such series subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the right to deliver or credit securities as provided in Section 12.2 and without the right to make the optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series at such time.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made with respect to the Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent) on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund payment date immediately following the date of such payment) to the redemption of Securities of such series at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities with respect to the sinking fund. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee (or, if the Company is acting as its own

 

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Paying Agent, segregated and held in trust by the Company as provided in Section 10.3) for such series and together with such payment (or such amount so segregated) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.3. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee (or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregated and held in trust as provided in Section 10.3) on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series shall be applied by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent), together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited (or segregated) sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity. The Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 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 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7. On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company shall segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) in cash a sum in the currency in which Securities of such series are payable (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.1) equal to the principal and any interest accrued to the Redemption Date for Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 12.3.

Neither the Trustee nor the Company shall redeem any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or transmit any notice of redemption of Securities of such series by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a default in payment of interest, if any, on any Securities of such series or of any Event of Default or Covenant Breach (other than an Event of Default or Covenant Breach occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to the Securities of such series, except that if the notice of redemption shall have been provided in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee (or the Company, if the Company is then acting as its own Paying Agent) shall redeem such Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee (or segregated by the Company) for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article XII. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach, be held as security for the payment of the Securities and coupons, if any, of such series; provided, however, that in case such default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach shall have been cured or waived herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for the Securities of such series on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 12.3.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 13.1 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 3.1 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 13.2 or 13.3, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.1 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.

 

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Section 13.2 Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.4 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due,

(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3, and, if applicable, Article XIV,

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and

(4) this Article.

Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 13.3 applied to such Securities.

Section 13.3 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be,

(1) the Company shall be released from any covenants provided pursuant to Sections 3.1(l), 9.1(3), 9.1(4) or 9.1(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, as the case may be, and

(2) the occurrence of a Covenant Breach pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of Covenant Breach (with respect to any of Sections 10.6 and 10.7 and any such covenants provided pursuant to Sections 3.1(l), 9.1(3), 9.1(4) or 9.1(7)) and the occurrence of any other Event of Default or Covenant Breach specified pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default or Covenant Breach, in each case with respect to such Securities or series of Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such

 

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Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of a Covenant Breach pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of Covenant Breach and the occurrence of any Event of Default or Covenant Breach specified pursuant to Section 3.1), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 13.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.9 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities,

(A) in the case of Securities of a series denominated in currency of the United States,

(i) cash in currency of the United States in an amount, or

(ii) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, an amount in cash, or

(iii) a combination thereof, or

(B) in the case of Securities of a series denominated in currency other than that of the United States,

(i) cash in the currency in which such series of Securities is denominated in an amount, or

(ii) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, an amount in cash, or

(iii) a combination thereof,

in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities.

 

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(2) In the event of an election to have Section 13.2 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or

(B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law,

in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

(3) In the event of an election to have Section 13.3 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

(5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 5.1(3) and (4), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

(6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

(7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(8) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

 

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(9) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 13.5 Deposited Money, Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money, Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.6, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities. Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money, Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

Section 13.6 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 13.2 or 13.3 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.5 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

Section 14.1 Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are convertible into shares of Common Stock of the Company, and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of such Securities, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the Securities of such series.

Section 14.2 Exercise of Conversion Privilege.

In order to exercise a conversion privilege, the Holder of a Security of a series with such a privilege shall surrender such Security to the Company at the office or agency maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 10.2, accompanied by a duly executed conversion notice to the Company substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.5 stating that the Holder elects to convert such Security or a specified portion thereof. Such notice shall also state, if different from the name and address of such Holder, the name or names (with address) in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock, which shall be issuable on such conversion, shall be issued. Securities surrendered for conversion shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by or accompanied by instruments of transfer in forms satisfactory to the Company duly executed by the Holder or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and Securities so surrendered for conversion (in whole or in part) during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the opening of business on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (excluding Securities or portions thereof called for redemption during the period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day) shall also be accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of such Security then being converted, and such interest shall be payable to such Holder notwithstanding the conversion of such Security, subject to the provisions of Section 3.7 relating to the payment of Defaulted Interest by the Company. As promptly as practicable after the receipt of such notice and of any payment required pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.3, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of such series of Security, and the surrender of such Security in accordance with such reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe, the Company shall issue and shall deliver, at the office or agency at which such Security is surrendered, to such Holder or on its written order, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of such Security (or specified portion thereof), in accordance with the provisions of such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, and cash as provided therein in respect of any fractional share of such Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the date on which such notice and such payment, if required, shall have been received in proper order for conversion by the Company and such Security shall have been surrendered as aforesaid (unless such Holder shall have so surrendered such Security and shall have instructed the Company to

 

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effect the conversion on a particular date following such surrender and such Holder shall be entitled to convert such Security on such date, in which case such conversion shall be deemed to be effected immediately prior to the close of business on such date) and at such time the rights of the Holder of such Security as such Holder shall cease and the person or persons in whose name or names any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be issuable upon such conversion shall be deemed to have become the Holder or Holders of record of the shares represented thereby. Except as set forth above and subject to the final paragraph of Section 3.7, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any conversion on account of any interest accrued on the Securities (or any part thereof) surrendered for conversion or on account of any dividends on the Common Stock of the Company issued upon such conversion. In the case of any Security which is converted in part only, upon such conversion the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of such Security.

Section 14.3 No Fractional Shares.

No fractional share of Common Stock of the Company shall be issued upon conversions of Securities of any series. If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered. If, except for the provisions of this Section 14.3, any Holder of a Security or Securities would be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock of the Company upon the conversion of such Security or Securities, or specified portions thereof, the Company shall pay to such Holder an amount in cash equal to the current market value of such fractional share computed, (i) if such Common Stock is listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the last reported sale price regular way on such exchange or market on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion upon which such a sale shall have been effected, or (ii) if such Common Stock is not at the time so listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the average of the bid and asked prices of such Common Stock in the over-the-counter market, on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion, as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or similar organization if the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated is no longer reporting such information, or if not so available, the fair market price as determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this Section, “trading day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday other than any day on which the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is traded or quoted.

Section 14.4 Adjustment of Conversion Price.

The conversion price of Securities of any series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company shall be adjusted for any stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, combinations or similar transactions in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series. Whenever the conversion price is adjusted, the Company shall compute the adjusted conversion price in

 

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accordance with terms of the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture and shall prepare an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the adjusted conversion price and showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and such certificate shall forthwith be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 and, if different, with the Trustee. The Company shall forthwith cause a notice setting forth the adjusted conversion price to be given in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 to each Holder of Securities of such series at its address appearing on the Securities Register and to any conversion agent other than the Trustee.

Section 14.5 Notice of Certain Corporate Actions.

In case:

(1) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash out of its retained earnings (other than a dividend for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required) that would require an adjustment pursuant to Section 14.4; or

(2) the Company shall authorize the granting to all or substantially all of the holders of its Common Stock of rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any other rights (other than any such grant for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required); or

(3) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, or of any consolidation, merger or share exchange to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required), or of the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

(4) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

then the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee, and shall cause to be given in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Securities Register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in Clause (1) or (2) above) prior to the applicable record date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants are to be determined, or (ii) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. If at any time the Trustee shall not be the conversion agent, a copy of such notice shall also forthwith be filed by the Company with the Trustee.

 

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Section 14.6 Reservation of Shares of Common Stock.

The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of Securities, the full number of shares of Common Stock of the Company then issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding Securities of any series that has conversion rights.

Section 14.7 Payment of Certain Taxes upon Conversion.

Except as provided in the next sentence, the Company will pay any and all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of its Common Stock on conversion of Securities pursuant hereto. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of its Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or Securities to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

Section 14.8 Nonassessability.

The Company covenants that all shares of its Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion of Securities will upon issue in accordance with the terms hereof be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

Section 14.9 Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets.

In case of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person, any merger of another Person with or into the Company (other than a merger which does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company) or any conveyance, sale, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such merger or which acquires such assets, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of each Security of a series then Outstanding that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company shall have the right thereafter (which right shall be the exclusive conversion right thereafter available to said Holder), during the period such Security shall be convertible, to convert such Security only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which such Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease, assuming such holder of Common Stock of the Company (i) is not a Person with which the Company consolidated or merged with or into or which merged into or with the Company or to which such conveyance, sale, transfer or lease was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or an Affiliate of a Constituent Person and (ii) failed to exercise his rights of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease (provided that if the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer, or lease is not the same for each share of

 

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Common Stock of the Company held immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by others than a Constituent Person or an Affiliate thereof and in respect of which such rights of election shall not have been exercised (“Non-electing Share”), then for the purpose of this Section 14.9 the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by the holders of each Non-electing Share shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the Non-electing Shares). Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article or in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of such adjustments. The above provisions of this Section 14.9 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, conveyances, sales, transfers or leases. Notice of the execution of such a supplemental indenture shall be given by the Company to the Holder of each Security of a series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company as provided in Section 1.6 promptly upon such execution. Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent, if any, shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any such supplemental indenture relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or other securities or property or cash receivable by Holders of Securities of a series convertible into Common Stock of the Company upon the conversion of their Securities after any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale or lease or to any such adjustment, but may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel with respect thereto, which the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Trustee.

Section 14.10 Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion.

Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities of any series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company to determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the conversion price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, whether herein or in any supplemental indenture, any resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or more officers of the Company provided to be employed in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or of any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Securities and neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent makes any representation with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of its Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article XIV or in the applicable supplemental indenture, resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or more duly authorized officers of the Company.

 

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Section 14.11 Repayment of Certain Funds upon Conversion.

Any funds which at any time shall have been deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other paying agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any of the Securities (including, but not limited to, funds deposited for the sinking fund referred to in Article XII hereof and funds deposited pursuant to Article XIII hereof) and which shall not be required for such purposes because of the conversion of such Securities as provided in this Article 14 shall after such conversion be repaid to the Company by the Trustee upon the Company’s written request.

* * * *

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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

 

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION
By :  

 

  Name:
  Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
By :  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Senior Indenture]

 

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Exhibit 4.20

FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

 

 

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

TO

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

Trustee

 

 

Dated as of [    ], [    ]


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

Section 1.1

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.2

  Compliance Certificate and Opinions      9  

Section 1.3

  Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee      10  

Section 1.4

  Acts of Holders      11  

Section 1.5

  Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company      13  

Section 1.6

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      14  

Section 1.7

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      14  

Section 1.8

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      15  

Section 1.9

  Successors and Assigns      15  

Section 1.10

  Separability Clause      15  

Section 1.11

  Benefits of Indenture      15  

Section 1.12

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury      15  

Section 1.13

  Non-Business Days      16  

Section 1.14

  Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations      16  

Section 1.15

  Force Majeure      16  

Section 1.16

  Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)      17  

ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS

     17  

Section 2.1

  Forms Generally      17  

Section 2.2

  Form of Securities      17  

Section 2.3

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      18  

Section 2.4

  Form of Legend for Global Securities      18  

Section 2.5

  Form of Conversion Notice      18  

ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES

     20  

Section 3.1

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series; Terms      20  

Section 3.2

  Denominations      23  

Section 3.3

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      23  

Section 3.4

  Temporary Securities      25  

Section 3.5

  Registration, Transfer and Exchange      26  

Section 3.6

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      27  

Section 3.7

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      28  

Section 3.8

  Persons Deemed Owners      30  

Section 3.9

  Cancellation      30  

Section 3.10

  Computation of Interest      30  

Section 3.11

  CUSIP Numbers      30  

 

i


ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     31  

Section 4.1

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      31  

Section 4.2

  Application of Trust Money      32  

ARTICLE V REMEDIES

     32  

Section 5.1

  Events of Default      32  

Section 5.2

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      33  

Section 5.3

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      34  

Section 5.4

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      35  

Section 5.5

  Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities      36  

Section 5.6

  Application of Money Collected      36  

Section 5.7

  Limitation on Suits      36  

Section 5.8

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      37  

Section 5.9

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      37  

Section 5.10

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      37  

Section 5.11

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      38  

Section 5.12

  Control by Holders      38  

Section 5.13

  Waiver of Past Defaults      38  

Section 5.14

  Undertaking for Costs      39  

Section 5.15

  Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws      39  

ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE

     39  

Section 6.1

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities      39  

Section 6.2

  Notice of Defaults      41  

Section 6.3

  Certain Rights of Trustee      41  

Section 6.4

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      42  

Section 6.5

  May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee Under Other Indentures      43  

Section 6.6

  Money Held in Trust      43  

Section 6.7

  Compensation and Reimbursement      43  

Section 6.8

  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      44  

Section 6.9

  Type of Trustee Required; Eligibility      44  

Section 6.10

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      44  

Section 6.11

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      46  

Section 6.12

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      47  

Section 6.13

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      47  

Section 6.14

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      47  

ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     49  

Section 7.1

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      49  

Section 7.2

  Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders      49  

Section 7.3

  Reports by Trustee      49  

Section 7.4

  Reports by Company      50  

 

ii


Section 7.5

  Statement by Officers as to Default      50  

ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

     50  

Section 8.1

  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      50  

Section 8.2

  Successor Corporation Substituted      51  

Section 8.3

  Opinion of Counsel Delivered to Trustee      51  

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     52  

Section 9.1

  Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders      52  

Section 9.2

  Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders      53  

Section 9.3

  Execution of Supplemental Indentures      55  

Section 9.4

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures      55  

Section 9.5

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      55  

Section 9.6

  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      55  

Section 9.7

  Subordination Unimpaired.      55  

ARTICLE X COVENANTS

     56  

Section 10.1

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      56  

Section 10.2

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      56  

Section 10.3

  Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust      56  

Section 10.4

  Statement as to Compliance      58  

Section 10.5

  Waiver of Certain Covenants      58  

Section 10.6

  Corporate Existence      58  

Section 10.7

  Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of Trustee      58  

ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     58  

Section 11.1

  Applicability of this Article      58  

Section 11.2

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      59  

Section 11.3

  Selection of Securities to be Redeemed      59  

Section 11.4

  Notice of Redemption      60  

Section 11.5

  Deposit of Redemption Price      61  

Section 11.6

  Payment of Securities Called for Redemption      61  

Section 11.7

  Securities Redeemed in Part      62  

Section 11.8

  Redemption Suspended During Event of Default      62  

ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS

     62  

Section 12.1

  Applicability of Article      62  

Section 12.2

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      63  

Section 12.3

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      63  

 

iii


ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     64  

Section 13.1

  Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      64  

Section 13.2

  Defeasance and Discharge      65  

Section 13.3

  Covenant Defeasance      65  

Section 13.4

  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      66  

Section 13.5

  Deposited Money, Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions      68  

Section 13.6

  Reinstatement      69  

ARTICLE XIV CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

     69  

Section 14.1

  Applicability of Article      69  

Section 14.2

  Exercise of Conversion Privilege      69  

Section 14.3

  No Fractional Shares      70  

Section 14.4

  Adjustment of Conversion Price      71  

Section 14.5

  Notice of Certain Corporate Actions      71  

Section 14.6

  Reservation of Shares of Common Stock      72  

Section 14.7

  Payment of Certain Taxes upon Conversion      72  

Section 14.8

  Nonassessability      72  

Section 14.9

  Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets      72  

Section 14.10

  Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion      73  

Section 14.11

  Repayment of Certain Funds upon Conversion      74  

ARTICLE XV SUBORDINATION

     74  

Section 15.1

  Agreement to Subordinate      74  

Section 15.2

  Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities      74  

Section 15.3

  Payments on Securities Prohibited During Event of Default Under Senior Indebtedness      77  

Section 15.4

  Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination      77  

Section 15.5

  Notice to Trustee      77  

Section 15.6

  Right of Trustee to Hold Senior Indebtedness      78  

Section 15.7

  Not to Prevent Defaults or Events of Default      78  

Section 15.8

  Trustee Compensation, Etc. Not Prejudiced      78  

Section 15.9

  Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior Indebtedness      78  

Section 15.10

  Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired      79  

Section 15.11

  Article Applicable to Paying Agent      79  

Section 15.12

  Trustee Compensation Not Prejudiced      79  

Section 15.13

  Certain Conversions/Exchanges Deemed Payment      79  

Section 15.14

  Trustee’s Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification      80  

 

iv


THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (including cross-references to provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 which, pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the Trust Reform Act of 1990, are a part of and govern the Subordinated Indenture whether or not physically contained therein).

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

(S) 310    (a) (1), (2) and (5)    6.9
   (a) (3)    Not Applicable
   (a) (4)    Not Applicable
   (b)    6.8
      6.10
   (c)    Not Applicable
(S) 311    (a)    6.13
   (b)    6.13
   (c)    Not Applicable
(S) 312    (a)    7.1
      7.2(a)
   (b)    7.2(b)
   (c)    7.2(c)
(S) 313    (a)    7.3(a)
   (b)    7.3(a)
   (c)    7.3(a), 7.3(b)
   (d)    7.3(c)
(S) 314    (a) (1), (2) and (3)    7.4
   (4)    10.4
   (b)    Not Applicable
   (c) (1)    1.2
   (c) (2)    1.2
   (c) (3)    Not Applicable
   (d)    Not Applicable
   (e)    1.2
   (f)    Not Applicable
(S) 315    (a)    6.1(a)
   (b)    6.2
      7.3(a)
   (c)    6.1(b)
   (d)    6.1(c)
   (d) (1)    6.1(a) (1), (2)
   (d) (2)    6.1(c) (2)
   (d) (3)    6.1(c) (3)
   (e)    5.14
(S) 316    (a)    1.1
   (a) (1) (A)    5.12
   (a) (1) (B)    5.13
   (a) (2)    Not Applicable

 

v


Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

     
   (b)    5.8
   (c)    1.4(h)
(S) 317    (a) (1)    5.3
   (a) (2)    5.4
   (b)    10.3
(S) 318    (a)    1.7

 

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

 

vi


SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, dated as of [_], [_] (the “Indenture”), between THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”) having its principal office at 3000 Schwab Way, Westlake, Texas 76262, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured subordinated debt securities in series (hereinafter called the “Securities”) of substantially the tenor hereinafter provided, and to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered.

All things necessary to make the Securities, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company, and to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with their and its terms, have been done.

NOW THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH: For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.1 Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

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

(2) To the extent that the Trust Indenture Act applies to this Indenture or any Securities, all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder will mean such accounting principles in the United States of America which are generally accepted at the date or time of such computation; provided that, when two or more principles are so generally accepted, it will mean that set of principles consistent with those in use by the Company;

(4) All references to “$” refer to the lawful currency of the United States;


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

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

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

“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.

“Applicable Procedures” of a Depositary means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors or such committee of the Board of Directors or officers of the Company to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking institutions in the Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the execution of this Indenture 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.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company or any other stock of any class of the Company which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which is not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, however, subject to the provisions of Section 14.9, shares issuable upon conversion of Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification thereof and which have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided further, that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

 

2


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

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, the written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any two of the following: the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer of the Company, or any other officer authorized by any of the foregoing to sign such request or order, and delivered to the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, if any of the foregoing titles is allocated to more than one Person, then such title shall include each such Person holding the title.

“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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meaning correlative to the foregoing.

“Corporate Trust Office” means (i) the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business will be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 311 South Wacker Drive – Suite 6200B, Floor 62, Mailbox #44, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration or (ii) such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or (iii) the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

“corporation” includes a corporation, association, company, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

“Covenant Breach” means, with respect to Securities of any series (i) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of such series; or (ii) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture or the Securities (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is specifically dealt with in Section 5.1(a) or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected thereby (voting together as a single class) a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Covenant Breach” hereunder; or (iii) any other Covenant Breach provided pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of that series. For the avoidance of doubt, a Covenant Breach shall not be an Event of Default with respect to any Security, except to the extent otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to such Security.

 

3


“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to such series (or any successor thereto).

“Discount Security” means any security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

“Dollar” means the currency of the United States that, as at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Electronic Means” shall mean the following communications methods: e-mail, facsimile transmission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.

“Event of Default,” unless otherwise specified in the supplemental indenture creating a series of Securities, has the meaning specified in Article V.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.4(h).

“Global Security” means a Security, in the form prescribed in Section 2.4, evidencing all or part of a series of Securities issued to the Depositary or its nominee for such series, and registered in the name of such Depositary or its nominee.

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

 

4


“Holder” means Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Securities Register.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; (vi) every obligation of such Person for claims in respect of derivative products, including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward contracts, options, swaps and similar arrangements; and (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in Clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of each particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1; provided, however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.1, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemented hereto executed and delivered after such Person has become such Trustee, but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided further, that in the event that the Indenture is supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term “Indenture” for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

“interest,” when used with respect to a Discount Security, which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

5


“Interest Payment Date” means as to each series of Securities the date specified in such Securities as the fixed date on which an installment of interest is due and payable.

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal (or premium, if any) of such Security becomes due and payable as provided by this Indenture or the Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, repurchase at the option of the Holder, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 6.2.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two of the following: the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer the President, the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer of the Company or an officer authorized by any of the foregoing to sign such certificate, and delivered to the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, if any of the foregoing titles is allocated to more than one Person, then such title shall include each such Person holding the title.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company. Each such opinion shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and include the statements provided for in Section 1.2 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

“Original Issue Date” means the date of issuance specified as such in each Security.

“Outstanding” means, when used in reference to any Securities of a series, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

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

(ii) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(iii) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.2; and

 

6


(iv) Securities in substitution for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered or which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by Holders in whose hands such Securities are valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of a Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.2, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.1, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more non-Dollar currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated in Section 3.1, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor. Upon the written request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of the Company, or any other obligor on the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such obligor, and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

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

“Place of Payment” means, with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series are payable pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

7


“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

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

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

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date with respect to the Securities of a series means, unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of a series, (i) in the case of Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities, the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date and (ii) in the case of Securities of a series not represented by one or more Global Securities, the date which is 15 days next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day).

“Responsible Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs 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 such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Securities” or “Security” means any debt securities or debt security, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Securities Register” and “Securities Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

“Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on Indebtedness of the Company, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Securities or to other Indebtedness which is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the Securities, provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to include (a) any Indebtedness of the Company which, when incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, was without recourse to the Company, (b) any Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries, (c) Indebtedness to any employee of the Company, (d) Indebtedness that by its

 

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terms is subordinated to trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business to the extent that payments made to the holders of such Indebtedness by the holders of the Securities as a result of the subordination provisions of this Indenture would be greater than such payments otherwise would have been (absent giving effect to this Clause (d)) as a result of any obligation of such holders of such Indebtedness to pay amounts over to the obligees on such trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business as a result of subordination provisions to which such Indebtedness is subject and (e) any Securities.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.

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

“Subsidiary” means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder and, if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbb), as amended and as in effect on the date as of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 9.5.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

Section 1.2 Compliance Certificate and Opinions.

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

 

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Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 10.4) shall include:

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

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

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

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

Section 1.3 Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

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

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

 

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Section 1.4 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given to or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments is or are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company copies of any such instrument or instruments delivered to the Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(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 the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority.

(c) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine.

(d) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.

(e) [Reserved.]

(f) The fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing, the authority of the Person executing the same and the date of holding the same may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

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

(h) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the identity of Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series; provided that, the Company

 

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may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that, no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.2, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that, no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that, no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an

 

12


Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

(i) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

Section 1.5 Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company.

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

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Unit, or

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose (except as otherwise provided in Section 5.1(b)) hereunder if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company, Attention: Corporate Treasurer.

The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Company understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by Company. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from

 

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the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Company; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.

Section 1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any series of Securities of any event such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid, delivered by hand or overnight courier or by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission to each Holder of a Security affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In case it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, delivered by hand or overnight courier or by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, delivered by hand or overnight courier or by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission, neither the failure to so give such notice, nor any defect in any notice so given, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Securities given as provided above. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

Section 1.7 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and governed by this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act, which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provisions shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

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Section 1.8 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

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

Section 1.9 Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 1.10 Separability Clause.

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

Section 1.11 Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 1.12 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED AS CONTEMPLATED BY SECTION 3.1 FOR THE SECURITIES OF SUCH SERIES, THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. The parties and (by their acceptance of the Securities) the Holders, agree that all actions and proceedings relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, this Indenture or any of the transactions contemplated hereby may be litigated in courts located within the State of New York. The parties and (by their acceptance of the Securities) the Holders, hereby submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts; hereby waive personal service of process upon them and consents that any such service of process may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed; and hereby waive the right to a trial by jury in any action or proceeding. All actions and proceedings brought by Company against the Trustee relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, this Indenture shall be litigated only in courts located within the State of New York. In this regard, the parties agree that the courts of the State of New York located in Manhattan are the most convenient forum to resolve such actions and, accordingly, will not argue to the contrary in such actions or proceedings.

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND (BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECURITIES) THE HOLDERS, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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Section 1.13 Non-Business Days.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert a Security at a particular conversion price shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment or delivery of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or, if applicable to a particular series of Securities, conversion need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, until such next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day (in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity or on such last day for conversion, as the case may be)).

Section 1.14 Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereof or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer or director or subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or 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 issue of the Securities.

Section 1.15 Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, pandemics or epidemics, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services affecting the banking industry generally; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

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Section 1.16 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”), the Company agrees (i) to provide to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. upon request information the Issuer has in its reasonable possession about the applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, and (ii) that The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.1 Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities may be listed or traded as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 with respect to the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be substantially in the form set forth in this Article.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons.

The definitive Securities shall be printed, or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Section 2.2 Form of Securities.

Each Security shall be in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. Upon or prior to the delivery of a Security in any such form to the Trustee for authentication, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee the following:

(a) the Board Resolution by or pursuant to which such form of Security has been approved, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

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(b) the Officers’ Certificate required by Section 3.1;

(c) the Company Order required by Section 3.3; and

(d) the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 3.3.

Section 2.3 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:     THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
    By  

     

      Authorized officer

Section 2.4 Form of Legend for Global Securities.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

Section 2.5 Form of Conversion Notice.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, conversion notices shall be in substantially the following form:

To The Charles Schwab Corporation:

The undersigned owner of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, into shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable upon the conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares and any Securities

 

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representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the Holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If this Notice is being delivered on a date after the close of business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the opening of business on the related Interest Payment Date (unless this Security or the portion thereof being converted has been called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period being at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day), this Notice is accompanied by payment, in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date of the principal of this Security to be converted. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect hereto. Any amount required to be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.

 

Principal Amount to be Converted

(in an integral multiple of $1,000, if less than all)

U.S. $_____

  

Dated: ___________

  
   Signature(s) must 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 Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15
  

     

   Signature Guaranty

Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock and Securities if to be issued otherwise than to the Holder.

 

 

  

 

(Name)

  

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

                                                             

Please Print Name and Address

(including zip code)

 

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ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series; Terms.

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

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. All Securities of each series issued under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to such series without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time or times of the authentication and delivery or Maturity of the Securities of such series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and, subject to Section 3.3, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of a series:

(a) the title of the Securities of such series, which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities;

(b) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect;

(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(d) the Stated Maturity or Maturities on which the principal of the Securities of such series is payable or the method of determination thereof, including any provisions providing for any extension or other change in the Stated Maturity or Maturities;

(e) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), if any, at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be determined;

(f) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable, the place or places where the Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;

 

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(g) the period or periods within or the date or dates on which, if any, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

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

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

(j) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be payable, or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.1;

(k) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest for such Securities are stated to be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

(l) the additions, modifications or deletions, if any, in the Events of Default or covenants or warranty of the Company set forth herein with respect to the Securities of such series;

(m) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof;

(n) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal shall be determined);

 

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(o) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 or both such Sections, or any other defeasance provisions applicable to any Securities of the series, and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(p) [Reserved.];

(q) any index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series or the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(r) whether the Securities of the series, or any portion thereof, shall initially be issuable in the form of a temporary Global Security representing all or such portion of the Securities of such series and provisions for the exchange of such temporary Global Security for definitive Securities of such series;

(s) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.4 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

(t) the appointment of any Paying Agents, Authenticating Agents, Securities Registrar or other such agents necessary in connection with the issuance of the Securities of such series; the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of such series into Common Stock of the Company or any other securities or property of the Company, and the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

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

(v) the relative degree, if any, to which the Securities of the series shall be senior to or be subordinated to other series of Securities in right of payment, whether such other series of Securities are Outstanding or not;

(w) if applicable, the terms of any guaranties for the Securities and any circumstances under which there may be additional obligors on the Securities;

(x) if applicable, the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of the series into shares of Common Stock or other securities or property of the Company and whether such conversion or exchange rights are mandatory, at the Holder’s option or at the Company’s option;

 

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(y) the governing law of this Indenture and the Securities;

(z) any additional obligations of the Company to be included as Senior Indebtedness or any changes to the definition of Senior Indebtedness;

(aa) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the subordination provisions of this Indenture relating to the Securities of that series (including the provisions set forth in Article XV) or different subordination provisions; and

(bb) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

All Securities shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the obligations of the Company to holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company as provided in Article XV.

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided in an indenture supplemental hereto, a series of Securities may be reopened to issue additional series of such Securities.

Section 3.2 Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such form and denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable only as Securities without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual, facsimile or electronic. For the avoidance of doubt, if any of the foregoing titles is allocated to more than one Person, then such title shall include each such Person holding the title.

 

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Securities bearing the manual, facsimile or electronic signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, a copy of such Board Resolution, the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series and an Opinion of Counsel stating,

(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(3) that such Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication; and unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, any temporary Global Security shall be dated as of the date of the issuance of such Security.

 

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No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by the manual, facsimile or electronic signature of one of its authorized officers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.9, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 3.4 Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series in lieu of which they are issued in registered form, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Except in the case of temporary Global Securities, each of which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraph, if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations having the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms as such temporary Securities; Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

Without unnecessary delay, but in any event not later than five Business Days prior to the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary Global Securities as the “Exchange Date,” the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, or, if the Trustee appoints an Authenticating Agent pursuant to Section 6.14, to any such Authenticating Agent, definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary Global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge to the Depositary and the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary Global Securities, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary Global Security to be exchanged; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified in such temporary Global Security, upon such presentation by the Depositary, such temporary Global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date.

 

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Upon any exchange of a portion of any such Global Security, the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent or the Depositary, as the case may be, shall indicate upon such temporary Global Security, the amount of such exchange to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon its remaining principal amount shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged. Until so exchanged in full, such temporary Global Security shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 3.5 Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall keep or cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. Such register is herein sometimes referred to as the “Securities Register.” The Trustee is hereby appointed “Securities Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Securities Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar for such series, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

Unless otherwise provided in the Securities to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company (unless otherwise provided in such Securities) 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 Securities other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, 9.6 or 11.7 not involving any transfer.

 

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If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, neither the Company nor any Securities Registrar shall be required (i) to issue, register the transfer or exchange of any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the transmission of a notice of redemption of such Securities selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the transmission of the relevant notice of redemption of Securities of such series so selected for redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

(1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security, in whole or in part, may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as depositary, in each case unless the Company has approved a successor Depositary within 90 days, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to such Global Security, (C) the Company in its sole discretion determines that such Global Security will be so exchangeable or transferable or (D) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

(3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

(4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.4, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.7 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

Section 3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same issue and series of like tenor and principal amount, having the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity, and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) connected therewith.

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

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.7 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security of any series which is payable or deliverable, and is punctually paid, delivered or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, shall be paid or delivered to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest in respect of Securities of such series, except that, unless otherwise provided in the Securities of such series, interest payable on the Stated Maturity of the principal of a Security shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid.

 

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Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not timely paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”), shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series in respect of which interest is in default (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money or other property equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment or delivery, such money or property when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment or delivery of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment or delivery and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment or delivery. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment or delivery of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment or delivery of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been given as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of the series in respect of which interest is in default may be listed or traded and, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange (or by the Trustee if the Securities are not listed), if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

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

Subject to the provisions of Section 14.2, in the case of any Security (or any part thereof) which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security the principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or any one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence or in Section 14.2, in the case of any Security (or any part thereof) which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security (or such part thereof) shall not be payable.

 

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Section 3.8 Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and (subject to Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 3.9 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures and the Trustee shall deliver to the Company upon request a certificate of such disposal.

Section 3.10 Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series for any period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and interest on the Securities of each series for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 3.11 CUSIP Numbers.

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

 

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ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided in this Section 4.1) and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

(1) either

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities and which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

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

and the Company, in the case of Clause (B) (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

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

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

 

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Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and the last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge. The Trustee may give notice to the Holders or Securities Outstanding of the immediate availability of the amount referred to in Clause (1) above.

In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of all series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met. The effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instruments from the Trustee.

Section 4.2 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money or property deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 and Article XIII shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for the payment of which such money or obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

Section 5.1 Events of Default.

(a) “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to the Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be occasioned by the provisions of Article XV or 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), unless in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate establishing such series, it is provided that such series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

(1) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

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(2) the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or 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, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit for 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, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

(3) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in the Board Resolutions, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate establishing that series.

(b) If a default occurs hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Clause (ii) under the definition of “Covenant Breach” in Section 1.1 with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to the Holders shall be given until at least 60 [See Section 6.2] days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 5.1(b), the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities of such series.

Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

Unless the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate establishing such series provides otherwise, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case, except for any series of Securities the principal of which shall have already become due and payable, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting together as a single class) may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Securities of the affected series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders) and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified portion thereof) of and the accrued interest on all the Securities of such affected series shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if the Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms of that series) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of such series, there shall be no rights of acceleration other than as described in the preceding paragraph. In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of a series, neither the Trustee nor any Holders of such Securities shall have the right to accelerate the payment of such Securities, nor shall the payment of any Securities be otherwise accelerated, as a result of a Covenant Breach. Further, for avoidance of doubt, if an Event of Default as described in Section 5.1(a)(5) is specified for a series of Securities, there will be no right to accelerate payment of such Securities on the terms described in the preceding paragraph unless such acceleration rights are granted specifically for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting together a single class), by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of that series,

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Securities,

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities; and

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

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or Covenant Breach or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

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

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay or deliver to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable or deliverable on such Securities for principal, including any sinking fund payment or analogous obligations (and premium, if any) and interest; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

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If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem necessary to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

Section 5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors,

(a) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal (and premium, if any) or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amounts as may be due and payable pursuant to a declaration in accordance with Section 6.2 and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect to the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable and to take any and all actions as are authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have the claims of the Holders and any predecessor to the Trustee under Section 6.7 allowed in any such judicial proceedings; and

(ii) in particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same in accordance with Section 5.6; and

(b) 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 or deliveries to the Trustee for distribution in accordance with Section 5.6, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7.

 

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Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

Section 5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities or any series may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of all the amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 5.6 Application of Money Collected.

Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to this Article, after reserving therefrom by the Trustee an amount sufficient, in the determination of the Trustee, to cover the expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee that may be incurred thereafter, shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any predecessor Trustee, its agents and counsel under Section 6.7;

SECOND: Subject to Article XV, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon such series of Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such series of Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

Section 5.7 Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Securities of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

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

 

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(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting together as a single class) shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default or Covenant Breach in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

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

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

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.12;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing itself of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

Section 5.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.7) interest on such Security or payment on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) to convert such Securities in accordance with Article XIV to the extent that such right to convert is applicable to such Security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

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Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee, any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default or Covenant Breach shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or Covenant Breach or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (subject to the limitations contained in this Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 5.12 Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series (voting together as a single class) 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, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that:

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and the Trustee shall not have determined that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders of Securities of that series, or any other series, not taking part in such direction,

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

(3) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would otherwise be contrary to applicable law.

Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 5.2, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series as to which an Event of Default or Covenant Breach shall have occurred and be continuing (voting together as a single class) may, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such affected series, waive any past default hereunder and its consequences with respect to such series except:

(1) a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series,

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

 

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(3) to the extent such right is applicable to such Security, a failure by the Company on request to convert any Security into Common Stock.

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

For purposes of this Section 5.13, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities of such series

Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs.

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, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that, neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require any such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with Article XIV.

This Section 5.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security.

Section 5.15 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 VI

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to a series of Securities,

 

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

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture, but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions 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).

(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as to a series of Securities as to which it is Trustee, 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 person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

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

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, 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 of Holders pursuant to Section 5.12 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.

(d) 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 there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

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Section 6.2 Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after receipt of written notice by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Securities Register, notice of such default, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be fully protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a committee of Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

Section 6.3 Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, Security, 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 Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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

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

 

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(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, indenture, Security or other paper or document, but the Trustee in its discretion may make such inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

(h) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(i) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities for which it is acting as Trustee unless written notice of such default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach, as the case may be, is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from the Company, any other obligor upon such Securities or by any Holder of such Securities, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

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

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

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

Section 6.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

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Section 6.5 May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee Under Other Indentures.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Securities Registrar or such other agent.

Subject to the limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, nothing in this Indenture shall prohibit the Trustee from becoming and acting as trustee under other indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest of participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding in the same manner as if it were not Trustee hereunder.

Section 6.6 Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money or other property received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

Section 6.7 Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for all services rendered by it, as may be applicable, hereunder in such amounts as the Company and the Trustee shall agree in writing from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be caused by its own negligence or bad faith; and

(3) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify each of the Trustee, and any predecessor trustee and their agents, for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, tax, penalty, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel) of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred without negligence or bad faith, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or the performance of their duties hereunder, including the enforcement of this provision and the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder. This indemnification shall survive the termination of this Indenture. This Section 6.7 shall survive the termination of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Company and the Holders agree that the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee except funds held in trust for the benefit of Holders of particular Securities. Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

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In addition to and without prejudice to its rights hereunder, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency or similar law.

“Trustee” for the purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

Section 6.8 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

Section 6.9 Type of Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for the Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a corporation that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has (or if the Trustee is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation or bank holding company publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or bank holding company shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. Neither the Company nor any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company shall serve as Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder.

Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.11.

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

 

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(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (acting together as a single class), delivered to the Trustee and to the Company 30 days prior to the effectiveness of such removal. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee will fail to comply with Section 6.8 with respect to a series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee will cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 with respect to a series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(3) the Trustee will become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (i) the Company, acting pursuant to the authority of a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or (ii) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If the Trustee will resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, subject to Section 5.14, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.6. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject, nevertheless, to its lien provided for in Section 6.7.

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

 

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which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject, nevertheless, to its lien provided for in Section 6.7.

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

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

Section 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

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

Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of

 

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the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

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

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.6 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

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

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:     THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
    TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
    By  

 

      As Authenticating Agent
    By  

 

      Authorized officer

 

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ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

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

(a) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for each respective series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such series as of such Regular Record Date, as the case may be, or if there is no Regular Record Date, for such series of Securities, semi-annually, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 90 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, excluding from any such lists names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar.

Section 7.2 Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee.

(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act, at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

(b) Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than May 15 in each calendar year, commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Securities under this Indenture.

 

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(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed and also with the Commission and the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 7.4 Reports by Company.

The Company shall file with the Trustee and with the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a). Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of same shall not constitute actual or constructive notice or knowledge 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’ Certificate). The Company shall be deemed to have complied with the first sentence of this Section 7.4 to the extent that such information, documents and reports are filed pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the Commission via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure); provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed pursuant to the EDGAR system (or its successor).

Section 7.5 Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, promptly after and in any event within 30 days after one or more of the officers of the Company described in the definition of “Officers’ Certificate” becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Covenant Breach or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default or Covenant Breach, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Covenant Breach or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 8.1 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

Subject to Section 3.1, the Company covenants that it will not merge or consolidate with any other Person or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person (other than the sale, lease, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to one or more of the Company’s Subsidiaries), unless (i) either (a) the Company shall be the continuing corporation or (b) the successor Person, in any merger or consolidation (if other than the Company), or the Person which acquires by sale, lease or conveyance substantially all the assets of the Company, shall be a corporation and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the Securities, according to their

 

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tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such Person and (ii) the Company, such successor entity or such Person, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale, lease or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition.

Section 8.2 Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger by the Company with or into any other Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Company of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein.

Such successor Person may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company prior to such succession, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor Person instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to such provisions and any Securities which such successor Person thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee on its behalf for the purpose pursuant to such provisions. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, such changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

In the event of any such sale or conveyance (other than a conveyance by way of lease) the Company or any successor corporation which shall theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Article shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and may be liquidated and dissolved.

Section 8.3 Opinion of Counsel Delivered to Trustee.

The Trustee shall be provided with an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, and any such assumption, and any such liquidation or dissolution, complies with the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

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

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities in compliance with Article VIII; or

(2) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

(3) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 or 3.1; or

(4) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or to add any additional Events of Default or Covenant Breaches with respect to all or any series of the Securities (and, if such Event of Default or Covenant Breach is applicable to less than all the series of the Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default or Covenant Breach is applicable) for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of the Securities (and if such Events of Default or Covenant Breaches are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities stating that such Events of Default or Covenant Breaches are expressly included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such covenant or Event of Default or Covenant Breach such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default or Covenant Breach or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or Covenant Breach or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default or Covenant Breach; or

(5) [Reserved.]; or

(6) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided that, any such change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holders of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

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(7) to add or provide for a guaranty of the Securities or additional obligors on the Securities; or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11; or

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that, such action pursuant to this Clause (9) shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

(10) to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Articles IV and XIII; provided that, any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

(11) to provide for conversion rights of the Holders of Securities of any Series to enable such Holders to convert such Securities into other securities of the Company; or

(12) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

(13) to change any other provision under this Indenture; provided that such action pursuant to this clause (13) do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting together as a single class), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

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(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of principal of a Discount Security or any other Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or modify the provisions of this Indenture in the case of Securities of any series are convertible into Securities or other securities of the Company in a way that adversely affects the right of Holders to convert any of the Securities of such series other than as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders, or

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

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.5, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this Clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 10.5, or the deletion of this provision, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and 9.1(3); or

(4) make any change relating to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders of such Securities; or

(5) make any change relating to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to holders of Senior Indebtedness unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness consent to such change under the terms of such Senior Indebtedness; or

(6) if applicable, make any change that adversely affects the right to convert any security as provided in Article XIV or pursuant to Section 3.1 (except as permitted by Section 9.1(11)) or decrease the conversion rate or increase the conversion price;

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

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

Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.1 and 6.3) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and that all conditions precedent have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

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

Section 9.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

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

Section 9.7 Subordination Unimpaired.

No provision in any supplemental indenture that affects the superior position of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness shall be effective against the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

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ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

Section 10.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

Section 10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment and an office or agency where Securities of that series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. Unless otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof, the Place of Payment of any series of Securities shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all of such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and any change in the location of any such office or agency.

With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor, provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 10.3 Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.

 

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Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or interest on any Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal and premium (if any) or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.

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

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest;

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

(4) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be paid on Company Request to the Company, or (if then held by the Company) shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee, its officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

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Section 10.4 Statement as to Compliance.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each calendar year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate covering the preceding calendar year, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of or compliance with any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture, and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge. For the purpose of this Section 10.4, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

Section 10.5 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series, the Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition provided pursuant to Section 3.1(l), 9.1(3), 9.1(4) and 9.1(7) with respect to the Securities of any series, if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such waiver (voting together as a single class) either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 10.6 Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence.

Section 10.7 Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of the Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee so that there shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each series of Securities hereunder.

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.1 Applicability of this Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before their maturity. Redemption of Securities of any series (whether by operation of a sinking fund or otherwise) as permitted or required by any form of Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be made in accordance with such form of Security and this Article; provided, however, that if any provision of any such form of Security shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the provision of such form of Security shall govern.

 

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Section 11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities redeemed at the option of the Company shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of any Securities of a series, the Company shall, not less than 5 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such date and of the principal amount of Securities of that series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction.

Section 11.3 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by lot or, for Global Securities, pursuant to the Depositary’s Applicable Procedures, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination; provided that, Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part, but only in integral multiples of $1,000) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Securities Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for partial redemption and the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before the termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities that have been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for purposes of such selection.

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

 

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For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

Section 11.4 Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6 at least 10 but not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (or within such period as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the relevant Securities), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register or, if the Securities to be redeemed are in the form of Global Securities, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

With respect to Securities of each series to be redeemed, each notice of redemption shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the Redemption Price;

(c) if less than all Outstanding Securities of such particular series and having the same terms are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(d) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price, and, accrued interest, if any, will become due and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof, and that interest thereon, if any, shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

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

(f) the conversion price, the date on which the right to convert the principal of the Securities to be redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion;

(g) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

(h) the CUSIP and/or other similar numbers as contemplated by Section 3.11; and

(i) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

 

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Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request delivered at least five days prior to the date such notice is to be given (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee, which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. The notice if transmitted in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, a failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security.

Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in Section 11.4, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents (or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and any accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date, other than any Securities called for redemption on that date that have been converted prior to the date of such deposit.

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to the right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.7) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

Section 11.6 Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.

If any notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 11.4, the Securities or portion of Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a Place of Payment in said notice specified, the said securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date. Installments of interest on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal of and premium, if any, on such Security shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

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Section 11.7 Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and such Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge to the Holder, a new Security or Securities of the same Series and Stated Maturity, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security surrendered. If a Global Security is so surrendered, such new Security will also be a new Global Security.

Section 11.8 Redemption Suspended During Event of Default.

The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities (unless all Securities then Outstanding are to be redeemed) or commence the giving of any notice of redemption of Securities during the continuance of any Event of Default known to the Trustee, except that where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall, subject to the provisions of Section 12.3, redeem such Securities; provided funds are deposited with it for such purpose. Subject to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, except as aforesaid, any moneys theretofore or thereafter received by the Trustee shall, during the continuance of such Event of Default, be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders and applied in the manner set forth in Section 5.6; provided, however, that in case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided herein or otherwise cured, such moneys shall thereafter be held and applied in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.1 Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any sinking fund payment in excess of such minimum amount which is permitted to be made by the terms of such Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

 

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Section 12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that has been converted pursuant to Article XIV or that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that, the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price for such Securities, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.1) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 12.2 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Such Officers’ Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the Company to deliver such Officers’ Certificate (or, as required by this Indenture, the Securities specified in such Officers’ Certificate), the sinking fund payment due on the succeeding sinking fund payment date for such series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of the Securities of such series subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the right to deliver or credit securities as provided in Section 12.2 and without the right to make the optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series at such time.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made with respect to the Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent) on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund payment date immediately following the date of such payment) to the redemption of Securities of such series at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities with respect to the sinking fund. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregated and held in trust by the Company as provided in Section 10.3) for such series and together with such payment (or such amount so segregated) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.3. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee (or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregated and held in trust as provided in Section 10.3) on the last

 

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sinking fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series shall be applied by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent), together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited (or segregated) sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity. The Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 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 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7. On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company shall segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) in cash a sum in the currency in which Securities of such series are payable (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.1) equal to the principal and any interest accrued to the Redemption Date for Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 12.3.

Neither the Trustee nor the Company shall redeem any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or transmit any notice of redemption of Securities of such series by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a default in payment of interest, if any, on any Securities of such series or of any Event of Default or Covenant Breach (other than an Event of Default or Covenant Breach occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to the Securities of such series, except that if the notice of redemption shall have been provided in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee (or the Company, if the Company is then acting as its own Paying Agent) shall redeem such Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee (or segregated by the Company) for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article XII. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach, be held as security for the payment of the Securities of such series; provided, however, that in case such default or Event of Default or Covenant Breach shall have been cured or waived herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for the Securities of such series on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 12.3.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 13.1 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 3.1 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 13.2 or 13.3, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.1 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.

 

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Section 13.2 Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations, and the provisions of Article XV shall cease to be effective, with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.4 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due,

(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3, and, if applicable, Article XIV,

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and

(4) this Article.

Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 13.3 applied to such Securities.

Section 13.3 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be,

(1) the Company shall be released from any covenants provided pursuant to Sections 3.1(l), 9.1(3), 9.1(4) or 9.1(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, as the case may be, and

(2) the occurrence of any Event of Default or Covenant Breach specified pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, and

(3) the provisions of Article XV shall cease to be effective,

in each case with respect to such Securities or series of Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section, the occurrence of any Event of Default specified pursuant to Section 3.1 or Article XV, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

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Section 13.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.9 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities,

(A) in the case of Securities of a series denominated in currency of the United States,

(i) cash in currency of the United States in an amount, or

(ii) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, an amount in cash, or

(iii) a combination thereof, or

(B) in the case of Securities of a series denominated in currency other than that of the United States,

(i) cash in the currency in which such series of Securities is denominated in an amount, or

(ii) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, an amount in cash, or

(iii) a combination thereof,

in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities.

 

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(2) In the event of an election to have Section 13.2 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or

(B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law,

in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

(3) In the event of an election to have Section 13.3 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

(5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 5.1(1) and (2), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

(6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

(7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(8) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

 

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(9) At the time of such deposit,

(A) no default in the payment of any principal of or premium or interest on any Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred and be continuing,

(B) no event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness shall have resulted in such Senior Indebtedness becoming, and continuing to be, due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable (unless payment of such Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for), and

(C) no other event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred and be continuing permitting (after notice or lapse of time or both) the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holders) to declare such Senior Indebtedness due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable.

(10) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 13.5 Deposited Money, Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money, Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.6, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations so held in trust shall not be subject to the provisions of Article XV.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities. Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money, Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

 

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Section 13.6 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 13.2 or 13.3 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.5 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

ARTICLE XIV

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

Section 14.1 Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are convertible into shares of Common Stock of the Company, and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of such Securities, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the Securities of such series.

Section 14.2 Exercise of Conversion Privilege.

In order to exercise a conversion privilege, the Holder of a Security of a series with such a privilege shall surrender such Security to the Company at the office or agency maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 10.2, accompanied by a duly executed conversion notice to the Company substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.5 stating that the Holder elects to convert such Security or a specified portion thereof. Such notice shall also state, if different from the name and address of such Holder, the name or names (with address) in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock, which shall be issuable on such conversion, shall be issued. Securities surrendered for conversion shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by or accompanied by instruments of transfer in forms satisfactory to the Company duly executed by the Holder or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and Securities so surrendered for conversion (in whole or in part) during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the opening of business on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (excluding Securities or portions thereof called for redemption during the period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day) shall also be accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of such Security then being converted, and such interest shall be payable to such Holder notwithstanding the conversion of such Security, subject to the provisions of Section 3.7 relating to the payment of Defaulted Interest by the Company. As promptly as practicable after the receipt of such notice and of any

 

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payment required pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.3, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of such series of Security, and the surrender of such Security in accordance with such reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe, the Company shall issue and shall deliver, at the office or agency at which such Security is surrendered, to such Holder or on its written order, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of such Security (or specified portion thereof), in accordance with the provisions of such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, and cash as provided therein in respect of any fractional share of such Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the date on which such notice and such payment, if required, shall have been received in proper order for conversion by the Company and such Security shall have been surrendered as aforesaid (unless such Holder shall have so surrendered such Security and shall have instructed the Company to effect the conversion on a particular date following such surrender and such Holder shall be entitled to convert such Security on such date, in which case such conversion shall be deemed to be effected immediately prior to the close of business on such date) and at such time the rights of the Holder of such Security as such Holder shall cease and the person or persons in whose name or names any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be issuable upon such conversion shall be deemed to have become the Holder or Holders of record of the shares represented thereby. Except as set forth above and subject to the final paragraph of Section 3.7, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any conversion on account of any interest accrued on the Securities (or any part thereof) surrendered for conversion or on account of any dividends on the Common Stock of the Company issued upon such conversion. In the case of any Security which is converted in part only, upon such conversion the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of such Security.

Section 14.3 No Fractional Shares.

No fractional share of Common Stock of the Company shall be issued upon conversions of Securities of any series. If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered. If, except for the provisions of this Section 14.3, any Holder of a Security or Securities would be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock of the Company upon the conversion of such Security or Securities, or specified portions thereof, the Company shall pay to such Holder an amount in cash equal to the current market value of such fractional share computed, (i) if such Common Stock is listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the last reported sale price regular way on such exchange or market on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion upon which such a sale shall have been effected, or (ii) if such Common Stock is not at the time so listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the average of the bid and asked prices of such Common Stock in the over-the-counter market, on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion, as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or similar organization if the National

 

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Quotation Bureau, Incorporated is no longer reporting such information, or if not so available, the fair market price as determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this Section, “trading day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday other than any day on which the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is traded or quoted.

Section 14.4 Adjustment of Conversion Price.

The conversion price of Securities of any series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company shall be adjusted for any stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, combinations or similar transactions in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series. Whenever the conversion price is adjusted, the Company shall compute the adjusted conversion price in accordance with terms of the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture and shall prepare an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the adjusted conversion price and showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and such certificate shall forthwith be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 and, if different, with the Trustee. The Company shall forthwith cause a notice setting forth the adjusted conversion price to be given in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 to each Holder of Securities of such series at its address appearing on the Securities Register and to any conversion agent other than the Trustee.

Section 14.5 Notice of Certain Corporate Actions.

In case:

(1) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash out of its retained earnings (other than a dividend for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required) that would require an adjustment pursuant to Section 14.4; or

(2) the Company shall authorize the granting to all or substantially all of the holders of its Common Stock of rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any other rights (other than any such grant for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required); or

(3) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, or of any consolidation, merger or share exchange to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required), or of the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

(4) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

 

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then the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee, and shall cause to be given in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Securities Register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in Clause (1) or (2) above) prior to the applicable record date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants are to be determined, or (ii) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. If at any time the Trustee shall not be the conversion agent, a copy of such notice shall also forthwith be filed by the Company with the Trustee.

Section 14.6 Reservation of Shares of Common Stock.

The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of Securities, the full number of shares of Common Stock of the Company then issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding Securities of any series that has conversion rights.

Section 14.7 Payment of Certain Taxes upon Conversion.

Except as provided in the next sentence, the Company will pay any and all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of its Common Stock on conversion of Securities pursuant hereto. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of its Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or Securities to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue and delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

Section 14.8 Nonassessability.

The Company covenants that all shares of its Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion of Securities will upon issue in accordance with the terms hereof be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

Section 14.9 Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets.

In case of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person, any merger of another Person with or into the Company (other than a merger which does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company) or any conveyance, sale, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such merger or which acquires such assets, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of each Security of a series then Outstanding that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company shall have the right thereafter (which right shall be the exclusive conversion right thereafter available to said Holder), during the

 

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period such Security shall be convertible, to convert such Security only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which such Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease, assuming such holder of Common Stock of the Company (i) is not a Person with which the Company consolidated or merged with or into or which merged into or with the Company or to which such conveyance, sale, transfer or lease was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or an Affiliate of a Constituent Person and (ii) failed to exercise his rights of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease (provided that if the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer, or lease is not the same for each share of Common Stock of the Company held immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by others than a Constituent Person or an Affiliate thereof and in respect of which such rights of election shall not have been exercised (“Non-electing Share”), then for the purpose of this Section 14.9 the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by the holders of each Non-electing Share shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the Non-electing Shares). Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article or in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of such adjustments. The above provisions of this Section 14.9 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, conveyances, sales, transfers or leases. Notice of the execution of such a supplemental indenture shall be given by the Company to the Holder of each Security of a series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company as provided in Section 1.6 promptly upon such execution. Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent, if any, shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any such supplemental indenture relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or other securities or property or cash receivable by Holders of Securities of a series convertible into Common Stock of the Company upon the conversion of their Securities after any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale or lease or to any such adjustment, but may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel with respect thereto, which the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Trustee.

Section 14.10 Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion.

Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities of any series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company to determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the conversion price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, whether herein or in any supplemental indenture, any resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or more officers of the Company provided to be employed in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or of any securities or property, which

 

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may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Securities and neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent makes any representation with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of its Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article XIV or in the applicable supplemental indenture, resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or more duly authorized officers of the Company.

Section 14.11 Repayment of Certain Funds upon Conversion.

Any funds which at any time shall have been deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other paying agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any of the Securities (including, but not limited to, funds deposited for the sinking fund referred to in Article XII hereof and funds deposited pursuant to Article XIII hereof) and which shall not be required for such purposes because of the conversion of such Securities as provided in this Article 14 shall after such conversion be repaid to the Company by the Trustee upon the Company’s written request.

ARTICLE XV

SUBORDINATION

Section 15.1 Agreement to Subordinate.

Except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 3.1, the Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment or delivery of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment or delivery to the prior payment or satisfaction in full of all Senior Indebtedness.

No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

Section 15.2 Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities.

(a) Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the Holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law),

 

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(1) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be entitled to receive payment or delivery in full in accordance with the terms of such Senior Indebtedness of the principal thereof, premium, if any, and the interest due thereon (including interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar law now or hereafter in effect) before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment or delivery upon the principal of or premium, if any, or interest evidenced by the Securities;

(2) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article, including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other Indebtedness of the Company being subordinated to the payment of the Securities, shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of 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, in accordance with the priorities then existing among holders of Senior Indebtedness for payment of the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar law now or hereafter in effect) on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; it being understood that if the Holders of Securities shall fail to file a proper claim in the form required by any proceeding referred to in this Clause (2) prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holders of Senior Indebtedness are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim or claims for and on behalf of the Holders of Securities in the form required in any such proceeding; and

(3) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other Indebtedness of the Company being subordinate to the payment of the Securities, shall be received by the Trustee or Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be held for the benefit of and 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 of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, 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 giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution (or provision thereof) to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

(b) Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with the holders of all Indebtedness of the Company which by its express terms is subordinated to Indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as the Securities are subordinated and is entitled to like rights of subordination) to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness

 

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until the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to holders of such Senior Indebtedness to which the Holders of the Securities would be entitled except for the provisions hereof of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness.

(c) It is understood that the provisions of this Article are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall (i) impair, as between the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute (and which, subject to the rights under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, is intended to rank equally with all other general obligations of the Company), to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect) on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, (ii) affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, (iii) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy or (iv) prevent the application by the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or prevent the receipt by the Trustee or any Paying Agent of such moneys, if, prior to the second Business Day prior to such deposit, the Trustee or such Paying Agent did not have written notice, in accordance with Section 15.5, of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit by the Company and the Trustee shall not be affected by any notice which may be received by it on or after such second Business Day.

(d) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, and the Holders of the Securities 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 or upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities 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. In the absence of any such liquidating trustee, agent or other person or any certification by any such person, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) as evidence that such Person is a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or is such a trustee or representative). In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person, as a holder of Senior Indebtedness, to participate in any payment or

 

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distribution pursuant to this Section, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, as to the extent to which such Person is entitled to participation in such payment or distribution, and as to other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Section, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

(e) With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations 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, however, 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 distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Company moneys or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article.

Section 15.3 Payments on Securities Prohibited During Event of Default Under Senior Indebtedness.

In the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Senior Indebtedness beyond any applicable period of grace, or in the event that any Event of Default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred and be continuing, or would occur as a result of the payment referred to hereinafter, permitting the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of the holders thereof) to accelerate the maturity thereof, then, unless and until such default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no payment or delivery of principal of, or premium, or interest on the Securities, or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities, shall be made by the Company.

Section 15.4 Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination.

Each Holder of a Security by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee in 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 his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

Section 15.5 Notice to Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provisions of the Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any event which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the representative of any such holder and prior to receipt of any such written notice the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that no such Indebtedness or event exists; provided, however, that if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received, at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms

 

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hereof any such money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal, issue price, accrued original issue discount, redemption price or interest, if any, as the case may be, in respect of any Security), the notice with respect to such money provided for in this Section 15.5, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money was received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it within three Business Days prior to such date.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of any such holder). In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article, the Trustee may request such person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such person, the extent to which such person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such person under this Article, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment which it may be required to make for the benefit of such person pursuant to the terms of this Indenture pending judicial determination as to the rights of such person to receive such payment.

Section 15.6 Right of Trustee to Hold Senior Indebtedness.

The Trustee shall be entitled to all of the rights set forth in this Article in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it in its individual capacity to the same extent as any other holder of such Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

Section 15.7 Not to Prevent Defaults or Events of Default.

The failure to make a payment pursuant to the Securities by reason of any provision in this Article shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a default or an Event of Default.

Section 15.8 Trustee Compensation, Etc. Not Prejudiced.

Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.7 or to funds held by the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1.

Section 15.9 Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior Indebtedness.

Any failure by the Company to make any payment of the performance and other obligation under 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 Indebtedness or obligation as to which the provisions of this Section shall have been waived by the Company in the instrument or

 

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instruments by which the Company incurred, assumed, guaranteed or otherwise created such Indebtedness or obligation shall not be deemed a default or event of default under Section 15.2 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 of the expiration of the time within which a party may seek further appeal or review, or (B) in the event of 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 stay of execution shall have been obtained pending such appeal or review.

Section 15.10 Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired.

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination herein shall at any time or in any way be prejudiced or impaired by the 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.

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, (i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, (iii) no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trust and (iv) the Trustee shall not be deemed to be a fiduciary as to such holders.

Section 15.11 Article Applicable to Paying Agent.

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 the Article shall in such case (unless the context shall require otherwise) 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 additional to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that the first paragraph of Section 15.5 and Section 15.6 shall not apply to the Company if it acts as its own Paying Agent.

Section 15.12 Trustee Compensation Not Prejudiced.

Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.7.

Section 15.13 Certain Conversions/Exchanges Deemed Payment.

For the purpose of this Article XV only, (1) the issuance and delivery of junior securities upon conversion or exchange of Securities in accordance with Article XIV or otherwise (except upon the conversion of the Securities in accordance with their terms) shall not be deemed to constitute a payment or distribution on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities, and (2) the

 

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payment, issuance or delivery of cash (except in satisfaction of fractional shares pursuant to Section 14.3), property or securities (other than junior securities) upon conversion or exchange of a Security shall be deemed to constitute payment on account of the principal of such Security. For the purposes of this Section, the term “junior securities” means (a) shares of any stock or (b) securities of the Company which are subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness which may be outstanding at the time of issuance or delivery of such securities to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities are so subordinated as provided in this Article. Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of Securities, the right, which is absolute and unconditional, of the Holder of any Security to convert such Security in accordance with Article XIV.

Section 15.14 Trustees Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification.

The Trustee’s rights to compensation, reimbursement of expenses and indemnification under Sections 5.6 and 6.7 are not subordinated.

* * * *

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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

 

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION
By:  

         

  Name:
  Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

         

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Subordinated Indenture]

 

81

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

MARTIN LIPTON

HERBERT M. WACHTELL

THEODORE N. MIRVIS

EDWARD D. HERLIHY

DANIEL A. NEFF

ANDREW R. BROWNSTEIN

STEVEN A. ROSENBLUM

JOHN F. SAVARESE

SCOTT K. CHARLES

JODI J. SCHWARTZ

ADAM O. EMMERICH

RALPH M. LEVENE

RICHARD G. MASON

ROBIN PANOVKA

DAVID A. KATZ

ILENE KNABLE GOTTS

JEFFREY M. WINTNER

TREVOR S. NORWITZ

BEN M. GERMANA

ANDREW J. NUSSBAUM

RACHELLE SILVERBERG

STEVEN A. COHEN

DEBORAH L. PAUL

 

DAVID C. KARP

RICHARD K. KIM

JOSHUA R. CAMMAKER

MARK GORDON

JEANNEMARIE O’BRIEN

WAYNE M. CARLIN

STEPHEN R. DiPRIMA

NICHOLAS G. DEMMO

IGOR KIRMAN

JONATHAN M. MOSES

T. EIKO STANGE

WILLIAM SAVITT

GREGORY E. OSTLING

DAVID B. ANDERS

ADAM J. SHAPIRO

NELSON O. FITTS

JOSHUA M. HOLMES

DAVID E. SHAPIRO

DAMIAN G. DIDDEN

IAN BOCZKO

MATTHEW M. GUEST

DAVID E. KAHAN

DAVID K. LAM

 

51 WEST 52ND STREET

 

NEW YORK, N.Y. 10019-6150

 

TELEPHONE: (212) 403-1000

 

FACSIMILE: (212) 403-2000

 

                             

 

 

BENJAMIN M. ROTH

JOSHUA A. FELTMAN

ELAINE P. GOLIN

EMIL A. KLEINHAUS

KARESSA L. CAIN

RONALD C. CHEN

BRADLEY R. WILSON

GRAHAM W. MELI

GREGORY E. PESSIN

CARRIE M. REILLY

MARK F. VEBLEN

SARAH K. EDDY

VICTOR GOLDFELD

RANDALL W. JACKSON

BRANDON C. PRICE

KEVIN S. SCHWARTZ

MICHAEL S. BENN

ALISON ZIESKE PREISS

TIJANA J. DVORNIC

JENNA E. LEVINE

RYAN A. McLEOD

ANITHA REDDY

JOHN L. ROBINSON

 

JOHN R. SOBOLEWSKI

STEVEN WINTER

EMILY D. JOHNSON

JACOB A. KLING

RAAJ S. NARAYAN

VIKTOR SAPEZHNIKOV

MICHAEL J. SCHOBEL

ELINA TETELBAUM

ERICA E. BONNETT

LAUREN M. KOFKE

ZACHARY S. PODOLSKY

RACHEL B. REISBERG

MARK A. STAGLIANO

CYNTHIA FERNANDEZ LUMERMANN

CHRISTINA C. MA

NOAH B. YAVITZ

BENJAMIN S. ARFA

NATHANIEL D. CULLERTON

ERIC M. FEINSTEIN

ADAM L. GOODMAN

 

GEORGE A. KATZ (1965–1989)

JAMES H. FOGELSON (1967–1991)

LEONARD M. ROSEN (1965–2014)

 

                             

 

OF COUNSEL

 

 

MICHAEL H. BYOWITZ

KENNETH B. FORREST

SELWYN B. GOLDBERG

PETER C. HEIN

JB KELLY

MEYER G. KOPLOW

JOSEPH D. LARSON

LAWRENCE S. MAKOW

DOUGLAS K. MAYER

PHILIP MINDLIN

DAVID S. NEILL

HAROLD S. NOVIKOFF

LAWRENCE B. PEDOWITZ

ERIC S. ROBINSON

ERIC M. ROSOF

 

ERIC M. ROTH

PAUL K. ROWE

DAVID A. SCHWARTZ

MICHAEL J. SEGAL

WON S. SHIN

DAVID M. SILK

ROSEMARY SPAZIANI

ELLIOTT V. STEIN

WARREN R. STERN

LEO E. STRINE, JR.*

PAUL VIZCARRONDO, JR. PATRICIA A. VLAHAKIS

AMY R. WOLF

MARC WOLINSKY

 

 

* ADMITTED IN DELAWARE

 

                    

 

COUNSEL

 

 

DAVID M. ADLERSTEIN

SUMITA AHUJA

LOUIS J. BARASH

FRANCO CASTELLI

ANDREW J.H. CHEUNG

SWIFT S.O. EDGAR

PAMELA EHRENKRANZ

KATHRYN GETTLES-ATWA

ADAM M. GOGOLAK

 

ANGELA K. HERRING

MARK A. KOENIG

CARMEN X.W. LU

J. AUSTIN LYONS

ALICIA C. McCARTHY

JUSTIN R. ORR

NEIL M. SNYDER

JEFFREY A. WATIKER

 

The Charles Schwab Corporation

3000 Schwab Way

Westlake, TX 76262

     December 1, 2023

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special outside counsel to The Charles Schwab Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the registration, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including the rules and regulations thereunder, the “Act”), that is automatically effective under the Act pursuant to Rule 462(e) promulgated thereunder of an indeterminate amount of the Company’s (a) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”); (b) preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (c) fractional shares of preferred stock evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Shares”); (d) common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”); (e) contracts for the purchase and sale of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Debt Securities (the “Purchase Contracts”); (f) warrants that are either debt warrants or universal warrants (the “Warrants”); and (g) equity units consisting of one or more of the securities described above (the “Units”). The Debt Securities, the Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares, the Common Stock, the Purchase Contracts, the Warrants and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”


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December 1, 2023

Page 2

 

The Debt Securities will be either senior Debt Securities or subordinated Debt Securities. The senior Debt Securities are to be issued under a senior indenture (the “Senior Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York, as Trustee, a form of which has been filed as Exhibit 4.19 to the Registration Statement. The subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under the subordinated indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a form of which has been filed as Exhibit 4.20 to the Registration Statement (together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures”).

The Purchase Contracts are to be issued pursuant to a purchase contract (the “Purchase Contract”) between the Company and the purchase contract agent to be named therein.

The debt Warrants are to be issued from time to time under one or more debt warrant agreements (each, a “Debt Warrant Agreement”), and the universal Warrants are to be issued from time to time under one or more universal warrant agreements (each, a “Universal Warrant Agreement” and, each, together with the Debt Warrant Agreements, a “Warrant Agreement”), each to be entered into by the Company and one or more institutions, as warrant agents, each as identified in the applicable Warrant Agreement.

The Units are to be issued pursuant to a unit certificate or other applicable agreement (the “Unit Agreement”) between the Company and the purchase contract agent to be named therein.

The prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement as supplemented in the future by various supplements to the prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”) will provide for the issuance and sale by the Company of the Securities, which may be offered pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act.

We have examined and relied on originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records, certificates of the Company or public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion letter. In such examination, we have assumed (a) the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the agreements, records, documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed; (d) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), are effective under the Act; (e) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet will have been filed with the SEC describing the Securities offered thereby; (f) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement(s); (g) if applicable, a definitive purchase, underwriting, agency or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the parties thereto; (h) any Debt Securities that may be issued will be issued in a form that complies with the applicable Indenture, and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of such Debt Securities will be manually signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of the Company and of the trustee named therein; and (i) at the time of any issuance of Common Stock or Securities convertible into, exchangeable, redeemable or exercisable for Common Stock, there will be sufficient authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock reserved for such issuance and any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any Securities being offered will be duly authorized and created. We have assumed that the terms of the Securities have been duly authorized and created by the Company, and that the terms of the Securities have been established so as not to, and that the execution and delivery by the parties thereto of the documents pursuant to which the Securities are governed and the performance of such parties’ obligations thereunder will not, breach, violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (1) the organizational documents of any party or any agreement or instrument to which any party thereto is subject, (2) any law, rule or regulation to which any party thereto is subject (excepting the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) as such laws apply to the Company and the transaction pursuant to which the Securities are offered), (3) any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any governmental authority or (4) any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with any governmental authority. We also assume that at the time of issuance of the Securities the Company is and will remain duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that the Company will have duly authorized the issuance of the Securities and related matters. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied and will rely upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.


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December 1, 2023

Page 3

 

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York, and we have not considered, and we express no opinion as to, the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York and the DGCL, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications set forth in this letter, we advise you that, in our opinion:

1. With respect to any series of Debt Securities to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (a) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act and the applicable Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (b) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act; (c) the applicable Indenture and any supplemental indenture in respect of such Offered Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto; (d) the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of such Offered Debt Securities; and (e) the Offered Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered against payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Securities) when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Indenture, any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of such Offered Debt Securities and the purchase agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

2. With respect to any Preferred Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Preferred Stock”), when (a) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (b) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Warrants has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act; (c) the applicable Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; (d) a certificate of designation with respect to the Preferred Stock has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (e) the certificates for the Preferred Stock have been established in conformity with applicable law, (f) a sufficient number of shares of Preferred Stock is authorized and reserved for issuance; (g) the Preferred Stock is issued for proper and sufficient consideration (including without limitation consideration that is not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock); and (h) the certificates for the Preferred Stock have been duly executed by the Company, countersigned by the transfer agent therefor and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof), the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3. With respect to any Depositary Shares to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Depositary Shares”), when (a) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (b) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Warrants has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act; (c) the applicable depositary agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (e) the terms of the depositary receipts have been established in conformity with the depositary agreement, (f) the Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares has been duly authorized and validly issued and the certificates therefor have been duly delivered to the depositary, (g) the depositary receipts are duly issued against deposit of such Preferred Stock in accordance with the depositary agreement and (v) the depositary receipts have been duly completed, executed, authenticated, delivered and countersigned, and are issued and sold, in accordance with the depositary agreement, the depositary receipts will be validly issued and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified therein and in the depositary agreement.


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December 1, 2023

Page 4

 

4. With respect to any shares of Common Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Common Shares”), when (a) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (b) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Common Shares has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act; and (c) certificates in the form required under the DGCL representing the Offered Common Shares are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor, the Offered Common Shares (including any shares of Common Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Securities registered on the Registration Statement), when issued and sold in accordance with the purchase agreement, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

5. With respect to any Purchase Contracts to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Purchase Contracts”), when (a) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (b) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Purchase Contracts has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act; (c) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Purchase Contract Agreement have been duly established in conformity with the Offered Purchase Contracts; and (d) the Offered Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and delivered against payment therefor, the Offered Purchase Contracts, when issued and sold in accordance with the purchase agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

6. With respect to any Warrants to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Warrants”), when (a) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (b) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Warrants has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act; (c) the applicable Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; (d) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Warrants have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Warrant Agreement; and (e) the Offered Warrants have been duly authorized, executed and delivered against payment therefor, the Offered Warrants, when issued and sold in accordance with the purchase agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

7. With respect to any Units to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Units”), when (a) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (b) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Units has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act; (c) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Units have been duly established in conformity with the Unit Agreement; (d) any shares of Common Stock that are a component of any Offered Units are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and any other Securities that are components of any Offered Units are valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms; and (e) the Offered Units have been duly executed and delivered pursuant to the Unit Agreement, the Units, when issued and sold in accordance with the purchase agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

The opinions set forth above are subject to the effects of (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (d) provisions of law that require that a judgment for money damages rendered by a court in the United States be expressed only in United States dollars; (e) limitations by any governmental authority that limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States; and (f) generally applicable laws that (1) provide for the enforcement of oral waivers or modifications where a material change of position in reliance thereon has occurred or provide that a course of performance may operate as a waiver,


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December 1, 2023

Page 5

 

(2) limit the availability of a remedy under certain circumstances where another remedy has been elected, (3) limit the enforceability of provisions releasing, exculpating or exempting a party from, or requiring indemnification of a party for, liability for its own action or inaction, to the extent the action or inaction involves negligence, gross negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful conduct, (4) may, where less than all of a contract may be unenforceable, limit the enforceability of the balance of the contract to circumstances in which the unenforceable portion is not an essential part of the agreed-upon exchange, (5) may limit the enforceability of provisions providing for compounded interest, imposing increased interest rates or late payment charges upon delinquency in payment or default or providing for liquidated damages or for premiums or penalties upon acceleration, or (6) limit the waiver of rights under usury laws. Furthermore, the manner in which any particular issue relating to the opinions would be treated in any actual court case would depend in part on facts and circumstances particular to the case and would also depend on how the court involved chose to exercise the wide discretionary authority generally available to it. We express no opinion as to the effect of Section 210(p) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

We express no opinion as to whether, or the extent to which, the laws of any particular jurisdiction apply to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, the enforceability of the governing law provision contained in any Securities and their governing documents.

This letter speaks only as of its date and is delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act. We hereby consent to the filing of copies of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption “Validity of the Securities.” In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 24, 2023 relating to the financial statements of The Charles Schwab Corporation (the “Company”) and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas

December 1, 2023

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

                   95-3571558

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

333 South Hope Street

Suite 2525

Los Angeles, California

  90071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   94-3025021
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)

3000 Schwab Way

Westlake, Texas

  76262
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

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

Comptroller of the Currency

United States Department of the Treasury

   Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank    San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
   Washington, DC 20429

 

  (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”).

 

  1.

A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  2.

A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.333-121948).

 

  3.

A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.333-152875).

 

- 2 -


  4.

A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229762).

 

  6.

The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  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.

 

- 3 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Houston, and State of Texas, on the 21st day of November, 2023.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:  

/s/ April Bradley

  Name: April Bradley
  Title: Vice President

 

- 4 -


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 333 South Hope Street, Suite 2525, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business September 30, 2023, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

     Dollar amounts
in thousands
 

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     6,412  

Interest-bearing balances

     328,965  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     0  

Available-for-sale debt securities

     520  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     0  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     0  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases, held for investment

     0  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     0  

Trading assets

     0  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     16,471  

Other real estate owned

     0  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     0  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets

     856,313  

Other assets

     110,191  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,318,872  
  

 

 

 

 

1


LIABILITIES   

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     1,063  

Noninterest-bearing

     1,063  

Interest-bearing

     0  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     0  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     0  

Trading liabilities

     0  

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     0  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0  

Other liabilities

     265,839  

Total liabilities

     266,902  

Not applicable

  

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     106,172  

Not available

  

Retained earnings

     944,799  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     -1  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Not available

  

Total bank equity capital

     1,051,970  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0  

Total equity capital

     1,051,970  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     1,318,872  
  

 

 

 

I, Matthew J. McNulty, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

 

Matthew J. McNulty    )    CFO

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

Antonio I. Portuondo, President    )   
Loretta A. Lundberg, Managing Director    )    Directors (Trustees)
Jon M. Pocchia, Managing Director    )   

 

2

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

  95-3571558

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

333 South Hope Street

Suite 2525

Los Angeles, California

  90071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware    94-3025021

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

3000 Schwab Way

Westlake, Texas

   76262
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip code)

 

 

Subordinated 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

Comptroller of the Currency

United States Department of the Treasury

   Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank    San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
   Washington, DC 20429

 

  (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”).

 

  1.

A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  2.

A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.333-121948).

 

  3.

A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.333-152875).

 

- 2 -


  4.

A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229762).

 

  6.

The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  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.

 

- 3 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Houston, and State of Texas, on the 21st day of November, 2023.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:  

/s/ April Bradley

  Name: April Bradley
  Title: Vice President

 

- 4 -


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 333 South Hope Street, Suite 2525, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business September 30, 2023, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

     Dollar amounts
in thousands
 

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     6,412  

Interest-bearing balances

     328,965  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     0  

Available-for-sale debt securities

     520  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     0  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     0  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases, held for investment

     0  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     0  

Trading assets

     0  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     16,471  

Other real estate owned

     0  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     0  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets

     856,313  

Other assets

     110,191  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,318,872  
  

 

 

 

 

1


LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     1,063  

Noninterest-bearing

     1,063  

Interest-bearing

     0  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     0  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     0  

Trading liabilities

     0  

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     0  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0  

Other liabilities

     265,839  

Total liabilities

     266,902  

Not applicable

  

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     106,172  

Not available

  

Retained earnings

     944,799  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     -1  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Not available

  

Total bank equity capital

     1,051,970  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0  

Total equity capital

     1,051,970  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     1,318,872  
  

 

 

 

I, Matthew J. McNulty, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

 

Matthew J. McNulty    )    CFO

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

Antonio I. Portuondo, President    )   
Loretta A. Lundberg, Managing Director    )    Directors (Trustees)
Jon M. Pocchia, Managing Director    )   

 

2

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form S-3

(Form Type)

THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

                         
      Security 
Type 
   Security
Class Title 
   Fee Calculation or 
Carry Forward
Rule 
   Amount 
Registered 
   Proposed 
Maximum 
Offering 
Price Per 
Unit 
   Maximum 
Aggregate 
Offering
Price 
    Fee     
 Rate     
   Amount of 
Registration 
Fee 
   Carry 
Forward 
Form 
Type 
  

Carry 

Forward
File 
Number 

   Carry 
Forward 
Initial 
Effective 
Date 
   Filing Fee
Previously
Paid In
Connection
with
Unsold
Securities
to be
Carried
Forward
 
Newly Registered Securities
                         

Fees to Be

Paid

   Equity     Common Stock,
  par value $0.01  per share 
   Rule 456(b) and  Rule 457(r)(1)     (2)    (2)    (2)    (1)    (1)              
                         
     Equity     Preferred Stock,
  par value $0.01  per share 
   Rule 456(b) and  Rule 457(r)(1)     (2)    (2)    (2)    (1)    (1)              
                         
     Equity     Depositary  Shares     Rule 456(b) and  Rule 457(r)(1)     (2)    (2)    (2)    (1)    (1)              
                         
     Debt     Debt Securities     Rule 456(b) and  Rule 457(r)(1)     (2)    (2)    (2)    (1)    (1)              
                         
     Other(3)     Warrants(3)     Rule 456(b) and  Rule 457(r)(1)     (2)    (2)    (2)    (1)    (1)              
                         
     Other(4)     Purchase  Contracts(4)     Rule 456(b) and  Rule 457(r)(1)     (2)    (2)    (2)    (1)    (1)              
                         
     Other(5)     Units(5)     Rule 456(b) and  Rule 457(r)(1)                              
                         

Fees

Previously

Paid

   N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A    N/A    N/A       N/A              
 
Carry Forward Securities
                         

Carry

Forward

Securities

  

N/A 

   N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A 
                   
     Total Offering Amounts       N/A       N/A              
                   
     Total Fees Previously Paid             N/A              
                   
     Total Fee Offsets             N/A              
                   
     Net Fee Due                   (1)                    


(1)

The registrant is relying on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to defer payment of all of the registration fee. In connection with the securities offered hereby, the Registrant will pay “pay-as-you-go registration fees” in accordance with Rule 456(b). The Registrant will calculate the registration fee applicable to an offer of securities pursuant to this Registration Statement based on the fee payment rate in effect on the date of such fee payment.

 

(2)

An unspecified aggregate initial offering price and number of securities of each identified class is being registered and may from time to time be offered at unspecified prices. The securities registered also include such unspecified amounts and numbers of common stock, preferred stock and debt securities as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock or debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, redemption, conversion, exchange or settlement of other securities or that are issued in units.

 

(3)

Representing the debt warrants or universal warrants described in this prospectus.

 

(4)

Representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares described in this prospectus.

 

(5)

Representing one or more securities, including debt obligations of third parties, such as U.S. Treasury securities, in each case granting the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.


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