0001193125-19-296111.txt : 20191120 0001193125-19-296111.hdr.sgml : 20191120 20191120080909 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-19-296111 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3ASR PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 11 FILED AS OF DATE: 20191120 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20191120 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20191120 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001333986 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: INSURANCE AGENTS BROKERS & SERVICES [6411] IRS NUMBER: 585512450 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3ASR SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-234788 FILM NUMBER: 191233055 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10104 BUSINESS PHONE: 011-0033 140 7546 22 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10104 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AXA AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20050722 S-3ASR 1 d830523ds3asr.htm S-3ASR S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 2019

Registration No. 333-                

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   6411   90-0226248
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10104

(212) 554-1234

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

 

 

Dave S. Hattem, Esq.

Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10104

(212) 554-1234

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

 

 

Copies to:

John M. Schwolsky

Benjamin Nixon

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

(212) 728-8000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities 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      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 the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

to be
Registered(1)(2)

  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit(3)
 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(3)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee(3)

Debt Securities(4)

               

Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share(5)

               

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share(6)

               

Depositary Shares(7)

               

Warrants(8)

               

Purchase Contracts(9)

               

Units(10)

               

 

 

(1)

An unspecified aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at unspecified prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are represented by depositary shares or issued in units. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.

(2)

This registration statement also covers an indeterminate number of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts and units of the registrant that may be reoffered and resold on an ongoing basis after their initial sale in remarketing or other resale transactions by the registrant or affiliates of the registrant.

(3)

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.

(4)

The debt securities issued hereunder may include senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debt securities. Includes debt securities issuable upon conversion of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into debt securities, including upon the exercise of warrants or delivery upon settlement of purchase contracts.

(5)

Includes preferred stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into or exchangeable for preferred stock, including upon the exercise of warrants or delivery upon settlement of purchase contracts.

(6)

Includes common stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, including upon the exercise of warrants or delivery upon settlement of purchase contracts.

(7)

Includes depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts issuable if the registrant elects to offer fractional interests in senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock registered hereby, including upon the exercise of warrants or delivery upon settlement of purchase contracts.

(8)

Warrants may represent rights to purchase senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities registered hereunder. Warrants may be sold separately or with debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities registered hereunder.

(9)

Includes purchase contracts issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into or exchangeable for purchase contracts. Each purchase contract obligates the registrant to sell, and the holder thereof to purchase, an indeterminate number of debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities registered hereunder.

(10)

Each unit may consist of one or more of the securities being registered hereunder or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, in any combination. Includes units issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into or exchangeable for units, including upon the exercise of warrants or delivery upon settlement of purchase contracts.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

 

 

LOGO

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

 

By this prospectus, AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) may offer from time to time the securities described in this prospectus separately or together in any combination.

We will provide specific terms of any securities to be offered in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. A prospectus supplement may also change, add to, update, supplement or clarify information contained in this prospectus.

Holdings will not use this prospectus to confirm sales of any of its securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Holdings’ common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “EQH.” Unless we state otherwise in this prospectus or an accompanying prospectus supplement, Holdings will not list any of these securities on any securities exchange other than its common stock.

Holdings may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more agents, underwriters, dealers or other third parties or directly to one or more purchasers on a continuous or delayed basis.

Investing in Holdings’ securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page  3 of this prospectus and any risk factors described in any applicable prospectus supplement and in Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying Holdings’ securities.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved the securities described herein or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is November 20, 2019.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     i  

CERTAIN IMPORTANT TERMS

     ii  

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

     iii  

SERVICE MARKS, TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES

     iii  

OUR COMPANY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     3  

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION

     4  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     7  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     8  

DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

     19  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     30  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     36  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     39  

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

     41  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     42  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     43  

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

     45  

EXPERTS

     45  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     45  

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     46  

GLOSSARY

     47  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that Holdings filed with the SEC as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, Holdings is registering an unspecified amount of each class of the securities described in this prospectus, and Holdings may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. In addition, Holdings or any of its affiliates may use this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement in a remarketing or other resale transaction involving the securities after their initial sale. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities Holdings may offer. Each time Holdings sells securities, Holdings will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus may also add to, update, supplement or clarify information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement.

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate information by reference into this prospectus. This information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that Holdings files later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. See “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from, or in addition to, that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus that we prepare or distribute. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. The information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by us is only accurate as of the date of the document containing such information, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus and any sale of Holdings’ securities.

 

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CERTAIN IMPORTANT TERMS

We use the following capitalized terms in this prospectus or documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus:

 

   

“AB” or “AllianceBernstein” means AB Holding and ABLP.

 

   

“AB Holding” means AllianceBernstein Holding L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

   

“ABLP” means AllianceBernstein L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership for the AB business.

 

   

“AXA” means AXA S.A., a société anonyme organized under the laws of France. As of November 6, 2019, AXA beneficially owned 10.1% of Holdings’ common stock.

 

   

“AXA Equitable Life” means AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, a New York corporation, a life insurance company and a wholly owned subsidiary of AXA Equitable Financial Services, LLC, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned direct subsidiary of Holdings.

 

   

“Board” means the Board of Directors of Holdings.

 

   

“Holdings” means AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. without its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

   

“Shareholder Agreement” means the Shareholder Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, between AXA and Holdings.

 

   

“we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” mean AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context refers only to AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (which we refer to as “Holdings”) as a corporate entity.

For definitions of selected financial and product-related terms used in this prospectus and documents incorporated by reference herein, please refer to “Glossary.”

 

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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include estimates regarding market and industry data and forecasts, which are based on publicly available information, industry publications and surveys, reports from government agencies, reports by market research firms and our own estimates based on our management’s knowledge of, and experience in, the insurance industry and market segments in which we compete. Third-party industry publications and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources generally believed to be reliable. Our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information” in this prospectus and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and in Holdings’ filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

SERVICE MARKS, TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES

We hold and license various service marks, trademarks and trade names, such as “AXA,” “AXA Equitable,” “AllianceBernstein,” “Bernstein,” “AB,” “Structured Capital Strategies,” “Retirement Cornerstone,” “Investment Edge,” “Income Edge,” “EQUI-VEST” and logo designs, that we deem particularly important to the advertising activities conducted by each of our businesses. This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of other companies which are the property of their respective holders. We do not intend our use or display of such names or marks to imply relationships with, or endorsements of us by, any other company.

 

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OUR COMPANY

For the definitions of certain capitalized terms used in this prospectus, please refer to “Certain Important Terms” and “Glossary.”

We are one of America’s leading financial services companies and have helped clients prepare for their financial future with confidence since 1859. Our two complementary and well-established principal franchises, AXA Equitable Life and AllianceBernstein, provide:

 

   

Advice and solutions for helping Americans set and meet their retirement goals and protect and transfer their wealth across generations; and

 

   

A wide range of investment management insights, expertise and innovations to drive better investment decisions and outcomes for clients and institutional investors worldwide.

We aim to be a trusted partner to our clients by providing advice, products and services that help them navigate complex financial decisions. Our financial strength and the quality of our people, their ingenuity and the service they provide help us build relationships of trust with our clients.

We believe that the growing and aging U.S. population, shift of responsibility for retirement planning from employers to individuals and overall growth in total investable assets will drive significant demand for our products and services going forward. Throughout our long history, we have embraced change and looked to the future, and we continue to see significant opportunities to find new solutions and new ways to deliver service to clients within our target markets.

We have a leading position at the intersection of advice, asset management, retirement and financial protection that we believe provides our clients with products and solutions that meet their long-term financial needs and our stockholders with attractive growth prospects. We have market-leading positions in our four segments:

 

   

Individual Retirement—We are a leading provider of variable annuity products, which primarily meet the needs of individuals saving for retirement or seeking retirement income by allowing them to invest in various markets through underlying investment options.

 

   

Group Retirement—We offer tax-deferred investment and retirement plans sponsored by educational entities, municipalities and not-for-profit entities as well as small and medium-sized businesses.

 

   

Investment Management and Research—We are a leading provider of diversified investment management, research and related services to a broad range of clients around the world.

 

   

Protection Solutions—We focus on attractive protection segments such as variable universal life (“VUL”) insurance, a universal life insurance product in which the excess amount paid over policy charges can be directed by the policyholder into a variety of Separate Account investment options, and indexed universal life (“IUL”) insurance, a universal life insurance product that uses an equity-linked approach for generating policy investment returns. This business provides capital diversification benefits alongside the longevity profile of our retirement businesses.

We manage our segments in a complementary way. We strive to create value for our clients and stockholders by pricing and managing risks on the liability side of our balance sheet and by generating attractive risk-adjusted investment returns on the asset side. We leverage our underwriting, risk management and investment management skills across our segments, General Account and Separate Accounts.

We distribute our products through a premier affiliated and third-party distribution platform with a successful track record of marketing our innovative and less capital intensive products and solutions allowing us to respond to our clients’ evolving needs and manage our capital and risks responsibly.

 

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Holdings is a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, and our telephone number is (212) 554-1234.

We maintain a public website at https://www.axaequitableholdings.com. The information contained on or connected to our website is not a part of this prospectus, and you should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to purchase Holdings’ securities.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in Holdings’ securities involve risks. We urge you to carefully consider the risk factors described in Holdings’ filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus used in connection with an offering of Holdings’ securities, as well as the information relating to us identified herein in “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” before making an investment decision.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or therein contain forward-looking statements and cautionary statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “seeks,” “aims,” “projects,” “is optimistic,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and include, without limitation, statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, assumptions or current expectations concerning, among other things, financial goals, financial position, results of operations, cash flows, prospects, strategies or expectations, and the impact of prevailing economic conditions.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes and that actual performance and outcomes, including, without limitation, our actual results of operations or financial condition, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by any forward-looking statements. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, those results may not be indicative of results in subsequent periods. New factors emerge from time to time that may cause our business not to develop as we expect, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. Factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ from those reflected in forward-looking statements include, without limitation:

 

   

Adverse conditions in the global capital markets and the economy, including equity market declines, interest rate fluctuations and market conditions, and the ability to meet our liquidity needs;

 

   

Inadequacy of our reinsurance and hedging programs;

 

   

GMxB features within certain of our products;

 

   

Competition from other insurance companies, banks, asset managers and other financial institutions;

 

   

The failure of our new business strategy in accomplishing our objectives;

 

   

Risks related to Holdings’ Investment Management and Research segment, including significant fluctuations in AB’s AUM, the industry-wide shift from actively-managed investment services to passive services, termination of investment advisory agreement, inability to deliver consistent performance, the quantitative models AB uses in certain of its investment services containing errors, and fluctuations in exchange rates;

 

   

Inability to recruit, motivate and retain key employees and experienced and productive financial professionals;

 

   

The amount of statutory capital we have and must hold to meet our statutory capital requirements and our financial strength and credit ratings varying significantly from time to time;

 

   

Holdings’ dependence on the ability of its insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends and other distributions to Holdings, and the failure of its insurance subsidiaries to generate sufficient statutory earnings or have sufficient statutory surplus to enable them to pay ordinary dividends;

 

   

Operational failures, failure of information systems or failure to protect the confidentiality of customer information, including by service providers, or losses due to defaults, errors or omissions by third parties and affiliates;

 

   

Risks related to strategic transactions;

 

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The occurrence of a catastrophe, including natural or man-made disasters;

 

   

Failure to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by a third party;

 

   

Our investment advisory agreements with clients, and selling and distribution agreements with various financial intermediaries and consultants, being subject to termination or non-renewal on short notice;

 

   

Failure of our insurance to fully cover potential exposures;

 

   

Changes in accounting standards;

 

   

Risks and increased compliance and regulatory costs due to certain of our administrative operations and offices being located internationally;

 

   

Our counterparties’ requirements to pledge collateral or make payments related to declines in estimated fair value of specified assets and changes in the actual or perceived soundness or condition of other financial institutions and market participants;

 

   

Gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity and equity securities, illiquid investments and defaults on investments;

 

   

Changes to policyholder behavior assumptions under the contracts reinsured to our affiliated captives, the performance of their hedging program, their liquidity needs, their overall financial results and changes in regulatory requirements regarding the use of captives;

 

   

The failure to administer or meet any of the complex product and regulatory requirements of our retirement and protection products;

 

   

Changes in statutory reserve or other requirements;

 

   

A downgrade in our financial strength and claims-paying ratings;

 

   

Consolidation of or a loss of, or significant change in, key product distribution relationships;

 

   

The failure of our risk management policies and procedures to be adequate to identify, monitor and manage risks;

 

   

Inadequate reserves due to differences between our actual experience and management’s estimates and assumptions;

 

   

Mortality, longevity and morbidity rates or persistency rates differing significantly from our pricing expectations;

 

   

The acceleration of the amortization of DAC;

 

   

Inherent uncertainty in our financial models that rely on a number of estimates, assumptions and projections;

 

   

Subjective determination of the amount of allowances and impairments taken on our investments;

 

   

Changes in the partnership structure of AB Holding and ABLP or changes in the tax law governing partnerships;

 

   

U.S. federal and state legislative and regulatory action affecting financial institutions and changes in supervisory and enforcement policies;

 

   

The Tax Reform Act and future changes in U.S. tax laws and regulations or interpretations thereof;

 

   

Adverse outcomes of legal or regulatory actions;

 

   

Conflicts of interest that arise because AXA and its affiliates have continuing agreements and business relationships with us;

 

   

Our failure to effectively remediate the material weaknesses in Holdings’ internal control over financial reporting, which may result in Holdings’ not being able to report its financial condition or

 

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results of operations accurately or on a timely basis and materially adversely affect the price of Holdings’ common stock;

 

   

Costs associated with rebranding;

 

   

Failure to replicate or replace functions, systems and infrastructure provided by AXA or certain of its affiliates and loss of benefits from AXA’s global contracts; and

 

   

Future sales of shares by Holdings or its existing stockholders which could cause Holdings’ stock price to decline.

You should read this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or therein completely and with the understanding that actual future results may be materially different from expectations. All forward-looking statements made in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or therein are qualified by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date on which it is made, and we do not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking or cautionary statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of events, unanticipated or otherwise, and changes in future operating results over time or otherwise.

Other risks, uncertainties and factors, including the risk factors and other information in Holdings’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended or supplemented in Holdings’ subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in Holdings’ other filings with the SEC incorporated by reference into this prospectus and contained in any applicable prospectus supplement, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make. Readers should read carefully the risk factors and other information in Holdings’ filings with the SEC incorporated by reference into this prospectus and contained in any applicable prospectus supplement to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for, among other things, general corporate purposes. We may include a more detailed description of the use of net proceeds of any specific offering of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General

Holdings may offer unsecured senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We refer to the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities together in this prospectus as the “debt securities.”

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, Holdings will issue the senior debt securities in one or more series under the Indenture, dated as of April 5, 2019 (the “senior indenture”) between Holdings and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, and Holdings will issue subordinated debt securities in one or more series under a subordinated indenture (the “subordinated indenture” and together with the senior indenture, the “indentures”), to be entered into between Holdings and a trustee which we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that Holdings may issue and provide that Holdings may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. Holdings may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture. The indentures do not limit Holdings’ ability to incur other debt.

The senior indenture and the form of subordinated indenture are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you should read the indentures for provisions that may be important to you. The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of the indentures and debt securities are summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indentures and the debt securities, including the definitions therein of certain terms.

Ranking of the Debt Securities

The debt securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of Holdings. The senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of Holdings’ other senior and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of Holdings’ present and future “senior indebtedness” (as defined in the subordinated indenture). See “—Subordination under the Subordinated Indenture.”

Because Holdings is principally a holding company, its right to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent Holdings may be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, Holdings’ obligations under the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and liabilities of its subsidiaries, including liabilities under contracts of insurance and annuities written by Holdings’ insurance subsidiaries, and holders of debt securities should look only to Holdings’ assets for payment thereunder.

Terms of the Debt Securities

Holdings may issue the debt securities in one or more series through an indenture that supplements the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture or through a resolution of the Board or an authorized committee thereof.

Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

   

the title of the debt securities of the series;

 

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whether the debt securities are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities;

 

   

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

the price or prices at which Holdings will sell the debt securities;

 

   

the maturity date or dates of the debt securities of the series;

 

   

the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest or the method of determining such rate or rates, if any;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable or the method by which such date or dates will be determined, and the record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any such interest payment date;

 

   

with respect to the subordinated debt securities, the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods for the series, the maximum duration of any such extension period and the terms, conditions and covenants related thereto;

 

   

whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

if Holdings possesses the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which Holdings may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, the other terms and conditions of any such provisions and the manner in which the particular debt securities are to be selected for redemption;

 

   

Holdings’ obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which Holdings will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;

 

   

the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

   

the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities which Holdings must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with an event of default (as described below), if other than the full principal amount;

 

   

the currency, currencies or currency unit in which Holdings will pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities, if not U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in U.S. dollars;

 

   

provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

   

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or Holdings’ covenants with respect to the debt securities;

 

   

the application, if any, of the terms of the indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities;

 

   

the terms, if any, upon which the holders may or are required to convert such debt securities into common stock or other securities or property of Holdings, including the conversion price and the conversion period;

 

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whether any of the debt securities will be issued in global or certificated form and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which global debt securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities;

 

   

the depositary for global debt securities;

 

   

the forms of the debt securities;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to specific debt securities;

 

   

any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an event of default;

 

   

any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars, calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

 

   

any restrictions on the registration, transfer or exchange of the debt securities;

 

   

whether the subordination provisions summarized below or different subordination provisions will apply to the subordinated debt securities; and

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indentures, as amended or supplemented.

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

Debt securities may also be issued under the indentures upon the exercise of warrants or delivery upon settlement of purchase contracts. See “Description of Warrants,” “Description of Purchase Contracts” and “Description of Units.”

Conversion Rights

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into securities described in this prospectus. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at Holdings’ option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of Holdings’ common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted.

Special Payment Terms of the Debt Securities

Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the U.S. federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

Denominations, Registration and Transfers

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in fully registered form, without coupons, and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of a nominee for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). In such case, each holder’s beneficial interest in the global securities will be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial interests will only be effected through DTC’s records.

 

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A holder of debt securities may only exchange a beneficial interest in a global security for certificated securities registered in the holder’s name in limited circumstances, as described in an applicable prospectus supplement.

A global security may not be transferred except to another nominee of the depositary, or to a successor depositary selected or approved by Holdings or to a nominee of such successor depositary.

If debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will only be issued in the minimum denomination and integral multiples in excess thereof specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement. Transfers and exchanges of such debt securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination and integral multiples in excess thereof. Transfers of debt securities in certificated form may be registered at the trustee’s corporate office or at the offices of any paying agent or trustee appointed by Holdings under the indentures. Exchanges of such debt securities for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities in different denominations may also be made at such locations. There will be no service charge in connection with any exchange or registration of transfer of such debt securities, but payment may be required of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as Holdings may designate for such purpose from time to time.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by Holdings and located in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, will act as paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. Holdings may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that Holdings will be required to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement and subject to applicable law, any money or governmental obligations deposited with the trustee or any paying agent, or then held by Holdings, in trust, for the payment of the principal, interest or premium on any debt security of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to Holdings at its option and upon its request or (if then held by Holdings) will be discharged from such trust, and the holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to Holdings for payment thereof.

Redemption

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may, at its option, redeem any series of debt securities after its issuance date, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may redeem debt securities in denominations larger than $2,000 but only in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will not be subject to any sinking fund.

 

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Redemption Price

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the redemption price for any debt security which Holdings redeems will equal the applicable redemption price for debt securities of such series, together with interest accrued thereon to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption.

Notice of Redemption

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings will transmit, or cause the trustee to transmit, a notice of any redemption of debt securities at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to the registered holders of the debt securities at their addresses as shown on the security register. Unless Holdings defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities or the portions called for redemption.

Restrictive Covenants

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following restrictive covenants shall apply to each series of senior debt securities:

Limitation on Liens

So long as any senior debt securities are outstanding, Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, assume, incur, or guarantee any debt that is secured by a lien on any capital stock of:

 

   

AXA Equitable Life or ABLP;

 

   

any successor to substantially all of the business of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP that is also one of Holdings’ direct or indirect subsidiaries; or

 

   

any entity (other than Holdings) having direct or indirect control of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP or any such successor.

However, this restriction will not apply if the senior debt securities then outstanding are secured at least equally and ratably with the otherwise prohibited secured debt so long as it is outstanding.

Limitations on Dispositions of Stock of Certain Subsidiaries

So long as any senior debt securities are outstanding and subject to the provisions of the senior indenture regarding mergers, consolidations and sales of assets, Holdings shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of capital stock (other than preferred stock having no voting rights of any kind) of:

 

   

AXA Equitable Life or ABLP;

 

   

any successor to substantially all of the business of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP, that is also one of Holdings’ direct or indirect subsidiaries; or

 

   

any entity (other than Holdings) having direct or indirect control of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP or any such successor;

except for, in each case:

 

   

a sale or other disposition of any of such stock to Holdings or one of its wholly owned subsidiaries; or

 

   

a sale or other disposition of all of such stock for at least fair market value (as determined by the board of directors of the entity effecting such sale or disposition acting in good faith); or

 

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a sale or other disposition required to comply with an order of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction, other than an order issued at Holdings’ request or the request of any of Holdings’ subsidiaries.

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following shall constitute “events of default” under the indentures with respect to each series of debt securities:

 

   

Holdings’ failure to pay any interest on any debt security of such series when due and payable, continued for 30 days;

 

   

Holdings’ failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, on any debt security of such series when due, whether at maturity, redemption, acceleration or otherwise, or is required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that no event of default shall occur if the failure to make payment when due results solely from nonpayment by reason of mistake, oversight or transfer difficulties and does not continue beyond three business days;

 

   

Holdings’ failure to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to such series for 90 days after Holdings receives written notice of such failure;

 

   

certain defaults with respect to Holdings’ indebtedness for money borrowed which result in a principal amount in excess of $100 million becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable (other than the debt securities issued pursuant to the applicable indenture or non-recourse debt), and such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled or such indebtedness has not been discharged within 15 days after Holdings receives written notice of such default; and

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or liquidation of Holdings.

If an event of default (other than an event of default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or liquidation of Holdings) with respect to any debt securities of any series outstanding under either of the indentures shall occur and be continuing, the trustee under such indenture or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by notice as provided in the applicable indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately. In the case of an event of default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or liquidation of Holdings, the principal amount of all debt securities of any series outstanding will automatically become due and payable immediately. After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount debt securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount debt securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.

Any past default under either indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, and any event of default arising therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of such series outstanding under such indenture, except in the case of (i) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series or (ii) default in respect of a covenant or provision which may not be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected.

The trustee is required, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (of which it has received written notice and which is continuing), with respect to the debt securities of any series (without regard to any grace

 

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period or notice requirements), to give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of such default; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the debt securities of such series.

The trustee may require indemnification by the holders of the debt securities of any series with respect to which a default has occurred before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the applicable indenture at the request of the holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to such right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series under the applicable indenture may 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 debt securities of such series.

No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any action against Holdings under either of the indentures (except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt security or for the conversion or exchange of such debt security in accordance with its terms) unless (i) the holder has given to the trustee written notice of an event of default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the debt securities of such series specifying an event of default, as required under the applicable indenture, (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding under such indenture shall have requested the trustee to institute such action, (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, (iv) the trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and (v) during such 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Each of the indentures provides that, in the case of a default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any series of debt securities, when the same has become due and payable, and in the case of any payment of interest, such default has continued for 30 calendar days, the trustee or the holder of any debt security may or, if directed by the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of debt securities, the trustee shall, subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture, demand payment of the amount then due and payable and may institute legal proceedings for the collection of such amount if we fail to make payment thereof upon demand.

Holdings is required to furnish annually to the trustee statements as to its compliance with all conditions and covenants under each indenture.

Modification and Waiver

Under the indentures, Holdings and the applicable trustee may supplement the indentures for certain purposes without the consent of the holders of debt securities of any series, for, among other purposes, one or more of the following:

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, mistake, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

   

to add to Holdings’ covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon Holdings under the indentures;

 

   

to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indentures;

 

   

to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities of any series; provided that any change to the terms of any indenture or supplemental indenture or to any series of debt securities made solely to conform to the description of such series of debt securities

 

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in an offering document, prospectus supplement or other similar offering document relating to the initial offering of such series of debt securities shall be deemed to not materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of such series of debt securities;

 

   

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of any indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; or

 

   

to add any additional events of default for the benefit of the holders of any series of debt securities.

Holdings and the applicable trustee may modify the indentures or any supplemental indenture in a manner that affects the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series issued under such indenture. However, the indentures require the consent of each holder of debt securities that would be affected by any modification which would:

 

   

extend the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;

 

   

reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on the debt securities of any series;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount debt security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

   

change the obligation of Holdings to maintain an office or agency and for the purposes specified in the indentures;

 

   

change the currency in which any debt security or any premium or interest is payable;

 

   

impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any debt security;

 

   

adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, any debt security (if applicable);

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the indentures or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indentures or for waiver of certain defaults;

 

   

reduce the requirements contained in the indentures for the consent of holders of the debt securities of any series; or

 

   

modify any of the above provisions.

Each indenture permits the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under such indenture which is affected by the modification or amendment to waive Holdings’ compliance with certain covenants contained in such indenture.

Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions

The indentures provide that Holdings may not (i) merge with or into or consolidate with another entity, or (ii) convey, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any other entity other than one of Holdings’ direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, and no entity may merge with or into or consolidate with Holdings, in each case unless:

 

   

Holdings is the surviving corporation, or the entity formed by or surviving such merger or consolidation or to which such conveyance, lease or transfer has been made (the “Successor”), if other than Holdings, is organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and has expressly assumed by supplemental indenture all of Holdings’ obligations under the debt securities and the indenture;

 

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immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

   

Holdings delivers to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that the supplemental indenture complies with the indenture.

The Successor will be Holdings’ successor, and will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, Holdings under the indentures and become the obligor on the debt securities with the same effect as if the Successor had been named as the issuer under the indentures, and thereafter Holdings shall be relieved of all of its obligations and covenants under the indentures, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of Holdings’ properties and assets, Holdings will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities.

Each indenture provides that the above provisions shall not prohibit (i) the direct or indirect conveyance or transfer of all or any portion of the capital stock, assets or liabilities of any of Holdings’ direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries to Holdings or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or (ii) the consolidation or merger of any of Holdings’ direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries with and into Holdings.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may discharge or defease its obligations under each indenture as set forth below.

Holdings may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture which have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or, in the case of debt securities payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. government obligations (as defined in the applicable indenture), without reinvestment, as trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt securities.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the relevant indenture) (“defeasance”) or (ii) to be released from its obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series (“covenant defeasance”) upon the irrevocable deposit with the relevant trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money or government obligations which, through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount certified to be sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, Holdings must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant indenture. In addition, in the case of either defeasance or covenant defeasance, Holdings shall have delivered to the trustee (i) an officers’ certificate to the effect that the relevant securities exchange(s) have informed it that neither such debt securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit, and (ii) an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent with respect to such defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

 

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Holdings may exercise its defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

Subordination under the Subordinated Indenture

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific subordination provisions. However, unless otherwise noted in the prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of Holdings’ senior indebtedness (as described below).

For purposes of subordinated debt securities, “senior indebtedness” means all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the subordinated indenture or thereafter incurred, created or assumed, and any amendments, renewals, extensions or modifications of any such obligations:

 

   

the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due in respect of indebtedness of Holdings for borrowed money and indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other written instruments issued by Holdings;

 

   

all obligations of Holdings as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on its balance sheet under generally accepted accounting principles and leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which Holdings is a party;

 

   

all obligations of Holdings issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, assets or businesses, all conditional sale obligations of Holdings and all obligations of Holdings under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

 

   

all obligations of Holdings for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction;

 

   

all obligations of Holdings in respect of commodity contracts, interest rate swap, cap, floor, collar or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements;

 

   

all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons for the payment of which Holdings is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and

 

   

all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of Holdings (whether or not such obligation is assumed by Holdings).

“Senior indebtedness” does not include:

 

   

indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by Holdings in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services; or

 

   

any obligation or indebtedness that is, by its terms, subordinated in right of payment to, or ranks equally in right of payment with, the subordinated debt securities.

Senior indebtedness shall continue to be senior indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such senior indebtedness.

Unless otherwise noted in the accompanying prospectus supplement, if Holdings defaults in the payment of any principal of and premium, if any, or interest or any other payment due on any senior indebtedness, or if the maturity of any senior indebtedness of Holdings has been declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, then, unless and until such default is cured or waived or ceases to exist or any acceleration is rescinded or annulled, Holdings will make no payment or distribution of any kind or

 

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character, whether in cash, property or securities, with respect to the principal (including any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any subordinated debt securities) of and premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities or any sinking fund payment, subject to limited exceptions.

If any of the following events occurs, Holdings will pay in full all senior indebtedness before it makes under the subordinated debt securities any payment or distribution of assets of Holdings of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to any holder of subordinated debt securities:

 

   

any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of Holdings, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership;

 

   

any general assignment by Holdings for the benefit of creditors;

 

   

any marshaling of Holdings’ assets or liabilities for the benefit of creditors;

 

   

other similar proceedings.

In such event, any payment by Holdings or distribution of assets of Holdings of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, under the subordinated debt securities, which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the subordinated debt securities, will be paid or delivered directly to the holders of senior indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all senior indebtedness has been paid in full. If any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities is received by the trustee of any subordinated debt securities in contravention of any of the terms of the subordinated indenture and before all the senior indebtedness has been paid in full, such payment or distribution or security will be received in trust for the benefit of, and paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the senior indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all senior indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such senior indebtedness in full.

Neither of the indentures limits the issuance of additional senior indebtedness.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Information Concerning the Trustee

The trustee will have all the duties and responsibilities of an indenture trustee specified in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The trustee will not be required to exercise any of its powers under the indentures at your request, unless you offer indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which the trustee might incur. The rights, privileges, protections and benefits, including its right to be indemnified, given to the trustee under the indentures will also be extended to each agent, custodian and other person employed to act thereunder.

The trustee may act as depositary for funds of, make loans to, and perform other services for, Holdings and its subsidiaries in the normal course of business.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

General

Holdings may offer unsecured junior subordinated debt securities, which we refer to in this prospectus as the “junior subordinated debt securities.” The junior subordinated debt securities will be unsecured, subordinate and junior in right of payment, as described in the junior subordinated indenture, to all of Holdings’ senior indebtedness (as defined in the junior subordinated indenture), which includes all debt issued under the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, Holdings will issue the junior subordinated debt securities in one or more series under a junior subordinated indenture (the “junior subordinated indenture”) to be entered into between Holdings and a trustee which we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The junior subordinated indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated debt securities that Holdings may issue and provides that Holdings may issue junior subordinated debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. Holdings may issue additional junior subordinated debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional junior subordinated debt securities, together with all other outstanding junior subordinated debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of junior subordinated debt securities under the junior subordinated indenture. The junior subordinated indenture does not limit Holdings’ ability to incur other debt.

The form of junior subordinated indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you should read the junior subordinated indenture for provisions that may be important to you. The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of the junior subordinated indenture and the junior subordinated debt securities are summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the junior subordinated indenture and the junior subordinated debt securities, including the definitions therein of certain terms.

Ranking of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

The junior subordinated debt securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of Holdings and will rank equally in right of payment with all of Holdings’ other junior subordinated obligations, including, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to such series or such securities, all other series of junior subordinated debt securities. The junior subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of Holdings’ present and future “senior indebtedness” (as defined in the junior subordinated indenture). See “—Subordination under the Junior Subordinated Indenture.”

Because Holdings is principally a holding company, its right to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent Holdings may be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, Holdings’ obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and liabilities of its subsidiaries, including liabilities under contracts of insurance and annuities written by Holdings’ insurance subsidiaries, and holders of junior subordinated debt securities should look only to Holdings’ assets for payment thereunder.

Terms of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

Holdings may issue the junior subordinated debt securities in one or more series through an indenture that supplements the junior subordinated indenture or through a resolution of the Board.

 

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Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of junior subordinated debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

   

the title of the junior subordinated debt securities of the series;

 

   

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the price or prices at which Holdings will sell the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the maturity date or dates of the junior subordinated debt securities of the series;

 

   

the rate or rates at which the junior subordinated debt securities will bear interest or the method of determining such rate or rates, if any;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable or the method by which such date or dates will be determined, and the record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any such interest payment date;

 

   

the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods for the series, the maximum duration of any such extension period and the terms, conditions and covenants related thereto;

 

   

whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the junior subordinated debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the junior subordinated debt securities will be payable;

 

   

if Holdings possesses the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which Holdings may redeem the junior subordinated debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, the other terms and conditions of any such provisions and the manner in which the particular junior subordinated debt securities are to be selected for redemption;

 

   

Holdings’ obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase junior subordinated debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the junior subordinated debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which Holdings will redeem, repay or purchase the junior subordinated debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;

 

   

the denominations in which the junior subordinated debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

   

the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities which Holdings must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the junior subordinated debt securities in connection with an event of default (as described below), if other than the full principal amount;

 

   

the currency, currencies or currency unit in which Holdings will pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the junior subordinated debt securities, if not U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in U.S. dollars;

 

   

provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the junior subordinated debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

   

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or Holdings’ covenants with respect to the applicable series of junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the application, if any, of the terms of the junior subordinated indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

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the terms, if any, upon which the holders may or are required to convert such junior subordinated debt securities into common stock or other securities or property of Holdings, including the conversion price and the conversion or exchange period;

 

   

whether any of the junior subordinated debt securities will be issued in global or certificated form and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which global junior subordinated debt securities may be exchanged for certificated junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the depositary for global junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the forms of the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to specific junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of junior subordinated debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an event of default;

 

   

any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars, calculation agents or other agents with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

any restrictions on the registration, transfer or exchange of the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

whether the subordination provisions summarized below or different subordination provisions will apply to the junior subordinated debt securities; and

 

   

any other terms of the junior subordinated debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the junior subordinated indenture, as amended or supplemented.

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

Junior subordinated debt securities may also be issued under the junior subordinated indenture upon the exercise of warrants or delivery upon settlement of purchase contracts. See “Description of Warrants,” “Description of Purchase Contracts” and “Description of Units.”

Option to Defer Payment of Interest

If provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, so long as no event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities of such series has occurred and is continuing, Holdings will have the right during the term of any series of junior subordinated debt securities to defer payment of interest otherwise due and payable on the junior subordinated debt securities for a period, including further deferrals of interest during any such period, subject to the terms, conditions and covenants as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, Holdings may not defer payment of interest beyond the maturity date or earlier redemption or acceleration of such series of junior subordinated debt securities.

Conversion Rights

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of the junior subordinated debt securities may be convertible into for securities described in this prospectus. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at Holdings’ option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of Holdings’ common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of junior subordinated debt securities to be adjusted.

Special Payment Terms of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

Junior subordinated debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable

 

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prospectus supplement will describe the U.S. federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any series of junior subordinated debt securities. The junior subordinated debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular junior subordinated debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific junior subordinated debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such junior subordinated debt securities.

Denominations, Registration and Transfers

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the junior subordinated debt securities will be issued in fully registered form, without coupons, and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the junior subordinated debt securities will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of a nominee for DTC. In such case, each holder’s beneficial interest in the global securities will be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial interests will only be effected through DTC’s records.

A holder of junior subordinated debt securities may only exchange a beneficial interest in a global security for certificated securities registered in the holder’s name in limited circumstances, as described in an applicable prospectus supplement.

A global security may not be transferred except to another nominee of the depositary, or to a successor depositary selected or approved by Holdings or to a nominee of such successor depositary.

If junior subordinated debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will only be issued in the minimum denomination and integral multiples in excess thereof specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement. Transfers and exchanges of such junior subordinated debt securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination and integral multiples in excess thereof. Transfers of junior subordinated debt securities in certificated form may be registered at the trustee’s corporate office or at the offices of any paying agent or trustee appointed by Holdings under the junior subordinated indenture. Exchanges of such junior subordinated debt securities for an equal aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated debt securities in different denominations may also be made at such locations. There will be no service charge in connection with any exchange or registration of transfer of such junior subordinated debt securities, but payment may be required of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a junior subordinated debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a junior subordinated debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the junior subordinated debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as Holdings may designate for such purpose from time to time.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by Holdings and located in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, will act as paying agent for payments with respect to junior subordinated debt securities of each series. Holdings may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that Holdings will be required to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment for the junior subordinated debt securities of a particular series.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement and subject to applicable law, any money or governmental obligations deposited with the trustee or any paying agent, or then held by Holdings, in

 

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trust, for the payment of the principal, interest or premium on any junior subordinated debt security of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to Holdings at its option and upon its request or (if then held by Holdings) will be discharged from such trust, and the holder of such junior subordinated debt security thereafter may look only to Holdings for payment thereof.

Redemption

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may, at its option, redeem any series of junior subordinated debt securities after its issuance date, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may redeem junior subordinated debt securities in denominations larger than $2,000 but only in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, junior subordinated debt securities will not be subject to any sinking fund.

Redemption Price

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the redemption price for any junior subordinated debt security which Holdings redeems will equal the applicable redemption price for junior subordinated debt securities of such series, together with interest accrued thereon to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption.

Notice of Redemption

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings will transmit, or cause the trustee to transmit, a notice of any redemption of junior subordinated debt securities at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to the registered holders of the junior subordinated debt securities at their addresses as shown on the security register. Unless Holdings defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the junior subordinated debt securities or the portions called for redemption.

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following shall constitute “events of default” under the junior subordinated indenture with respect to each series of junior subordinated debt securities:

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or liquidation of Holdings; and

 

   

any other event specified in the applicable Board resolution or supplemental indenture under which the series of junior subordinated debt securities is issued.

If an event of default (other than an event of default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or liquidation of Holdings) with respect to any junior subordinated debt securities of any series outstanding under the junior subordinated indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by notice as provided in the junior subordinated indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the junior subordinated debt securities of that series) of all the junior subordinated debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately. In the case of an event of default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or liquidation of Holdings, the principal amount of all junior subordinated debt securities of any series outstanding will automatically become due and payable immediately. After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or

 

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decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding junior subordinated debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount junior subordinated debt securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount junior subordinated debt securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.

Any past default under the junior subordinated indenture with respect to junior subordinated debt securities of any series, and any event of default arising therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all junior subordinated debt securities of such series outstanding under the junior subordinated indenture, except in the case of (i) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any junior subordinated debt securities of such series or (ii) default in respect of a covenant or provision which may not be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding junior subordinated debt security of such series affected.

The trustee is required, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (of which it has received written notice and which is continuing), with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), to give to the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of such series notice of such default; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any junior subordinated debt securities of such series, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of such series.

The trustee may require indemnification by the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of any series with respect to which a default has occurred before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the junior subordinated indenture at the request of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of such series. Subject to such right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding junior subordinated debt securities of any series under the junior subordinated indenture may 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 junior subordinated debt securities of such series.

No holder of a junior subordinated debt security of any series may institute any action against Holdings under the junior subordinated indenture (except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such junior subordinated debt security or for the conversion or exchange of such junior subordinated debt security in accordance with its terms) unless (i) the holder has given to the trustee written notice of an event of default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities of such series specifying an event of default, as required under the junior subordinated indenture, (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities of that series then outstanding under the junior subordinated indenture shall have requested the trustee to institute such action, (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, (iv) the trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and (v) during such 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

The junior subordinated indenture provides that, in the case of a default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any series of junior subordinated debt securities, when the same has become due and payable, and in the case of any payment of interest (other than deferred interest), such default has continued for 30 calendar days (and, in the case of payment of deferred interest, such default has continued for 30 calendar days after the conclusion of any extension period), the trustee or the holder of any junior subordinated debt

 

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security may or, if directed by the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of junior subordinated debt securities, the trustee shall, subject to the provisions of the junior subordinated indenture, demand payment of the amount then due and payable and may institute legal proceedings for the collection of such amount if we fail to make payment thereof upon demand.

Holdings is required to furnish annually to the trustee statements as to its compliance with all conditions and covenants under the junior subordinated indenture.

Modification of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

Under the junior subordinated indenture, Holdings and the trustee may supplement the junior subordinated indenture for certain purposes without the consent of the holders of junior subordinated debt securities of any series, for, among other purposes, one or more of the following:

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, mistake, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

   

to add to Holdings’ covenants for the benefit of the holders of junior subordinated debt securities of any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon Holdings under the indentures;

 

   

to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of junior subordinated debt securities, as set forth in the indentures;

 

   

to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any holder of junior subordinated debt securities of any series; provided that any change to the terms of any indenture or supplemental indenture or to any series of junior subordinated debt securities made solely to conform to the description of such series of junior subordinated debt securities in an offering document, prospectus supplement or other similar offering document relating to the initial offering of such series of junior subordinated debt securities shall be deemed to not materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of such series of junior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the junior subordinated debt securities of any series, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of any indenture or any series of junior subordinated debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of junior subordinated debt securities; or

 

   

to add any additional events of default for the benefit of the holders of any series of junior subordinated debt securities.

Holdings and the trustee may modify the junior subordinated indenture or any supplemental indenture in a manner that affects the interests or rights of the holders of junior subordinated debt securities with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding junior subordinated debt securities of each affected series issued under the junior subordinated indenture. However, the junior subordinated indenture requires the consent of each holder of junior subordinated debt securities that would be affected by any modification which would:

 

   

extend the fixed maturity of any junior subordinated debt securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;

 

   

except as permitted by the junior subordinated indenture and the terms of such series of junior subordinated debt securities, reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on the junior subordinated debt securities of any series;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount junior subordinated debt security or any other junior subordinated debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

   

change the obligation of Holdings to maintain an office or agency and for the purposes specified in the junior subordinated indenture;

 

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change the currency in which any junior subordinated debt security or any premium or interest is payable;

 

   

impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any junior subordinated debt security;

 

   

adversely change the right to convert, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, any junior subordinated debt security (if applicable);

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding junior subordinated debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the junior subordinated indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the junior subordinated indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

 

   

reduce the requirements contained in the junior subordinated indenture for the consent of holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of any series; or

 

   

modify any of the above provisions.

Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions

The junior subordinated indenture provides that Holdings may not (i) merge with or into or consolidate with another entity, or (ii) convey, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any other entity other than one of Holdings’ direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries and no entity may merge with or into or consolidate with Holdings, in each case unless:

 

   

Holdings is the surviving corporation, or the Successor, if other than Holdings, is organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and has expressly assumed by supplemental indenture all of Holdings obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities and the junior subordinated indenture;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

   

Holdings delivers to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that the supplemental indenture complies with the junior subordinated indenture.

The Successor will be Holdings’ successor, and will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, Holdings under the junior subordinated indenture and become the obligor on the junior subordinated debt securities with the same effect as if the Successor had been named as the issuer under the junior subordinated indenture, and thereafter Holdings shall be relieved of all of its obligations and covenants under the junior subordinated indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of Holdings’ properties and assets, Holdings will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities.

The junior subordinated indenture provides that the above provisions shall not prohibit (i) the direct or indirect conveyance or transfer of all or any portion of the capital stock, assets or liabilities of any of Holdings’ direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries to Holdings or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or (ii) the consolidation or merger of any of Holdings’ direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries with and into Holdings.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may discharge or defease its obligations under the junior subordinated indenture as set forth below.

Holdings may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of junior subordinated debt securities issued under the junior subordinated indenture which have not already been delivered to the trustee for

 

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cancellation and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or, in the case of junior subordinated debt securities payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. government obligations (as defined in the applicable indenture), without reinvestment, as trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such junior subordinated debt securities.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities of or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the junior subordinated indenture) (“defeasance”) or (ii) to be released from its obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the junior subordinated debt securities of or within any series (“covenant defeasance”) upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money or government obligations which, through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount certified to be sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such junior subordinated debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, Holdings must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such junior subordinated debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the junior subordinated indenture. In addition, in the case of either defeasance or covenant defeasance, Holdings shall have delivered to the trustee (i) an officers’ certificate to the effect that the relevant securities exchange(s) have informed it that neither such junior subordinated debt securities nor any other junior subordinated debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit, and (ii) an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent with respect to such defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

Holdings may exercise its defeasance option with respect to such junior subordinated debt securities notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

Subordination under the Junior Subordinated Indenture

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of junior subordinated debt securities will describe the specific subordination provisions. However, unless otherwise noted in the prospectus supplement, junior subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of Holdings’ senior indebtedness (as described below).

For purposes of junior subordinated debt securities, “senior indebtedness” means all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the junior subordinated indenture or thereafter incurred, created or assumed, and any amendments, renewals, extensions or modifications of any such obligations:

 

   

the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due in respect of indebtedness of Holdings for borrowed money and indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other written instruments issued by Holdings;

 

   

all obligations of Holdings as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on its balance sheet under generally accepted accounting principles and leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which Holdings is a party;

 

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all obligations of Holdings issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, assets or businesses, all conditional sale obligations of Holdings and all obligations of Holdings under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

 

   

all obligations of Holdings for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction;

 

   

all obligations of Holdings in respect of commodity contracts, interest rate swap, cap, floor, collar or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements;

 

   

all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons for the payment of which Holdings is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and

 

   

all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of Holdings (whether or not such obligation is assumed by Holdings).

“Senior indebtedness” does not include:

 

   

indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by Holdings in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services; or

 

   

any obligation or indebtedness that is, by its terms, subordinated in right of payment to, or ranks equally in right of payment with, the junior subordinated debt securities.

Senior indebtedness shall continue to be senior indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such senior indebtedness.

Unless otherwise noted in the accompanying prospectus supplement, if Holdings defaults in the payment of any principal of and premium, if any, or interest or any other payment due on any senior indebtedness, or if the maturity of any senior indebtedness of Holdings has been declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, then, unless and until such default is cured or waived or ceases to exist or any acceleration is rescinded or annulled, Holdings will make no payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, with respect to the principal (including any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any junior subordinated debt securities) of and premium, if any, or interest on the junior subordinated debt securities or any sinking fund payment, subject to limited exceptions.

If any of the following events occurs, Holdings will pay in full all amounts due on senior indebtedness before it makes under the junior subordinated debt securities any payment or distribution of assets of Holdings of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to any holder of junior subordinated debt securities:

 

   

any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of Holdings, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership;

 

   

any general assignment by Holdings for the benefit of creditors;

 

   

any marshaling of Holdings’ assets or liabilities for the benefit of creditors; or

 

   

other similar proceedings.

In such event, any payment by Holdings or distribution of assets of Holdings of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, under the junior subordinated debt securities, which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the junior subordinated debt securities, will be paid or delivered directly to the holders of senior indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all senior indebtedness has been paid in full. If any payment or distribution under the junior subordinated debt securities is received by the trustee of any junior subordinated debt securities

 

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in contravention of any of the terms of the junior subordinated indenture and before all the senior indebtedness has been paid in full, such payment or distribution or security will be received in trust for the benefit of, and paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the senior indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all senior indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such senior indebtedness in full.

The junior subordinated indenture does not limit the issuance of additional senior indebtedness.

Governing Law

The junior subordinated indenture and the junior subordinated debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Information Concerning the Trustee

The trustee will have all the duties and responsibilities of an indenture trustee specified in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The trustee will not be required to exercise any of its powers under the junior subordinated indenture at your request, unless you offer indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which the trustee might incur. The rights, privileges, protections and benefits, including its right to be indemnified, given to the trustee under the junior subordinated indenture will also be extended to each agent, custodian and other person employed to act thereunder.

The trustee may act as depositary for funds of, make loans to, and perform other services for, Holdings and its subsidiaries in the normal course of business.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of Holdings’ capital stock is a summary of the material terms of Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws. Reference is made to the more detailed provisions of, and the descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to, these documents, forms of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and applicable law.

General

Holdings’ authorized capital stock consists of 2,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 200,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. There are 552,896,328 shares of Holdings’ common stock issued and 489,329,559 shares of Holdings’ common stock issued and outstanding as of November 5, 2019.

Common Stock

Holders of common stock are entitled:

 

   

to cast one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders;

 

   

to receive, on a pro rata basis, dividends and distributions, if any, that Holdings’ Board may declare out of legally available funds, subject to preferences that may be applicable to preferred stock, if any, then outstanding; and

 

   

upon Holdings’ liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to share equally and ratably in any assets remaining after the payment of all debt and other liabilities, subject to the prior rights, if any, of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

The holders of Holdings’ common stock do not have any preemptive, cumulative voting, subscription, conversion, redemption or sinking fund rights. The common stock is not subject to future calls or assessments by Holdings. The rights and privileges of holders of Holdings’ common stock are subject to any series of preferred stock that Holdings may issue in the future, as described below.

As of November 5, 2019, Holdings had 489,329,559 shares of common stock outstanding. As of November 11, 2019, Holdings had eight holders of record of its common stock including Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC, through which shares held in “street name” are held.

Preferred Stock

Under Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Board has the authority, without further action by its stockholders, to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the voting powers, designations, preferences and the relative participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions of each series, including, without limitation, dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series. As of November 5, 2019, no shares of Holdings’ authorized preferred stock were outstanding. Because the Board has the power to establish the preferences and rights of the shares of any series of preferred stock, it may afford holders of any preferred stock preferences, powers and rights, including voting and dividend rights, senior to the rights of holders of Holdings’ common stock, which could adversely affect the holders of the common stock and could delay, discourage or prevent a takeover of Holdings even if a change of control of Holdings would be beneficial to the interests of Holdings’ stockholders.

 

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Annual Stockholders Meeting

Holdings’ amended and restated by-laws provide that annual stockholders meetings will be held at a date, time and place, if any, as exclusively selected by Holdings’ Board. To the extent permitted under applicable law, Holdings may conduct meetings by remote communications, including by webcast.

Voting

The affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of Holdings’ common stock present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors will decide the election of any directors, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Holdings’ common stock present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting and entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders will decide all other matters voted on by stockholders, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of law, under Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or under Holdings’ amended and restated by-laws, a different vote is required, in which case such provision will control. Stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.

Board Designation Rights

Pursuant to the Shareholder Agreement, AXA has specified board designation and other rights. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Relationship with AXA” and “—Shareholder Agreement” in Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Removal of Directors

Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by an affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Holdings’ Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

The provisions of Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws summarized below may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that you might consider in your best interest, including an attempt that might result in your receipt of a premium over the market price for your shares. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of Holdings to first negotiate with the Board, which could result in an improvement of their terms.

Authorized but Unissued Shares of Common Stock. Holdings’ shares of authorized and unissued common stock are available for future issuance without additional stockholders’ approval. While Holdings’ authorized and unissued shares are not designed to deter or prevent a change of control, under some circumstances Holdings could use the additional shares to create voting impediments or to frustrate persons seeking to effect a takeover or otherwise gain control by, for example, issuing those shares in private placements to purchasers who might side with the Board in opposing a hostile takeover bid.

Authorized but Unissued Shares of Preferred Stock. Under Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Board has the authority, without further action by Holdings’ stockholders, to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the voting powers, designations, preferences and the relative participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations and

 

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restrictions of each series, including, without limitation, dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series. The existence of authorized but unissued preferred stock could reduce Holdings’ attractiveness as a target for an unsolicited takeover bid since Holdings could, for example, issue shares of preferred stock to parties who might oppose such a takeover bid or shares that contain terms the potential acquiror may find unattractive. This may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control, may discourage bids for the common stock at a premium over the market price of the common stock, and may adversely affect the market price of, and the voting and other rights of the holders of, Holdings’ common stock.

Special Meetings of Stockholders. Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer or by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.

Stockholders Advance Notice Procedure. Holdings’ amended and restated by-laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to make nominations of candidates for election as directors or to bring other business before an annual meeting of stockholders. The amended and restated by-laws provide that any stockholders wishing to nominate persons for election as directors at, or bring other business before, an annual meeting must deliver to Holdings’ corporate secretary a written notice of the stockholder’s intention to do so. These provisions may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. We expect that these provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of Holdings. To be timely, the stockholder’s notice must be delivered to Holdings’ corporate secretary at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is set for a date that is more than 30 days before or delayed by more than 60 days after the first anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to Holdings’ corporate secretary not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day prior to the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which a public announcement of the date of the meeting is first made by Holdings.

No Stockholders Action by Written Consent. Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that stockholders action may be taken only at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders.

Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that its amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by both the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Holdings’ common stock then entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders; provided that specified provisions of Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation may not be amended, altered or repealed unless the amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Holdings’ common stock then entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, including, but not limited to, the provisions governing:

 

   

liability and indemnification of directors;

 

   

corporate opportunities;

 

   

elimination of stockholders action by written consent;

 

   

prohibition on the rights of stockholders to call a special meeting; and

 

   

required approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Holdings’ common stock to amend Holdings’ amended and restated by-laws and certain provisions of Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

In addition, Holdings’ amended and restated by-laws may be amended, altered or repealed, or new by-laws may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, or by the affirmative vote of the holders of at

 

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least 66 2/3%, of the outstanding shares of Holdings’ common stock then entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

These provisions make it more difficult for any person to remove or amend any provisions in Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws that may have an anti-takeover effect.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination, such as mergers, sales and leases of assets, issuances of securities and similar transactions by a corporation or subsidiary with an interested stockholder including a person or group who beneficially owns 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Section 203 permits corporations, in their certificate of incorporation, to opt out of the protections of Section 203. Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that Holdings has elected not to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL for so long as AXA owns, directly or indirectly, at least five percent of the outstanding shares of Holdings’ common stock. From and after the date that AXA ceases to own, directly or indirectly, at least five percent of the outstanding shares of Holdings’ common stock, Holdings will be governed by Section 203.

Insurance Regulations. The insurance laws and regulations of the various states in which Holdings’ insurance subsidiaries are organized may delay or impede a business combination or other strategic transaction involving Holdings. State insurance laws prohibit an entity from acquiring control of an insurance company without the prior approval of the domestic insurance regulator. Under most states’ statutes, an entity is presumed to have control of an insurance company if it owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting stock of that insurance company or its parent company. These regulatory restrictions may delay, deter or prevent a potential merger or sale of Holdings, even if the Board decides that it is in the best interests of stockholders for Holdings to merge or be sold. These restrictions also may delay sales by Holdings or acquisitions by third parties of Holdings’ subsidiaries. See “Business—Regulation—Insurance Regulation” in Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification

Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions relating to the liability of directors. These provisions eliminate a director’s personal liability for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, except in circumstances involving:

 

   

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty;

 

   

acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law;

 

   

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions; or

 

   

any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.

The principal effect of the limitation on liability provision is that a stockholder will be unable to prosecute an action for monetary damages against a director unless the stockholder can demonstrate a basis for liability for which indemnification is not available under the DGCL. These provisions, however, should not limit or eliminate Holdings’ rights or any stockholder’s rights to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of director’s fiduciary duty. These provisions do not alter a director’s liability under federal securities laws. The inclusion of this provision in Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for a breach of their fiduciary duties, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited Holdings and its

 

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stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws require Holdings to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL and other applicable law, except in the case of a proceeding instituted by the director without the approval of the Board. Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws provide that Holdings is required to indemnify its directors and executive officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for all judgments, fines, settlements, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings because of the director’s or officer’s positions with Holdings or another entity that the director or officer serves at Holdings’ request, subject to various conditions, and to advance funds to Holdings’ directors and officers to enable them to defend against such proceedings. To receive indemnification, the director or officer must have been successful in the legal proceeding or have acted in good faith and in what was reasonably believed to be a lawful manner in Holdings’ best interest and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

In connection with the IPO, Holdings entered into an indemnification agreement with each of its directors. The indemnification agreement provides Holdings’ directors with contractual rights to the indemnification and expense advancement rights provided under Holdings’ amended and restated by-laws, as well as contractual rights to additional indemnification as provided in the indemnification agreement.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling Holdings pursuant to the foregoing provisions, Holdings has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Corporate Opportunities

Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that Holdings, on its behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, potential transactions, matters or business opportunities (each, a “corporate opportunity”) that are from time to time presented to AXA or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates or subsidiaries (other than Holdings and its subsidiaries), even if the opportunity is one that Holdings or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. Neither AXA nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates or subsidiaries is liable to Holdings or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity, directs such corporate opportunity to another person or fails to present such corporate opportunity, or information regarding such corporate opportunity, to Holdings or its subsidiaries unless, in the case of any such person who is a director or officer of Holdings, such corporate opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer in writing solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Holdings. To the fullest extent permitted by law, by becoming a stockholder in Holdings, stockholders are deemed to have notice of and consented to this provision of Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

Choice of Forum

Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless Holdings consents in writing to the selection of an alternate forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent provided by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on Holdings’ behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed to Holdings or its stockholders by any of Holdings’ directors, officers, other employees, agents or stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against Holdings arising under the DGCL or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the

 

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Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (including, without limitation, any action asserting a claim arising out of or pursuant to Holdings’ amended and restated by-laws) or (iv) any action asserting a claim against Holdings that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. To the fullest extent permitted by law, by becoming a stockholder in Holdings, you are deemed to have notice of and have consented to the provisions of Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation related to choice of forum.

Market Listing

Holdings’ common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “EQH”.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

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

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General Terms

Holdings may elect to offer depositary shares representing receipts for fractional interests in debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock. In this case, Holdings will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a debt security, junior subordinated debt security or share of common stock or of a particular series of preferred stock, as the case may be.

Holdings will deposit the debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities or shares of common stock or any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares under a deposit agreement between Holdings and a depositary which we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, as an owner of a depositary share you will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a debt security, junior subordinated debt security or share of common stock or preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the debt security, junior subordinated debt security or common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, represented by the depositary share, including, as the case may be, interest, dividend, voting, conversion, redemption, sinking fund, repayment at maturity, subscription and liquidation rights.

The following description of the terms of the deposit agreement is a summary. It summarizes only those terms of the deposit agreement that we believe will be most important to your decision to invest in Holdings’ depositary shares. You should keep in mind, however, that it is the deposit agreement, and not this summary, which defines your rights as a holder of depositary shares. There may be other provisions in the deposit agreement that are also important to you. You should read the deposit agreement for a full description of the terms of the depositary shares. The form of the deposit agreement will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Interest, Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all payments of interest, cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, to you in proportion to the number of depositary shares that you own.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to you proportionately, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution. In that case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting the distribution, including the sale of the property and the distribution of the net proceeds from the sale to you.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

If Holdings redeems a debt security, junior subordinated debt security, share of common stock or preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the depositary will redeem your depositary shares from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per debt security, junior subordinated debt security or share of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, payable in relation to the debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock to be redeemed. Whenever Holdings redeems debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing, as the case may be, the debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock redeemed. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected either pro rata or by lot.

 

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Exercise of Rights under the Indentures or Voting the Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which you, as a holder of fractional interests in deposited common stock or preferred stock, are entitled to vote, or of any request for instructions or directions from you, as a holder of interests in deposited debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, the depositary will mail to you the information contained in that notice. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary how to give instructions or directions with respect to the debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities represented by that holder’s depositary shares or how to vote the amount of the common stock or preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The record date for the depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for the debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be. The depositary will endeavor, to the extent practicable, to give instructions or directions with respect to the debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities or to vote the amount of the common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, represented by the depositary shares in accordance with those instructions. Holdings will agree to take all reasonable action which the depositary may deem necessary to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will abstain from giving instructions or directions with respect to the debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities or voting shares of the common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, if it does not receive specific instructions from you.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

Holdings and the depositary may amend the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement at any time. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of the depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding.

The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or the depositary only if:

 

   

all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed, or

 

   

there has been a complete repayment or redemption of the debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities or a final distribution in respect of the common stock or preferred stock, including in connection with Holdings’ liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and the repayment, redemption or distribution proceeds, as the case may be, have been distributed to you, or

 

   

upon the consent of holders of depositary receipts representing in the aggregate not less than two-thirds of the depositary shares outstanding.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to Holdings notice of its election to do so. Holdings also may, at any time, remove the depositary. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Holdings must appoint the successor depositary within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal. The successor depositary 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 million or an affiliate of such a person.

Charges of Depositary

Holdings will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. Holdings will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, and issuance of depositary receipts, all withdrawals of shares of debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, by you and any repayment or redemption of the debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be. You will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges, as well as the other charges that are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for your account.

 

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Miscellaneous

The depositary will furnish all reports and communications from Holdings which are delivered to the depositary and which Holdings is required to furnish to holders of debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be.

Neither Holdings nor the depositary will be liable under the deposit agreement to you other than for the depositary’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. Neither Holdings nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceedings relating to any depositary shares, debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. Holdings and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock for deposit, you or other persons believed to be competent and on documents which Holdings and the depositary believe to be genuine.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

Holdings may issue warrants, including warrants to purchase debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities described in this prospectus as well as other types of warrants. Holdings may issue warrants independently or together with any other securities, and they may be attached to or separate from those securities. Holdings will issue the warrants under warrant agreements between Holdings and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, that we will describe in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants to be offered. The warrant agent will act solely as Holdings’ agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The following description of the terms of the warrants is a summary. It summarizes only those terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement which we believe will be most important to your decision to invest in Holdings’ warrants. You should keep in mind, however, that it is the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate relating to the warrants, and not this summary, which defines your rights as a warrantholder. There may be other provisions in the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate relating to the warrants which are also important to you. You should read these documents for a full description of the terms of the warrants. Forms of these documents will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of warrants that Holdings may offer, the warrant agreement relating to the warrants and the warrant certificates representing the warrants. These terms will include the following:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the designation and terms of the underlying securities, for which the warrants are exercisable;

 

   

the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

   

the price or prices at which Holdings will issue the warrants, the number or principal amount of securities that you may purchase upon exercise of each warrant and the price or prices at which such securities may be purchased upon exercise;

 

   

the currency, currencies or currency units, if other than in U.S. dollars, in which such warrants are to be issued or for which the warrants may be exercised;

 

   

the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the designation and terms of any related securities issued with the warrants, and the number of warrants issued with each security;

 

   

in the case of debt warrants, the currency, currencies or currency units, if other than in U.S. dollars, in which any principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants will be payable;

 

   

the date, if any, from which you may separately transfer the warrants and the related securities;

 

   

the date on which your right to exercise the warrants commences, and the date on which your right expires;

 

   

the maximum or minimum number of warrants which you may exercise at any time;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; and

 

   

any other terms of the warrants and terms, procedures and limitations relating to your exercise of the warrants.

We will also describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any provisions for a change in the exercise price or expiration date of the warrants and the kind, frequency and timing of any notice to be given. You may

 

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exchange warrant certificates for new warrant certificates of different denominations and may exercise warrants at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office that we indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to exercise, you will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon that exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the underlying debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, or dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the preferred stock, common stock or other securities purchasable upon the exercise.

Exercise of Warrants

We will describe in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants the principal amount or the number of the securities that you may purchase for cash upon exercise of a warrant, and the exercise price. You may exercise a warrant as described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date stated in the prospectus supplement. Unexercised warrants will become void after the close of business on the expiration date, or any later expiration date that we determine.

Holdings will forward the securities purchasable upon the exercise as soon as practicable after receipt of payment and the properly completed and executed warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or other office stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. If you exercise less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, Holdings will issue you a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

As may be specified in a prospectus supplement, Holdings may issue purchase contracts obligating holders to purchase from Holdings, and Holdings to sell to the holders, a number of debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, shares of common stock or preferred stock, or other securities described in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement at a future date or dates. The purchase contracts may require Holdings to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to any purchase contracts will specify the material terms of the purchase contracts and any applicable pledge or depositary arrangements, including one or more of the following:

 

   

The stated amount that a holder will be obligated to pay under the purchase contract in order to purchase debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, or other securities described in this prospectus or the formula by which such amount shall be determined.

 

   

The settlement date or dates on which the holder will be obligated to purchase such securities. The prospectus supplement will specify whether the occurrence of any events may cause the settlement date to occur on an earlier date and the terms on which an early settlement would occur.

 

   

The events, if any, that will cause Holdings’ obligations and the obligations of the holder under the purchase contract to terminate.

 

   

The settlement rate, which is a number that, when multiplied by the stated amount of a purchase contract, determines the number of securities that Holdings will be obligated to sell and a holder will be obligated to purchase under that purchase contract upon payment of the stated amount of that purchase contract. The settlement rate may be determined by the application of a formula specified in the prospectus supplement. If a formula is specified, it may be based on the market price of such securities over a specified period or it may be based on some other reference statistic.

 

   

Whether the purchase contracts will be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and an underlying security with an aggregate principal amount equal to the stated amount. Any underlying securities will be pledged by the holder to secure its obligations under a purchase contract.

 

   

The type of underlying security, if any, that is pledged by the holder to secure its obligations under a purchase contract. Underlying securities may be debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, or other securities described in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

   

The terms of the pledge arrangement relating to any underlying securities, including the terms on which distributions or payments of interest and principal on any underlying securities will be retained by a collateral agent, delivered to Holdings or be distributed to the holder.

 

   

The amount of the contract fee, if any, that may be payable by Holdings to the holder or by the holder to Holdings, the date or dates on which the contract fee will be payable and the extent to which Holdings or the holder, as applicable, may defer payment of the contract fee on those payment dates. The contract fee may be calculated as a percentage of the stated amount of the purchase contract or otherwise.

The descriptions of the purchase contracts and any applicable underlying security or pledge or depository arrangements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the purchase contract agreement, pledge agreement and deposit agreement, forms of which will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holdings may issue units comprising one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as U.S. Treasury 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. The prospectus supplement will describe:

 

   

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 be held or transferred separately;

 

   

a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;

 

   

a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units; and

 

   

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

The descriptions of the units and any applicable underlying security or pledge or depositary arrangements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of the applicable agreements, forms of which will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Holdings may sell securities from time to time in one or more transactions separately or as units with other securities. Holdings may sell the securities of or within any series to or through agents, underwriters, dealers, remarketing firms or other third parties or directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods. Holdings may issue securities as a dividend or distribution. In some cases, Holdings or dealers acting with Holdings or on behalf of Holdings may also purchase securities and reoffer them to the public. Holdings may also offer and sell, or agree to deliver, securities pursuant to, or in connection with, any option agreement or other contractual arrangement.

Agents whom Holdings designates may solicit offers to purchase the securities. We will name any agent involved in offering or selling securities, and disclose any commissions that Holdings will pay to the agent, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, agents will act on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment. Agents may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act of any of the securities that they offer or sell.

Holdings may use an underwriter or underwriters in the offer or sale of the securities. If Holdings uses an underwriter or underwriters, Holdings will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter or underwriters at the time that it reaches an agreement for the sale of the securities. We will include the names of the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as the names of any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including the compensation the underwriters will receive, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Holdings may use a dealer to sell the securities. If Holdings uses a dealer, Holdings, as principal, will sell the securities to the dealer. The dealer will then sell the securities to the public at varying prices that the dealer will determine at the time it sells the securities. We will include the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions with the dealer in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Holdings may solicit directly offers to purchase the securities, and Holdings may directly sell the securities to institutional or other investors. We will describe the terms of direct sales in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Holdings may engage in at-the-market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act.

Holdings may also offer and sell securities, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms referred to as remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as Holdings’ agents. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with Holdings and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, in connection with the securities they remarket.

Holdings may indemnify agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of their business.

Holdings may authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. If Holdings uses delayed delivery contracts, we will disclose that Holdings is using them in the prospectus supplement and will tell you when Holdings will demand payment and delivery of the securities under the delayed delivery contracts. These delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to the conditions that we describe in the prospectus supplement. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the commission that underwriters and agents soliciting purchases of the securities under delayed contracts will be entitled to receive.

 

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Until the distribution of the securities is completed, SEC rules may limit the ability of underwriters and other participants in the offering to bid for and purchase the securities. As an exception to these rules, the underwriters in certain circumstances are permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. In connection with an offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they hold, and must be closed out by purchasing those securities in the open market. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of an offering. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid on certain underwriters. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriting syndicate a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the underwriting syndicate has repurchased securities sold by or for the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short-covering transactions. These activities by the underwriters, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own account, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities, and may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. As a result, the price of the securities may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on an exchange or automated quotation system, if the securities are listed on that exchange or admitted for trading on that automated quotation system, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Holdings may loan or pledge securities to third parties that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or, if Holdings defaults in the case of a pledge, may offer and sell the securities from time to time using this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. Such third parties may transfer their short positions to investors in the securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or otherwise.

Holdings may enter into derivative or other hedging transactions involving the securities with third parties, or sell securities not covered by the prospectus to third parties in privately-negotiated transactions. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with those derivative transactions, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions, or may lend securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by Holdings or borrowed from Holdings or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from Holdings in settlement of those derivative or hedging transactions to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part).

Holdings may effect sales of securities in connection with forward sale, option or other types of agreements with third parties. Any distribution of securities pursuant to any forward sale agreement may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions that may take place through a stock exchange, including block trades or ordinary broker’s transactions, or through broker-dealers acting either as principal or agent, or through privately-negotiated transactions, or through an underwritten public offering, or through a combination of any such methods of sale, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated or fixed prices.

If 5% or more of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA member, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121 (or any successor rule).

 

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

Unless otherwise specified in any prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters with respect to the securities may be passed upon by counsel for any underwriters, dealers or agents, each of whom will be named in the related prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that Holdings filed with the SEC and do not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits thereto. Some items are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or therein as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance, if such contract or document is filed as an exhibit, reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov, from which interested persons can electronically access the registration statement, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto. Copies of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, are also available at your request, without charge, from:

AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10104

Attention: Head of Investor Relations

Holdings is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, files annual reports containing financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, quarterly reports containing unaudited financial statements, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may inspect and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information without charge at the SEC’s website. You may also access, free of charge, Holdings’ reports filed with the SEC (for example, Holdings’ Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those forms) through our website (www.axaequitableholdings.com). Reports filed with or furnished to the SEC will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. None of the information contained on, or that may be accessed through our websites or any other website identified herein is part of, or incorporated into, this prospectus. All website addresses in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references only.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain important information that you should read about us. The following documents are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:

 

   

Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (the “2018 Annual Report”), filed with the SEC on March 8, 2019;

 

   

Holdings’ Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2019, June  30, 2019 and September 30, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2019, August 9, 2019 and November 7, 2019, respectively;

 

   

Holdings’ Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 3, 2019, March 5, 2019, March 26, 2019, March 29, 2019, April 8, 2019, May 22, 2019 and November 20, 2019;

 

   

The information specifically incorporated by reference into the 2018 Annual Report from Holdings’ Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 9, 2019;

 

   

The description of capital stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on April 25, 2018, as supplemented by the “Description of Capital Stock” included in this prospectus; and

 

   

All documents filed by Holdings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 (including any financial statements or exhibits relating thereto furnished pursuant to Item 9.01) of Form 8-K and not specifically incorporated by reference), after the date of this prospectus.

You should read the information relating to us in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with the information in the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC.

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

The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus are also available on our website as provided under “Where You Can Find More Information.” Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus unless specifically incorporated herein by reference. You may obtain copies of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from us free of charge by requesting them in writing or by telephone at our address or from the SEC, in each case as provided under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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GLOSSARY

Glossary of Selected Financial Terms

 

Account value (“AV”)

Generally equals the aggregate policy account value of our retirement and protection products. General Account AV refers to account balances in investment options that are backed by the General Account while Separate Account AV refers to Separate Account investment assets.

 

Alternative investments

Investments in real estate and real estate joint ventures and other limited partnerships.

 

Assets under management (“AUM”)

Investment assets that are managed by one of our subsidiaries and includes: (i) assets managed by AB, (ii) the invested assets held in the General Account and (iii) the Separate Account assets of our retirement and protection businesses. Total AUM reflects exclusions between segments to avoid double counting.

 

Deferred acquisition cost (“DAC”)

Represents the incremental costs related directly to the successful acquisition of new and certain renewal insurance policies and annuity contracts and which have been deferred on the balance sheet as an asset.

 

Gross premiums

First year premium and deposits (“FYP”) and premium and deposits after the first twelve months of the policy or contract.

 

Invested assets

Includes fixed maturity securities, equity securities, mortgage loans, policy loans, alternative investments and short-term investments.

 

Premium and deposits

Amounts a policyholder agrees to pay for an insurance policy or annuity contract that may be paid in one or a series of payments as defined by the terms of the policy or contract.

 

Reinsurance

Insurance policies purchased by insurers to limit the total loss they would experience from an insurance claim.

 

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Glossary of Product Terms

 

Annuitant

The person who receives annuity payments or the person whose life expectancy determines the amount of variable annuity payments upon annuitization of an annuity to be paid for life.

 

Annuitization

The process of converting an annuity investment into a series of periodic income payments, generally for life.

 

Benefit base

A notional amount (not actual cash value) used to calculate the owner’s guaranteed benefits within an annuity contract. The death benefit and living benefit within the same contract may not have the same benefit base.

 

General Account

Means the assets held in the general accounts of our insurance companies as well as assets held in our separate accounts on which we bear the investment risk.

 

GMxB

A general reference to all forms of variable annuity guaranteed benefits, including guaranteed minimum living benefits, or GMLBs (such as GMIBs, GMWBs and GMABs), and guaranteed minimum death benefits, or GMDBs (inclusive of return of premium death benefit guarantees).

 

Guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”)

An optional benefit (available for an additional cost) which entitles an annuitant to a minimum payment, typically in lump-sum, after a set period of time, typically referred to as the accumulation period. The minimum payment is based on the benefit base, which could be greater than the underlying AV.

 

Guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”)

An optional benefit (available for an additional cost) that guarantees an annuitant’s beneficiaries are entitled to a minimum payment based on the benefit base, which could be greater than the underlying AV, upon the death of the annuitant.

 

Guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIB”)

An optional benefit (available for an additional cost) where an annuitant is entitled to annuitize the policy and receive a minimum payment stream based on the benefit base, which could be greater than the underlying AV.

 

Guaranteed minimum living benefits (“GMLB”)

A reference to all forms of guaranteed minimum living benefits, including GMIBs, GMWBs and GMABs (does not include GMDBs).

 

Guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”)

An optional benefit (available for an additional cost) where an annuitant is entitled to withdraw a maximum amount of their benefit base each year, for which cumulative payments to the annuitant could be greater than the underlying AV.

 

Indexed Universal Life (“IUL”)

A permanent life insurance offering built on a universal life insurance framework that uses an equity-linked approach for generating policy investment returns.

 

Living benefits

Optional benefits (available at an additional cost) that guarantee that the policyholder will get back at least his original investment when the money is withdrawn.

 

Mortality and expense risk fee (“M&E fee”)

A fee charged by insurance companies to compensate for the risk they take by issuing life insurance and variable annuity contracts.

 

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Return of premium (“ROP”) death benefit

This death benefit pays the greater of the account value at the time of a claim following the owner’s death or the total contributions to the contract (subject to adjustment for withdrawals). The charge for this benefit is usually included in the M&E fee that is deducted daily from the net assets in each variable investment option. We also refer to this death benefit as the Return of Principal death benefit.

 

Separate Account

Refers to the separate account investment assets of our insurance subsidiaries excluding the assets held in those separate accounts on which we bear the investment risk.

 

Universal life (“UL”) products

Life insurance products that provide a death benefit in return for payment of specified annual policy charges that are generally related to specific costs, which may change over time. To the extent that the policyholder chooses to pay more than the charges required in any given year to keep the policy in-force, the excess premium will be placed into the AV of the policy and credited with a stated interest rate on a monthly basis.

 

Variable annuity

A type of annuity that offers guaranteed periodic payments for a defined period of time or for life and gives purchasers the ability to invest in various markets though the underlying investment options, which may result in potentially higher, but variable, returns.

 

Variable Universal Life (“VUL”)

Universal life products where the excess amount paid over policy charges can be directed by the policyholder into a variety of Separate Account investment options. In the Separate Account investment options, the policyholder bears the entire risk and returns of the investment results.

 

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LOGO

AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

November 20, 2019

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts or commissions. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC Registration Fee

   $ *  

Printing Fees and Expenses

     **  

Accounting Fees and Expenses

     **  

Legal Fees and Expenses

     **  

Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses

     **  

Trustee Fees and Expenses

     **  

Rating Agency Fees and Expenses

     **  

Miscellaneous

     **  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $             **  
  

 

 

 

 

*

Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act.

**

These fees will be calculated based on the number of issuances and the amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

 

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person 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 the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall 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 that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to

 

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in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145 of the DGCL. Such expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.

Section 145(g) of the DGCL specifically allows a Delaware corporation to purchase liability insurance on behalf of its directors and officers and to insure against potential liability of such directors and officers regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify such directors and officers under Section 145 of the DGCL.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. This provision, however, may not eliminate or limit a director’s liability (1) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL, which provides for liability of directors for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock purchases, redemptions or other distributions, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Section 174 of the DGCL provides, among other things, that a director who willfully and negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time the action occurred or immediately after the absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.

Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions permitted under the DGCL relating to the liability of directors. These provisions eliminate a director’s personal liability for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, except in circumstances involving:

 

   

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty;

 

   

acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law;

 

   

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock purchases, redemptions or other distributions; or

 

   

any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.

Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws require Holdings to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL and other applicable law, except in the case of a proceeding instituted by the director without the approval of Holdings’ board of directors. Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws provide that Holdings is required to indemnify its directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for all judgments, fines, settlements, legal fees and other expenses incurred in

 

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connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings because of such director’s or officer’s positions with Holdings or another entity that the director or officer serves at Holdings’ request, subject to various conditions, and to advance funds to Holdings’ directors and officers to enable them to defend against such proceedings. To receive indemnification, the director or officer must have been successful in the legal proceeding or have acted in good faith and in what was reasonably believed to be a lawful manner in Holdings’ best interest and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Indemnification Agreements

In connection with the IPO, Holdings’ entered into indemnification agreements with its directors. The indemnification agreements provide the directors with contractual rights to the indemnification and expense advancement rights provided under Holdings’ amended and restated by-laws, as well as contractual rights to additional indemnification as provided in the indemnification agreements.

The indemnification agreements provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for reimbursement to Holdings if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and Holdings’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws.

Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

Holdings has obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures against certain liabilities that Holdings’ directors and officers and the directors and officers of its subsidiaries may, in such capacities, incur.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits.

The Exhibits to this registration statement on Form S-3 are listed in the Exhibit Index which precedes the signature pages to this registration statement and is herein incorporated by reference.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

Rule 415 Offering.

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;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (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

 

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SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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

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

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

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act 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.

 

II-4


Table of Contents

Filings Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents by Reference.

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

Request for Acceleration of Effective Date or Filing of Registration Statement Becoming Effective Upon Filing.

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

Qualification of Trust Indentures Under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for Delayed Offerings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

II-5


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit Description

1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities.*
1.2    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Preferred Stock.*
1.3    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Stock.*
1.4    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Warrants.*
1.5    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Purchase Contrasts.*
1.6    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Units.*
4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2018, as filed on June 20, 2018 (the “Q-1 2018 Form 10-Q”)).
4.2    Amended and Restated By-laws of AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Q-1 2018 Form 10-Q).
4.3    Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., File No. 333-221521).
4.4    Indenture, dated as of April 5, 2019, among AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Senior Indenture”).
4.5    Form of Global Security (senior debt securities).*
4.6    Form of Subordinated Indenture.
4.7    Form of Global Security (subordinated debt securities).*
4.8    Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture.
4.9    Form of Global Security (junior subordinated debt securities).*
4.10    Form of Deposit Agreement.*
4.11    Form of Depositary Receipt.*
4.12    Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant.*
4.13    Form of Purchase Contract Agreement.*
4.14    Form of Unit Agreement.*
5.1    Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.
23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2    Consent of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1    Powers of Attorney (contained on signature pages to the Registration Statement on Form S-3).
25.1    Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, under the Senior Indenture, relating to the senior debt securities.

 

*

Indicates document to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K and incorporated herein by reference.


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. 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 New York, State of New York, on November 20, 2019.

 

AXA EQUITABLE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Mark Pearson

  Name:   Mark Pearson
  Title:     President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mark Pearson, Anders B. Malmström and Dave S. Hattem, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power to act separately and full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments to this registration statement) and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as they or such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either or them or his or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

This Power of Attorney shall not revoke any powers of attorney previously executed by the undersigned. This Power of Attorney shall not be revoked by any subsequent power of attorney that the undersigned may execute, unless such subsequent power of attorney specifically provides that it revokes this Power of Attorney by referring to the date of the undersigned’s execution of this Power of Attorney. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever two or more powers of attorney granting the powers specified herein are valid, the agents appointed on each shall act separately unless otherwise specified.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed on November 20, 2019 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Mark Pearson

Mark Pearson

   President and Chief Executive Officer; Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Anders B. Malmström

Anders B. Malmström

   Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ William Eckert

William Eckert

   Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and
Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Thomas Buberl

Thomas Buberl

   Director

/s/ Gérald Harlin

Gérald Harlin

   Director


Table of Contents

Signature

  

Title

/s/ George Stansfield

George Stansfield

   Director

/s/ Kristi A. Matus

Kristi A. Matus

   Director

/s/ Bertram L. Scott

Bertram L. Scott

   Director

/s/ Daniel G. Kaye

Daniel G. Kaye

   Director

/s/ Ramon de Oliveira

Ramon de Oliveira

   Director

/s/ Charles G.T. Stonehill

Charles G.T. Stonehill

   Director
EX-4.4 2 d830523dex44.htm EX-4.4 EX-4.4

Exhibit 4.4

Execution

AXA EQUITABLE HOLDINGS, INC.,

ISSUER

AND

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

TRUSTEE

 

 

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF April 5, 2019

 

 

PROVIDING FOR ISSUANCE OF DEBT SECURITIES IN SERIES


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE(1)

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION

   SECTION OF INDENTURE

310(a)

   7.09

310(b)

   7.08

311(a)

   7.13

311(b)

   7.13

312(a)

   5.01; 5.02(a)

312(b)

   5.02(c)

312(c)

   5.01(d)

313(a)

   5.04(a)

313(b)

   5.04(b)

313(c)

   5.04(b)

313(d)

   5.04(c)

314(a)

   5.03; 4.04; 14.07

314(b)

   Inapplicable

314(c)

   14.07

314(d)

   Inapplicable

314(e)

   14.07

315(a)

   7.01

315(b)

   6.01(b)

315(c)

   7.01(a); 7.02(d)

315(d)

   7.01(b)

315(e)

   6.08

316(a)

   6.07; 6.09

316(b)

   6.05

316(c)

   8.01

317(a)

   6.02

317(b)

   4.03

318(a)

   14.10

 

(1)

This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         PAGE  
ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01

  Definitions of Terms      1  
ARTICLE II

 

DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,

REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

 

 

Section 2.01

  Designation and Terms of Securities      8  

Section 2.02

  Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate      11  

Section 2.03

  Denominations; Provisions for Payment      11  

Section 2.04

  Execution and Authentication      13  

Section 2.05

  Registration of Transfer and Exchange      14  

Section 2.06

  Temporary Securities      15  

Section 2.07

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities      16  

Section 2.08

  Cancellation      17  

Section 2.09

  Benefits of Indenture      17  

Section 2.10

  Authenticating Agent      17  

Section 2.11

  Global Securities      18  

Section 2.12

  CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.      19  

Section 2.13

  Calculation Agent      20  
ARTICLE III

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

 

Section 3.01

  Redemption      20  

Section 3.02

  Notice of Redemption      20  

Section 3.03

  Payment upon Redemption      21  

Section 3.04

  Sinking Fund      22  

Section 3.05

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      22  

Section 3.06

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      23  

 

i


ARTICLE IV

 

CERTAIN COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      23  

Section 4.02

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      23  

Section 4.03

  Paying Agents      24  

Section 4.04

  Statement by Officers as to Default      26  

Section 4.05

  Existence      26  

Section 4.06

  Limitation on Liens on Stock of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company and ABLP      26  

Section 4.07

  Limitations on Disposition of Stock of Certain Subsidiaries      27  

Section 4.08

  Waiver of Certain Covenants      27  

Section 4.09

  Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee      28  
ARTICLE V

 

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 5.01

  Company to Furnish Trustee with Names and Addresses of Securityholders      28  

Section 5.02

  Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders      28  

Section 5.03

  Reports by the Company      29  

Section 5.04

  Reports by the Trustee      29  
ARTICLE VI

 

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

Section 6.01

  Events of Default      29  

Section 6.02

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      33  

Section 6.03

  Application of Moneys Collected      34  

Section 6.04

  Limitation on Suits      35  

Section 6.05

  Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal and Interest      35  

Section 6.06

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver      35  

Section 6.07

  Control by Securityholders      36  

Section 6.08

  Undertaking to Pay Costs      36  

Section 6.09

  Waiver of Past Defaults      37  

 

ii


ARTICLE VII

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee      37  

Section 7.02

  Certain Rights of Trustee      39  

Section 7.03

  Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities      41  

Section 7.04

  May Hold Securities      41  

Section 7.05

  Moneys Held in Trust      41  

Section 7.06

  Compensation and Reimbursement      42  

Section 7.07

  Reliance on Officers’ Certificate      43  

Section 7.08

  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      43  

Section 7.09

  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      43  

Section 7.10

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      43  

Section 7.11

  Acceptance of Appointment By Successor      45  

Section 7.12

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      46  

Section 7.13

  Preferential Collection of Claims against the Company      47  

Section 7.14

  Agents      47  
ARTICLE VIII

 

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 8.01

  Evidence of Action by Securityholders      47  

Section 8.02

  Proof of Execution by Securityholders      48  

Section 8.03

  Who May be Deemed Owners      48  

Section 8.04

  Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded      48  

Section 8.05

  Actions Binding on Future Securityholders      49  
ARTICLE IX

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.01

  Supplemental Indentures without the Consent of Securityholders      49  

Section 9.02

  Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders      51  

Section 9.03

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures      52  

Section 9.04

  Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures      52  

Section 9.05

  Execution of Supplemental Indentures      53  

 

iii


ARTICLE X

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 10.01

  When the Company May Consolidate, Merge, Etc.      53  
ARTICLE XI

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      54  

Section 11.02

  Discharge of Obligations      55  

Section 11.03

  Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust      55  

Section 11.04

  Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents      56  

Section 11.05

  Repayment to Company      56  
ARTICLE XII

 

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 12.01

  No Recourse      56  
ARTICLE XIII

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 13.01

  Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      57  

Section 13.02

  Defeasance and Discharge      57  

Section 13.03

  Covenant Defeasance      58  

Section 13.04

  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      58  

Section 13.05

  Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions      60  

Section 13.06

  Reinstatement      61  
ARTICLE XIV

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 14.01

  Effect on Successors and Assigns      62  

Section 14.02

  Actions by Successor      62  

Section 14.03

  Notices      62  

Section 14.04

  Governing Law      63  

 

iv


Section 14.05

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     64  

Section 14.06

 

Submission to Jurisdiction

     64  

Section 14.07

 

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     64  

Section 14.08

 

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     65  

Section 14.09

 

Payments on Business Days

     65  

Section 14.10

 

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     65  

Section 14.11

 

Counterparts

     66  

Section 14.12

 

Separability

     66  

Section 14.13

 

Assignment

     66  

Section 14.14

 

Headings and Table of Contents

     66  

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of April 5, 2019, among AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as trustee hereunder (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Trustee”).

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured debt securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series, as provided in this Indenture;

WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders of Securities, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions of Terms.

The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument. All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

ABLP” means AllianceBernstein L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or any successor in interest thereto.

 

1


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. When used with respect to any Person, “control” means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” and “under common control with” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Agents” means the Authenticating Agent, the Paying Agent, the Security Registrar and the Calculation Agent, and each of their successor or assigns duly appointed herein, and any such other Person identified as an “Agent” in any supplemental indenture hereto.

Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Company or the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.

AXA Equitable Life” means AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, a stock insurance company duly organized and existing under the insurance laws of the State of New York, or any successor in interest thereto.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such 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 and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.

Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, legal holiday or a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

Calculation Agent” has the meaning stated in Section 2.13 of this Indenture.

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares or units of, rights to purchase, warrants or options for, or other equivalent interests in equity of such Person, including Preferred Stock.

 

2


Certificate” means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 14.07.

Company” means AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor in interest thereto.

Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by (i) its President or any Vice President and (ii) its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at The Bank of New York Mellon, 240 Greenwich Street, 7E, New York, NY 10286, Attention: Tammy Wolbers.

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or Section 2.11.

Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.

Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee or Authenticating Agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

3


Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, 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 Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

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.

Indebtedness” of any Person means the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due on indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is (a) indebtedness for money borrowed, and (b) any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness. For the purposes of this definition, “indebtedness for money borrowed” means (i) any obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, such Person for the repayment of borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other written instruments, (ii) any obligation of, or any such obligation guaranteed by, such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar written instruments, including obligations assumed or incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses (provided that the deferred purchase price of any other business or property or assets shall not be considered Indebtedness if the purchase price thereof is payable in full within 90 days from the date on which such indebtedness was created) and (iii) any obligations of such Person as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles and leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which such Person is a party.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.

 

4


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

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company that is delivered to the Trustee and the Agent (as applicable) in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(c).

Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article Three provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07; and (d) Securities as to which Defeasance (as defined in Section 13.02) has been effected pursuant to Section 13.02; provided, however, that in determining whether the Securityholders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date,

 

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(A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 6.01(c), (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 2.01, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 2.01, 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 Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.

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

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

Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 or, if not so specified, New York, New York.

Preferred Stock” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation or company means Capital Stock of any class or classes that by its terms is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation or company, over Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation or company.

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 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

 

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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.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable), means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable), including any vice president, assistant vice president, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable) 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” has the meaning stated in the preamble of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

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

Security Register” has the meaning stated in Section 2.05(b) of this Indenture.

Security Registrar” has the meaning stated in Section 2.05(b) of this Indenture.

Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” “registered holder,” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

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

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.

 

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Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon, and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect at the date of execution of this Indenture, except as otherwise provided herein.

Voting Stock,” as applied to stock of any Person, all classes of Capital Stock of such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person.

Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity on a series of securities calculated at the time of issuance of such series or, if applicable, of the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

ARTICLE II

DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,

REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

Section 2.01 Designation and Terms of Securities.

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:

(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that 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 that series);

(3) the price or prices at which the Company will sell the Securities;

(4) the Stated Maturity of the Securities;

 

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(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;

(6) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates and the record date for the determination of holders of Securities to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates;

(7) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to any index, formula, or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(8) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

(9) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, and the manner in which the particular Securities of such series (if less than all Securities of such series are to be redeemed) are to be selected for redemption;

(10) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in participation of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder of Securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(11) if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(12) if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion or, methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;

(13) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;

 

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(14) provisions granting special rights to Securityholders upon the occurrence of specific events;

(15) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or the Company’s covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;

(16) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(17) whether the Securities will be convertible into shares of common stock or other securities or property of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including the conversion price and the conversion period;

(18) whether the Securities are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the identity for the Depositary for such series and the terms and conditions upon which Global Securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities;

(19) the forms of the Securities of the series;

(20) any special tax implications of the Securities of the series, including any provisions for Original Issue Discount Securities, if offered;

(21) any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Securityholders to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.01;

(22) any trustees, authenticating or Paying Agents, transfer agents or registrars, calculation agents or other agents with respect to the Securities;

(23) any restrictions on the registration, transfer or exchange of the Securities; and

(24) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(10), but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture with respect to such series).

 

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To the extent any such Officers’ Certificate setting forth such Board Resolution or supplemental indenture modifies or deletes any provision of this Indenture with respect to the series established thereunder, the terms as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture shall supersede this Indenture with respect to such series.

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, 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 of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.

Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.

Section 2.02 Form of Securities and Trustees Certificate.

The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s or Authenticating Agent’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution of the Company and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.

Section 2.03 Denominations; Provisions for Payment.

The Securities shall be issuable in fully registered form, without coupons, and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, subject to Section 2.01(11). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.01, the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for

 

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that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months, except as otherwise specified under Section 2.01 for Securities of any series.

The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder of Securities; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:

(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (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 and the Paying Agent in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and the Paying Agent for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 5 days after receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the

 

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Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee and the Paying Agent of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Paying Agent.

Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution of the Company or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.

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

Section 2.04 Execution and Authentication.

The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, or one of its Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, or one of its Assistant Treasurers, or its Secretary, or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature. The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or Vice President thereof, or of any Person who shall have been a Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President or a Vice President, the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.

 

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A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Securityholder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

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 or an Authenticating Agent for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.

In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

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, protections, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Section 2.05 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided (the “Security Registrar”).

Upon surrender for the registration of transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.

All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.

(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.

(d) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the transmittal of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmittal, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.

Section 2.06 Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent upon the same

 

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conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the Securityholders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.

In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee or an Authenticating Agent may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon receipt of a Company Order. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent 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) connected therewith. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

 

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Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.08 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any Paying Agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. Upon receipt of a timely Company Request at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such Company Request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.09 Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and holders of Securities.

Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent.

So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Company or the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by

 

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an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon receipt of a Company Request shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, protections, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.

Section 2.11 Global Securities.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor

 

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Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent will authenticate (or cause to authenticate) and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate (or cause to authenticate) and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Security Registrar shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

(d) The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary.

Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.

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

 

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Section 2.13 Calculation Agent

The Company may appoint one or more calculation agents with respect to the Securities (the “Calculation Agent”). All calculations made by the Calculation Agent for the purposes of calculating interest on any series shall be conclusive and binding on the Trustee, the Company, and the registered holders, absent manifest errors.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

Section 3.01 Redemption.

The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

Section 3.02 Notice of Redemption.

(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by transmitting a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is transmitted in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. 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 and the Paying Agent with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is

 

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the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee and the Paying Agent at least 15 days’ (or such shorter period as the Trustee and the Paying Agent may agree) notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $2,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part; provided that if the Securities are represented by a Global Security, interests in such Global Security shall be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, instruct the Trustee or any Paying Agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such Paying Agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such Paying Agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such Paying Agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such Paying Agent to give any notice that may be required under the provisions of this Section.

Section 3.03 Payment upon Redemption.

(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, such Securities shall

 

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be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an interest payment date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).

(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the Securityholder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

Section 3.04 Sinking Fund.

The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 3.05 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series 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 the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee and the Security Registrar at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

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Section 3.06 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 30 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Paying Agent an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 15 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.

ARTICLE IV

CERTAIN COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

(a) The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities on or prior to the dates and in the manner provided in such Securities or pursuant to this Indenture. An installment of principal, premium, if any, or interest shall be considered paid on the applicable due date if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to pay all of such installment then due.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as hereinabove authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by its President or a Vice President and delivered to the trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, 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, notices and demands.

 

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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 such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Section 4.03 Paying Agents.

(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more Paying Agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee or the initial Paying Agent, the Company will cause each such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:

(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;

(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;

(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent; and

(4) that it will perform all other duties of Paying Agent as set forth in this Indenture.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal, and premium, if any, or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on

 

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such Securities) to take such action. 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, and premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the 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, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (ii) 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 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 terms and conditions 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.

(d) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, any money or Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company at its option upon the delivery of a Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

(e) Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.

 

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Section 4.04 Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, to the effect that to the best knowledge of the signers thereof (on behalf of the Company) the Company is or is not in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

The Company shall, so long as any of the Securities are Outstanding, deliver to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, within ten Business Days upon any officer of the Company becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default.

Section 4.05 Existence.

Subject to Article X, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and its rights and franchises; provided that nothing in this Section 4.05 shall prevent the abandonment or termination of any right or franchise of the Company if, in the opinion of the Company, such abandonment or termination is in the best interests of the Company and not prejudicial in any material respect to the holders of the Securities.

Section 4.06 Limitation on Liens on Stock of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company and ABLP.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, and for so long as any Securities are Outstanding, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, at any time directly or indirectly, create, assume, incur or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Capital Stock of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP, of any successor to substantially all of the business of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, or of any Person (other than the Company) having direct or indirect control of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP or any such successor, in each case provided that such Person or successor is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, without making effective provision whereby the Securities then Outstanding (and, if the Company so elects, any other Indebtedness of the Company that is not subordinate to the Securities and with respect to which the governing instruments require, or pursuant to which the Company is otherwise obligated or required, to provide such security) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such secured Indebtedness so long as such other Indebtedness shall be secured.

If the Company shall hereafter be required to secure the Securities equally and ratably with (or prior to) any other Indebtedness pursuant to this Section, (i) the Company will promptly deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the foregoing covenant has been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that

 

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in the opinion of such counsel the foregoing covenant has been complied with and that any instruments executed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in the performance of the foregoing covenant comply with the requirements of the foregoing covenant and (ii) the Trustee is hereby authorized to enter into an indenture or agreement supplemental hereto and to take such action, if any, as it may deem advisable to enable it to enforce the rights of the Securityholders of the Securities so secured.

Section 4.07 Limitations on Disposition of Stock of Certain Subsidiaries.

(a) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01 and except in a transaction governed by Article X of this Indenture, so long as any Securities are Outstanding, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Company to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Capital Stock (other than Preferred Stock having no voting rights of any kind) of (i) AXA Equitable Life or ABLP, (ii) any successor to substantially all of the business of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP, that is also a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, or (iii) any Person (other than the Company) having direct or indirect control of AXA Equitable Life or ABLP or any such successor.

(b) Notwithstanding the forgoing, Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to (i) a sale or other disposition of any shares of such Capital Stock to the Company or to one of its direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries, (ii) a sale or other disposition of any shares of such Capital Stock for at least fair market value (as determined by the board of directors of the Person effecting such sale or disposition, acting in good faith), or (iii) a sale or other disposition required to comply with an order of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction, other than an order issued at the Company’s request or the request of any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 4.08 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Sections 2.01(a)(15), 9.01(4) or 9.01(7) for the benefit of the holder of such series or in any of Sections 4.06 and 4.07, if before the time for such compliance the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by act of such holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 4.09 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

ARTICLE V

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.01 Company to Furnish Trustee with Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee and the Security Registrar (a) on a semi-annual basis not more than 10 days after each regular record date a list, in such form as the Trustee or the Security Registrar may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee and the Security Registrar by the Company; and (b) at such other times as the Trustee or the Security Registrar may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

Section 5.02 Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders.

(a) The Trustee and the Security Registrar shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Securityholders contained in the most recent list furnished to them as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of Securityholders received by the Trustee or the Security Registrar.

(b) The Trustee and the Security Registrar may destroy any list furnished to them as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities.

 

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(d) Every Securityholder, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar that neither the Company, nor the Trustee, nor the Security Registrar, nor any agent of any of them, shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Securityholders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 5.03 Reports by the Company.

Following the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, the Company shall comply with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of such reports, documents and information to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with the terms of this Article V or the posting of any reports, documents and information on the EDGAR system or any website.

Section 5.04 Reports by the Trustee.

(a) On or before July 15 in each year in which any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(b) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission.

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing, unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in accordance with Section 2.01:

(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

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(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, because of acceleration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; provided further, that no Event of Default shall occur if the failure to make payment when due and payable results solely from nonpayment by reason of mistake, oversight or transfer difficulties and does not continue beyond three Business Days;

(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and to the effect that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified United States mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;

(4) an event of default, as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any Indebtedness for money borrowed of the Company (other than a default under this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series or a default with respect to any non-recourse Indebtedness), whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, shall happen and shall result in a principal amount in excess of $100,000,000 of Indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, and such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled, or such Indebtedness shall not have been discharged, within a period of 15 days after there has been given, by registered or certified United States 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 that series a written notice specifying such event of default and requiring the Company to cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled or to cause such Indebtedness to be discharged and to the effect that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

 

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(5) the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of:

(i) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

(ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(iii) a final and non-appealable order appointing a Custodian of the Company or of any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company;

(6) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: (i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding; (iii) files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief or consents to such filing or to the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, and such Custodian is not discharged within 60 days; (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (v) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or

(7) any other Event of Default provided for pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to Securities of that series.

(b) The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Default (of which it has received written notice and which is continuing) with respect to the Securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), give to the Securityholders of the Securities of such series notice of such Default; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of the Securities of such series.

 

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(c) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(5) or 6.01(a)(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the Securityholders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(5) or 6.01(a)(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholder, become immediately due and payable.

(d) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company, the Trustee and the Paying Agent may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of, and premium, if any, on any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) expressed in the Securities of that series (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.09.

No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(e) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, protections, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

 

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Section 6.02 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

(a) The Company covenants that (1) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (2) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal, and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal, and premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06.

(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.

(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee and Agents under Section 7.06; and any receiver,

 

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assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee and Agents, and, in the event that the Trustee and Agents shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee and Agents any amount due it under Section 7.06.

(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or 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 payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.03 Application of Moneys Collected.

Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal, or premium, if any, or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee and the Agents under Section 7.06;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series 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 Securities for principal, and premium, if any, and interest, respectively and

 

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THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, its successors or assigns or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Section 6.04 Limitation on Suits.

No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity satisfactory to it as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Section 6.05 Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Securityholder to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Securityholder.

Section 6.06 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Securityholders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.

 

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(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Securityholder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04 or Section 6.05, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.

Section 6.07 Control by Securityholders.

The Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, 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 such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Securityholders of any other series at the time Outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.08 Undertaking to Pay Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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Section 6.09 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 6.01(d), the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf of the Securityholders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

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

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Securityholder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

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

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations or duties (including fiduciary duties) shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series 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 or her own affairs.

 

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(b) 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) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:

(a) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants, duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(b) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture;

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding 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 that series; and

(4) None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

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(5) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder, or losses, arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services, including Internet services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or personally liable for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, however styled, including, without limitation, lost profits, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of the loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(7) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for or with respect to the validity, perfection or priority of any lien or security interest or for or with respect to the preparation, filing, amendment or continuation of any financing statements in connection thereto.

Section 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or a Company Order or Company Request (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);

(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel, investment bankers, accountants or other professionals and the written advice of such counsel, investment bankers, accountants or other professionals or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to 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 or her own affairs;

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

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.04); provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand; and

(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) Whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action to be taken hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate and delivered to the Trustee and such Officers’ Certificate, in the absence of gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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(i) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any fact or event unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has obtained “actual knowledge” thereof or unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received a written notice of such fact or event. The term “actual knowledge” as used herein shall mean the actual fact or statement of knowing by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee without independent investigation with respect thereto. Except for reports prepared by the Trustee pursuant to an express provision of an agreement signed by the Trustee, the delivery of reports or other information does not constitute actual knowledge.

Section 7.03 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.

(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.

(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.

(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

Section 7.04 May Hold Securities.

The Trustee or any Paying Agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent or Security Registrar.

Section 7.05 Moneys Held in Trust.

Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held, uninvested, in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.

 

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Section 7.06 Compensation and Reimbursement.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee and the Agents, and the Trustee and the Agents shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company, and the Trustee or the Agents may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee or the Agents, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee and the Agents upon their request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee or the Agents in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their counsel and of all Persons not regularly in their employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise directly from their negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee and the Agents (and their officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all claims, obligation, losses, liabilities, damages, injuries, penalties, stamp or other similar taxes, actions, suits, proceeding, judgment, reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and agents’ fees and expenses and fees and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of indemnification rights) of whatever kind or nature regardless of their merit, demanded, asserted, or claimed against the Trustee (whether asserted by any Securitiyholder, the Company or otherwise) directly or indirectly related to, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises, reasonable attorneys’ and consultants’ fees and expenses and court costs, enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.06) and of defending themselves against any claims except to the extent caused directly by the Trustee’s or Agents’ negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06(a) shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee or an Agent.

(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and Agents and to pay or reimburse the Trustee and Agents for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee or Agents as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders of particular Securities.

(c) Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee or the Agents under applicable law, when the Trustee or the Agents incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(5) or Section 6.01(a)(6) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

 

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Section 7.07 Reliance on Officers Certificate.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation 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, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.

Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such

 

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notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the transmitting of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after receipt of a Company Request therefor or written request by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after receipt of a Company Request therefor or written request by any such Securityholder; or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, 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 may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or (ii) unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided herein, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that Securityholder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

(c) The Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.

 

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(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.

(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.

Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, upon receipt of a Company Request or upon the request of 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.

(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) 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, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee

 

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hereunder; 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, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, upon receipt of a Company Request or upon the request of any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates.

(c) Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, 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.

(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.

Section 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such entity shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. 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 with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

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Section 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims against the Company.

The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.

Section 7.14 Agents.

The rights, protections, immunities and indemnities afforded to the Trustee under this Indenture shall also be afforded to each Agent hereunder; provided (i) an Agent shall only be liable to extent of its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and (ii) in and during an Event of Default, only the Trustee, and not any Agent, shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

Section 8.01 Evidence of Action by Securityholders.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of Securities of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of Securities of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of substantially similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become

 

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effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the 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 Securityholders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on the date such action is taken.

Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.

(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.

(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.03 Who May be Deemed Owners.

Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor the Paying Agent nor the Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 8.04 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.

In determining whether the Securityholders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent of waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are not Outstanding shall be disregarded for the purpose of any such determination. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

 

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Section 8.05 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures without the Consent of Securityholders.

In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, mistake, omission, defect or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;

(2) to comply with Article X;

(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(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, to the effect 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;

 

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(5) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;

(6) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder, provided that any change to the terms of the Indenture or to a series of Securities made solely to conform to the description of such series of Securities in an offering document, prospectus supplement or other similar offering document relating to the initial offering of such series of Securities shall be deemed to not materially adversely affect the rights of the Securityholders of such series;

(7) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the Securityholders of any series of Securities;

(8) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Securityholders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, to the effect that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series);

(9) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form;

(10) 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 addition, 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 Securityholder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding;

(11) to secure the Securities; or

(12) 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 7.11.

 

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The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, protections, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 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 9.02.

Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.

With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby:

(i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;

(ii) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(c);

(iii) change the obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency and for the purposes specified in this Indenture;

(iv) change the currency in which any Security or any premium or interest is payable;

(v) impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any Security;

 

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(vi) adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, such Security (if applicable);

(vii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Securityholders is required for modification or amendment of this Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

(viii) reduce the requirements contained in this Indenture for the consent of holders of the Notes of any series; or

(ix) modify any of the above provisions.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

Section 9.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article X, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 9.04 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series, affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article X, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.

 

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Section 9.05 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon receipt of a Company Order, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, protections, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may, in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel (in addition to the documents required under Section 14.07 hereunder) as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture dated the date hereof that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to transmit such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 10.01 When the Company May Consolidate, Merge, Etc.

The Company may not (a) merge with or into or consolidate with another Person, or (b) convey, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any Person other than to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and no Person may merge with or into or consolidate with the Company, in each case unless:

(a) the Company is the surviving Person, or the Person formed by or surviving such merger or consolidation or to which such conveyance, lease or transfer shall have been made (the “Successor”), if other than the Company, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;

 

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(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(c) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such supplemental indenture complies with this Indenture.

This Section 10.01 shall not prohibit (i) the direct or indirect conveyance or transfer of all or any portion of the capital stock, assets or liabilities of any of the Company’s direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries or (ii) the consolidation or merger of any of the Company’s direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries (including AXA Financial, Inc.) with and into the Company.

The Successor will be the successor to the Company, and will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture and become the obligor on the Securities with the same effect as if the Successor had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all of its obligations and covenants under this Indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the predecessor Company will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07) and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company (and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations sufficient, without reinvestment, or a combination thereof, 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 at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of

 

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that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.06 and 11.05, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.

Section 11.02 Discharge of Obligations.

If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds money in U.S. dollars sufficient or an amount of non-callable Governmental Obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due, will be sufficient, without reinvestment, or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 7.06, 7.10 and 11.05 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 7.06 and 11.05 shall survive.

Section 11.03 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.

All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held, uninvested, in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Securityholders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.

 

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Section 11.04 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any Paying Agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.

Section 11.05 Repayment to Company.

Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any Paying Agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the Securityholders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the Securityholder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.

ARTICLE XII

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 12.01 No Recourse.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or 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 this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such

 

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incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 13.01 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 2.01 as being defeasible pursuant to such Sections 13.02 or 13.03, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 2.01 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 2.01 for such Securities.

Section 13.02 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 13.04 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 Securityholders to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 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 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02 and 4.03, (3) the rights, protections, 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 13.03 applied to such Securities.

 

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Section 13.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Article X, Sections 4.06 and 4.07, and any covenants provided pursuant to Sections 2.01(a)(15), 9.01(4) or 9.01(7) for the benefit of the holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 6.01(a)(3) (with respect to any of Article X, Sections 4.06 and 4.07, and any such covenants provided pursuant to Sections 2.01(a)(15), 9.01(4) or 9.01(7) and 6.01(a)(7)) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 6.01(a)(3)), 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 13.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 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 Paying Agent (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 7.09 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) Governmental Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, without reinvestment, 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 13.02 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 (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 Indenture, 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 13.03 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 it has been informed by the relevant securities exchange(s) that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

(5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 6.01(a)(5) and 6.01(a)(6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

(6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any indenture or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money, pursuant to which in excess of $100,000,000 principal amount is then outstanding, to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(7) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

59


Section 13.05 Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of Section 4.03(d), all money and Governmental Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.06, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of any Securities shall be held, uninvested, 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 Governmental Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 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 receipt of a Company Request any money or Governmental Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 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.

The Securityholders shall be liable for all taxes, assessments, duties and other governmental charges, including any interest or penalty with respect thereto (“Taxes”), with respect to any cash or Securities held on behalf of Securityholder or any transaction related thereto. Each Securityholders shall indemnify the Trustee for the amount of any Tax that the Trustee or any withholding agent is required under applicable laws (whether by assessment or otherwise) to pay on behalf of, or in respect of income earned by or payments or distributions made to or for the account of each Securityholder (including any payment of Tax required by reason of an earlier failure to withhold). The Trustee shall, or shall instruct the applicable withholding agent to, withhold the amount of any Tax which is required to be withheld under applicable law upon collection of any dividend, interest or other distribution made with respect to any Security and any proceeds or income from the sale, loan or other transfer of any Security, and any Securityholder upon request by the Trustee is required to provide the information necessary to determine the nature of the income and whether any such tax or withholding obligations apply. In the event that the Trustee is required under applicable law to pay

 

60


any Tax on behalf of the Securityholders, the Trustee is hereby authorized to withdraw cash from any cash account in the amount required to pay such Tax and to use such cash for the timely payment of such Tax in the manner required by applicable law. If the aggregate amount of cash in all cash accounts is not sufficient to pay such Tax, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Securityholders of the additional amount of cash required, and the Securityholders shall directly deposit such additional amount in the appropriate cash account promptly after receipt of such notice, for use by the Trustee as specified herein. In the event that the Trustee reasonably believes that any Securityholder is eligible, pursuant to applicable law or to the provisions of any tax treaty, for a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax which is otherwise required to be withheld or paid on behalf of each Securityholder under any applicable law, the Trustee shall, or shall instruct the applicable withholding agent to, either withhold or pay such Tax at such reduced rate or refrain from withholding or paying such Tax, as appropriate; provided that the Trustee shall have received from each Securityholder all documentary evidence of residence or other qualification for such reduced rate or exemption required to be received under such applicable law or treaty. In the event that the Trustee reasonably believes that a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax is obtainable only by means of an application for refund, the Trustee shall have no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of any forms or documentation provided by the Securityholders to the Trustee hereunder. Each Securityholder hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Trustee in respect of any liability arising from any underwithholding or underpayment of any Tax which results from the inaccuracy or invalidity of any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be a continuing obligation of each Securityholder, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Indenture.

Section 13.06 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 Sections 13.02 or 13.03 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 13.05 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

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 14.01 Effect on Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 14.02 Actions by Successor.

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the successor of the Company.

Section 14.03 Notices.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, Attention: Treasurer, with copies of any notice of an Event of Default to the attention of the General Counsel at the same address. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Paying Agent or Security Registrar shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at (i) to the extent the Company is the Paying Agent or Security Registrar AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, Attention: Treasurer and (ii) to the extent that the Trustee is the Paying Agent or Security Registrar at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent in the form of a manually signed document by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing designated persons with the authority to provide such instructions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which incumbency certificate shall be amended whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar

 

62


electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. 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 that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions 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.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to holders 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, to each such holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, within the time prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to holders of Securities, is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other holders of Securities. Any notice mailed to a holder of Securities in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such holder, whether or not such holder actually receives such notice.

If by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice as provided above, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. If it is impossible or, in the opinion of the Trustee, impracticable to give any notice by publication in the manner herein required, then such publication in lieu thereof as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Section 14.04 Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

63


Section 14.05 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, THE SECURITY REGISTRAR, THE PAYING AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE 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 14.06 Submission to Jurisdiction.

The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture and the Securities, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts.

Section 14.07 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

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

(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (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 such Person, he has 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 or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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Section 14.08 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel.

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.

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company.

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 14.09 Payments on Business Days.

Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal, and premium, if any, may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.

Section 14.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.

 

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Section 14.11 Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 14.12 Separability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

Section 14.13 Assignment.

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company with the prior written consent of the parties hereto; provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations, subject to Section 10.01 of this Indenture. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns and may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.

Section 14.14 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 thereof.

 

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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.

 

AXA EQUITABLE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robin M. Raju

  Name: Robin M. Raju
  Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Glenn McKeever

  Name: Glenn McKeever
  Title: Vice President

[Signature page to Indenture]

EX-4.6 3 d830523dex46.htm EX-4.6 EX-4.6

Exhibit 4.6

AXA EQUITABLE HOLDINGS, INC.,

ISSUER

AND

[    ],

TRUSTEE

 

 

SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

DATED AS OF [    ]

 

 

PROVIDING FOR ISSUANCE OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES IN SERIES


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE(1)

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT

SECTION

  

SECTION OF INDENTURE

310(a)

   7.09

310(b)

   7.08

311(a)

   7.13

311(b)

   7.13

312(a)

   5.01; 5.02(a)

312(b)

   5.02(c)

312(c)

   5.01(d)

313(a)

   5.04(a)

313(b)

   5.04(b)

313(c)

   5.04(b)

313(d)

   5.04(c)

314(a)

   5.03; 4.04; 15.07

314(b)

   Inapplicable

314(c)

   15.07

314(d)

   Inapplicable

314(e)

   15.07

315(a)

   7.01

315(b)

   6.01(b)

315(c)

   7.01(a); 7.02(d)

315(d)

   7.01(b)

315(e)

   6.08

316(a)

   6.07; 6.09

316(b)

   6.05

316(c)

   8.01

317(a)

   6.02

317(b)

   4.03

318(a)

   15.10

 

(1)

This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          PAGE  
ARTICLE I  
DEFINITIONS  
     
Section 1.01    Definitions of Terms      1  
ARTICLE II  
DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,  
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES  
Section 2.01    Designation and Terms of Securities      8  
Section 2.02    Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate      12  
Section 2.03    Denominations; Provisions for Payment      12  
Section 2.04    Execution and Authentication      14  
Section 2.05    Registration of Transfer and Exchange      15  
Section 2.06    Temporary Securities      16  
Section 2.07    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities      17  
Section 2.08    Cancellation      17  
Section 2.09    Benefits of Indenture      18  
Section 2.10    Authenticating Agent      18  
Section 2.11    Global Securities      19  
Section 2.12    CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.      20  
Section 2.13    Calculation Agent      20  
ARTICLE III  
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS  
Section 3.01    Redemption      20  
Section 3.02    Notice of Redemption      21  
Section 3.03    Payment upon Redemption      22  
Section 3.04    Sinking Fund      22  
Section 3.05    Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      23  
Section 3.06    Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      23  

 

i


ARTICLE IV  
CERTAIN COVENANTS  
Section 4.01    Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      24  
Section 4.02    Maintenance of Office or Agency      24  
Section 4.03    Paying Agents      25  
Section 4.04    Statement by Officers as to Default      26  
Section 4.05    Existence      27  
Section 4.06    Waiver of Certain Covenants      27  
Section 4.07    Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee      27  
ARTICLE V  
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE  
Section 5.01    Company to Furnish Trustee with Names and Addresses of Securityholders      27  
Section 5.02    Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders      28  
Section 5.03    Reports by the Company      28  
Section 5.04    Reports by the Trustee      29  
ARTICLE VI  
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT  
Section 6.01    Events of Default      29  
Section 6.02    Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      32  
Section 6.03    Application of Moneys Collected      34  
Section 6.04    Limitation on Suits      34  
Section 6.05    Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal and Interest      35  
Section 6.06    Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver      35  
Section 6.07    Control by Securityholders      35  
Section 6.08    Undertaking to Pay Costs      36  
Section 6.09    Waiver of Past Defaults      36  

 

ii


ARTICLE VII  
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE  
Section 7.01    Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee      37  
Section 7.02    Certain Rights of Trustee      39  
Section 7.03    Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities      40  
Section 7.04    May Hold Securities      41  
Section 7.05    Moneys Held in Trust      41  
Section 7.06    Compensation and Reimbursement      41  
Section 7.07    Reliance on Officers’ Certificate      42  
Section 7.08    Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      42  
Section 7.09    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      43  
Section 7.10    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      43  
Section 7.11    Acceptance of Appointment By Successor      44  
Section 7.12    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      46  
Section 7.13    Preferential Collection of Claims against the Company      46  
Section 7.14    Agents      46  
ARTICLE VIII  
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS  
Section 8.01    Evidence of Action by Securityholders      47  
Section 8.02    Proof of Execution by Securityholders      47  
Section 8.03    Who May be Deemed Owners      48  
Section 8.04    Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded      48  
Section 8.05    Actions Binding on Future Securityholders      48  
ARTICLE IX  
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES  
Section 9.01    Supplemental Indentures without the Consent of Securityholders      49  
Section 9.02    Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders      51  
Section 9.03    Effect of Supplemental Indentures      52  
Section 9.04    Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures      52  
Section 9.05    Execution of Supplemental Indentures      52  

 

iii


ARTICLE X  
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE  
Section 10.01    When the Company May Consolidate, Merge, Etc.      53  
ARTICLE XI  
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE  
Section 11.01    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      54  
Section 11.02    Discharge of Obligations      55  
Section 11.03    Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust      55  
Section 11.04    Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents      55  
Section 11.05    Repayment to Company      55  
ARTICLE XII  
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS  
Section 12.01    No Recourse      56  
ARTICLE XIII  
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE  
Section 13.01    Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      57  
Section 13.02    Defeasance and Discharge      57  
Section 13.03    Covenant Defeasance      57  
Section 13.04    Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      58  
Section 13.05    Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions      59  
Section 13.06    Reinstatement      61  
ARTICLE XIV  
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES  
Section 14.01    Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness of the Company      61  
Section 14.02    No Payment When Senior Indebtedness of the Company in Default      62  
Section 14.03    Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.      62  

 

iv


Section 14.04    Payment Permitted If No Default      64  
Section 14.05    Subrogation to the Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company      65  
Section 14.06    Trustee to Effectuate Subordination      65  
Section 14.07    Notice by the Company      66  
Section 14.08    Rights of the Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness      67  
Section 14.09    Subordination May Not Be Impaired      67  
Section 14.10    Article Applicable to Paying Agents      68  
ARTICLE XV  
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS  
Section 15.01    Effect on Successors and Assigns      68  
Section 15.02    Actions by Successor      68  
Section 15.03    Notices      68  
Section 15.04    Governing Law      70  
Section 15.05    Waiver of Jury Trial      70  
Section 15.06    Submission to Jurisdiction      70  
Section 15.07    Compliance Certificates and Opinions      71  
Section 15.08    Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      71  
Section 15.09    Payments on Business Days      72  
Section 15.10    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      72  
Section 15.11    Counterparts      72  
Section 15.12    Separability      72  
Section 15.13    Assignment      72  
Section 15.14    Headings and Table of Contents      73  

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of [    ], among AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and [    ] (the “Trustee”).

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured subordinated debt securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series, as provided in this Indenture;

WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders of Securities, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions of Terms.

The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument. All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Additional Provisions” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.01.

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. When used with respect to any Person, “control” means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” and “under common control with” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

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Agents” means the Authenticating Agent, the Paying Agent, the Security Registrar and the Calculation Agent, and each of their successor or assigns duly appointed herein, and any such other Person identified as an “Agent” in any supplemental indenture hereto.

Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Company or the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such 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 and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.

Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, legal holiday or a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

Calculation Agent” has the meaning stated in Section 2.13 of this Indenture.

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares or units of, rights to purchase, warrants or options for, or other equivalent interests in equity of such Person, including Preferred Stock.

Company” means AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor in interest thereto.

Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by (i) its President or any Vice President and (ii) its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

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Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at [    ].

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or Section 2.11.

Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.

Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee or Authenticating Agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, 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 Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

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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.

Indebtedness” of any Person means the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due on indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is (a) indebtedness for money borrowed, and (b) any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness. For the purposes of this definition, “indebtedness for money borrowed” means (i) any obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, such Person for the repayment of borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other written instruments, (ii) any obligation of, or any such obligation guaranteed by, such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar written instruments, including obligations assumed or incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses (provided that the deferred purchase price of any other business or property or assets shall not be considered Indebtedness if the purchase price thereof is payable in full within 90 days from the date on which such indebtedness was created) and (iii) any obligations of such Person as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles and leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which such Person is a party.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.

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

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company that is delivered to the Trustee and the Agent (as applicable) in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

 

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Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(c).

Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article Three provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07; and (d) Securities as to which Defeasance (as defined in Section 13.02) has been effected pursuant to Section 13.02; provided, however, that in determining whether the Securityholders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 6.01(c), (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 2.01, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 2.01, 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 Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.

 

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

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

Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 or, if not so specified, New York, New York.

Preferred Stock” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation or company means Capital Stock of any class or classes that by its terms is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation or company, over Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation or company.

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 2.07 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.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable), means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable), including any vice president, assistant vice president, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable) 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.

 

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Securities” has the meaning stated in the preamble of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

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

Security Register” has the meaning stated in Section 2.05(b) of this Indenture.

Security Registrar” has the meaning stated in Section 2.05(b) of this Indenture.

Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” “registered holder,” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Senior Indebtedness” means with respect to the Company, all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of this Indenture, or hereafter incurred, created or assumed, and any amendments, renewals, extensions or modifications of any such obligations, (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other written instruments issued by the Company (other than the Securities); (ii) all obligations of the Company as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the Company under generally accepted accounting principles and leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which the Company is a party; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, assets or businesses, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company in respect of commodity contracts, interest rate swap, cap, floor, collar or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap arrangements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements; (vi) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vii) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company); provided that “Senior Indebtedness” shall not include: (1) indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services; or (2) any obligation or indebtedness that is, by its terms, subordinated in right of payment to, or ranks equally in right of payment with, the Securities.

 

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

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.

Trustee” means [    ], and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, shall also include its successors and assigns and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect at the date of execution of this Indenture, except as otherwise provided herein.

Voting Stock,” as applied to stock of any Person, all classes of Capital Stock of such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person.

Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity on a series of securities calculated at the time of issuance of such series or, if applicable, of the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

ARTICLE II

DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,

REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

Section 2.01 Designation and Terms of Securities.

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:

(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);

 

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(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that 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 that series);

(3) the price or prices at which the Company will sell the Securities;

(4) the Stated Maturity of the Securities;

(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;

(6) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates and the record date for the determination of holders of Securities to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates;

(7) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods for any series of Securities, the maximum duration of any such extension period and the terms, conditions and covenants related thereto;

(8) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to any index, formula, or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(9) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

(10) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, and the manner in which the particular Securities of such series (if less than all Securities of such series are to be redeemed) are to be selected for redemption;

 

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(11) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in participation of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder of Securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(12) if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(13) if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion or, methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;

(14) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;

(15) provisions granting special rights to Securityholders upon the occurrence of specific events;

(16) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or the Company’s covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;

(17) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(18) whether the Securities will be convertible into shares of common stock or other securities or property of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including the conversion price and the conversion period;

(19) whether the Securities are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the identity for the Depositary for such series and the terms and conditions upon which Global Securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities;

(20) the forms of the Securities of the series;

 

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(21) any special tax implications of the Securities of the series, including any provisions for Original Issue Discount Securities, if offered;

(22) any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Securityholders to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.01;

(23) any trustees, authenticating or Paying Agents, transfer agents or registrars, calculation agents or other agents with respect to the Securities;

(24) any restrictions on the registration, transfer or exchange of the Securities;

(25) whether the subordination provisions of this Indenture (including the provisions contained in Article XIV and the definition of “Senior Indebtedness”) or different subordination provisions will apply to the Securities; and

(26) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(10), but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture with respect to such series).

To the extent any such Officers’ Certificate setting forth such Board Resolution or supplemental indenture modifies or deletes any provision of this Indenture with respect to the series established thereunder, the terms as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture shall supersede this Indenture with respect to such series.

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, 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 of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.

Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.

 

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Section 2.02 Form of Securities and Trustees Certificate.

The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s or Authenticating Agent’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution of the Company and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.

Section 2.03 Denominations; Provisions for Payment.

The Securities shall be issuable in fully registered form, without coupons, and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, subject to Section 2.01(11). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.01, the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months, except as otherwise specified under Section 2.01 for Securities of any series.

The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.

 

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Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder of Securities; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:

(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (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 and the Paying Agent in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and the Paying Agent for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 5 days after receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee and the Paying Agent of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Paying Agent.

Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution of the Company or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an

 

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Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.

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

Section 2.04 Execution and Authentication.

The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, or one of its Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, or one of its Assistant Treasurers, or its Secretary, or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature. The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or Vice President thereof, or of any Person who shall have been a Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President or a Vice President, the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Securityholder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

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 or an Authenticating Agent for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.

In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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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, protections, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Section 2.05 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided (the “Security Registrar”).

Upon surrender for the registration of transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.

All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.

 

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(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.

(d) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the transmittal of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmittal, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.

Section 2.06 Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the Securityholders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

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Section 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.

In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee or an Authenticating Agent may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon receipt of a Company Order. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent 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) connected therewith. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.08 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any Paying Agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. Upon receipt of a timely Company Request at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such Company Request the

 

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Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.09 Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the holders of Securities and the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of Article XIV, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, holders of Securities and holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of Article XIV.

Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent.

So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Company or the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon receipt of a Company Request shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, protections, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.

 

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Section 2.11 Global Securities.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent will authenticate (or cause to authenticate) and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate (or cause to authenticate) and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global

 

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Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Security Registrar shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

(d) The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary.

Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.

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

Section 2.13 Calculation Agent

The Company may appoint one or more calculation agents with respect to the Securities (the “Calculation Agent”). All calculations made by the Calculation Agent for the purposes of calculating interest on any series shall be conclusive and binding on the Trustee, the Company, and the registered holders, absent manifest errors.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

Section 3.01 Redemption.

The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

 

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Section 3.02 Notice of Redemption.

(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by transmitting a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is transmitted in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. 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 and the Paying Agent with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee and the Paying Agent at least 15 days’ (or such shorter period as the Trustee and the Paying Agent may agree) notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $2,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part; provided that if the Securities are represented by a Global Security, interests in such Global Security shall be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

 

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The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, instruct the Trustee or any Paying Agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such Paying Agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such Paying Agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such Paying Agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such Paying Agent to give any notice that may be required under the provisions of this Section.

Section 3.03 Payment upon Redemption.

(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, such Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).

(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the Securityholder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

Section 3.04 Sinking Fund.

The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.

 

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The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 3.05 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series 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 the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee and the Security Registrar at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 3.06 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 30 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Paying Agent an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 15 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.

 

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ARTICLE IV

CERTAIN COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

(a) The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities on or prior to the dates and in the manner provided in such Securities or pursuant to this Indenture. An installment of principal, premium, if any, or interest shall be considered paid on the applicable due date if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to pay all of such installment then due.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as hereinabove authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by its President or a Vice President and delivered to the trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, 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, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

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Section 4.03 Paying Agents.

(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more Paying Agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee or the initial Paying Agent, the Company will cause each such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:

(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;

(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;

(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent; and

(4) that it will perform all other duties of Paying Agent as set forth in this Indenture.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal, and premium, if any, or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. 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, and premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the 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, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (ii) 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 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 terms and conditions 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.

 

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(d) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, any money or Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company at its option upon the delivery of a Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

(e) Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.

Section 4.04 Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, to the effect that to the best knowledge of the signers thereof (on behalf of the Company) the Company is or is not in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

The Company shall, so long as any of the Securities are Outstanding, deliver to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, within ten Business Days upon any officer of the Company becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

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Section 4.05 Existence.

Subject to Article X, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and its rights and franchises; provided that nothing in this Section 4.05 shall prevent the abandonment or termination of any right or franchise of the Company if, in the opinion of the Company, such abandonment or termination is in the best interests of the Company and not prejudicial in any material respect to the holders of the Securities.

Section 4.06 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Sections 2.01(a)(16), 9.01(4) or 9.01(7) for the benefit of the holder of such series, if before the time for such compliance the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by act of such holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 4.07 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

ARTICLE V

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.01 Company to Furnish Trustee with Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee and the Security Registrar (a) on a semi-annual basis not more than 10 days after each regular record date a list, in such form as the Trustee or the Security Registrar may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list

 

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furnished to the Trustee and the Security Registrar by the Company; and (b) at such other times as the Trustee or the Security Registrar may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

Section 5.02 Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders.

(a) The Trustee and the Security Registrar shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Securityholders contained in the most recent list furnished to them as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of Securityholders received by the Trustee or the Security Registrar.

(b) The Trustee and the Security Registrar may destroy any list furnished to them as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities.

(d) Every Securityholder, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar that neither the Company, nor the Trustee, nor the Security Registrar, nor any agent of any of them, shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Securityholders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 5.03 Reports by the Company.

Following the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, the Company shall comply with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of such reports, documents and information to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with the terms of this Article V or the posting of any reports, documents and information on the EDGAR system or any website.

 

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Section 5.04 Reports by the Trustee.

(a) On or before July 15 in each year in which any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(b) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission.

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing, unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in accordance with Section 2.01:

(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, because of acceleration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; provided further, that no Event of Default shall occur if the failure to make payment when due and payable results solely from nonpayment by reason of mistake, oversight or transfer difficulties and does not continue beyond three Business Days;

 

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(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and to the effect that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified United States mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;

(4) an event of default, as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any Indebtedness for money borrowed of the Company (other than a default under this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series or a default with respect to any non-recourse Indebtedness), whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, shall happen and shall result in a principal amount in excess of $100,000,000 of Indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, and such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled, or such Indebtedness shall not have been discharged, within a period of 15 days after there has been given, by registered or certified United States 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 that series a written notice specifying such event of default and requiring the Company to cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled or to cause such Indebtedness to be discharged and to the effect that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

(5) the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of:

(i) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

(ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(iii) a final and non-appealable order appointing a Custodian of the Company or of any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company;

 

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(6) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: (i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding; (iii) files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief or consents to such filing or to the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, and such Custodian is not discharged within 60 days; (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (v) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or

(7) any other Event of Default provided for pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to Securities of that series.

(b) The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Default (of which it has received written notice and which is continuing) with respect to the Securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), give to the Securityholders of the Securities of such series notice of such Default; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of the Securities of such series.

(c) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(5) or 6.01(a)(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the Securityholders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(5) or 6.01(a)(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholder, become immediately due and payable. The payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest due as a result of the acceleration of the Securities of a series pursuant to this Section shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article XIV.

 

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(d) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company, the Trustee and the Paying Agent may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of, and premium, if any, on any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) expressed in the Securities of that series (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.09.

No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(e) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, protections, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

Section 6.02 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

(a) The Company covenants that (1) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (2) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal, and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal, and premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06.

 

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(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.

(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee and Agents under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee and Agents, and, in the event that the Trustee and Agents shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee and Agents any amount due it under Section 7.06.

(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or 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 payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.

 

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In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.03 Application of Moneys Collected.

Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal, or premium, if any, or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee and the Agents under Section 7.06;

SECOND: Subject to Article XIV, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series 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 Securities for principal, and premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, its successors or assigns or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Section 6.04 Limitation on Suits.

No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made

 

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written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity satisfactory to it as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Section 6.05 Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Securityholder to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Securityholder.

Section 6.06 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Securityholders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.

(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Securityholder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04 or Section 6.05, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.

Section 6.07 Control by Securityholders.

The Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, 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 such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of

 

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Securityholders of any other series at the time Outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.08 Undertaking to Pay Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.

Section 6.09 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 6.01(d), the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf of the Securityholders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

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

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

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

 

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ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations or duties (including fiduciary duties) shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series 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 or her own affairs.

(b) 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) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:

(a) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants, duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(b) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture;

 

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding 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 that series; and

(4) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

(5) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder, or losses, arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services, including Internet services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or personally liable for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, however styled, including, without limitation, lost profits, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of the loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(7) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for or with respect to the validity, perfection or priority of any lien or security interest or for or with respect to the preparation, filing, amendment or continuation of any financing statements in connection thereto.

 

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Section 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or a Company Order or Company Request (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);

(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel, investment bankers, accountants or other professionals and the written advice of such counsel, investment bankers, accountants or other professionals or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to 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 or her own affairs;

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

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.04);

 

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provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand; and

(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) Whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action to be taken hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate and delivered to the Trustee and such Officers’ Certificate, in the absence of gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

(i) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any fact or event unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has obtained “actual knowledge” thereof or unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received a written notice of such fact or event. The term “actual knowledge” as used herein shall mean the actual fact or statement of knowing by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee without independent investigation with respect thereto. Except for reports prepared by the Trustee pursuant to an express provision of an agreement signed by the Trustee, the delivery of reports or other information does not constitute actual knowledge.

Section 7.03 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.

(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.

(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.

 

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(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

Section 7.04 May Hold Securities.

The Trustee or any Paying Agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent or Security Registrar.

Section 7.05 Moneys Held in Trust.

Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held, uninvested, in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.

Section 7.06 Compensation and Reimbursement.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee and the Agents, and the Trustee and the Agents shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company, and the Trustee or the Agents may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee or the Agents, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee and the Agents upon their request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee or the Agents in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their counsel and of all Persons not regularly in their employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise directly from their negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee and the Agents (and their officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all claims, obligation, losses, liabilities, damages, injuries, penalties, stamp or other similar taxes, actions, suits, proceeding, judgment, reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and agents’ fees and expenses and fees and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of indemnification rights) of whatever kind or nature regardless of their merit, demanded, asserted, or claimed against the Trustee (whether asserted by any Securitiyholder, the Company or otherwise) directly or indirectly related

 

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to, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises, reasonable attorneys’ and consultants’ fees and expenses and court costs, enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.06) and of defending themselves against any claims except to the extent caused directly by the Trustee’s or Agents’ negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06(a) shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee or an Agent.

(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and Agents and to pay or reimburse the Trustee and Agents for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee or Agents as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders of particular Securities.

(c) Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee or the Agents under applicable law, when the Trustee or the Agents incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(5) or Section 6.01(a)(6) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

Section 7.07 Reliance on Officers Certificate.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation 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, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.

Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the transmitting of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after receipt of a Company Request therefor or written request by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or

 

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(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after receipt of a Company Request therefor or written request by any such Securityholder; or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, 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 may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or (ii) unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided herein, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that Securityholder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

(c) The Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.

(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.

(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.

Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, upon receipt of a Company Request or upon the request of the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

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(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) 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, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; 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, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, upon receipt of a Company Request or upon the request of any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates.

(c) Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

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(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.

(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.

Section 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such entity shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. 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 with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

Section 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims against the Company.

The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.

Section 7.14 Agents.

The rights, protections, immunities and indemnities afforded to the Trustee under this Indenture shall also be afforded to each Agent hereunder; provided (i) an Agent shall only be liable to extent of its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and (ii) in and during an Event of Default, only the Trustee, and not any Agent, shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

Section 8.01 Evidence of Action by Securityholders.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of Securities of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of Securities of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of substantially similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the 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 Securityholders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on the date such action is taken.

Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.

 

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(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.

(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.03 Who May be Deemed Owners.

Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor the Paying Agent nor the Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 8.04 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.

In determining whether the Securityholders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent of waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are not Outstanding shall be disregarded for the purpose of any such determination. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

Section 8.05 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.

 

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ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures without the Consent of Securityholders.

In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, mistake, omission, defect or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;

(2) to comply with Article X;

(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(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, to the effect 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;

(5) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;

(6) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder, provided that any change to the terms of the Indenture or to a series of Securities made solely to conform to the description of such series of Securities in an offering document, prospectus supplement or other similar offering document relating to the initial offering of such series of Securities shall be deemed to not materially adversely affect the rights of the Securityholders of such series;

 

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(7) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the Securityholders of any series of Securities;

(8) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Securityholders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, to the effect that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series);

(9) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form;

(10) 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 addition, 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 Securityholder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding;

(11) to secure the Securities;

(12) to modify the provision in Article XIV with respect to the subordination of Outstanding Securities of any series in a manner not materially adverse to the holders of such Securities; or

(13) 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 7.11.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, protections, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 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 9.02.

 

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Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.

With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby:

(i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;

(ii) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(c);

(iii) change the obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency and for the purposes specified in this Indenture;

(iv) change the currency in which any Security or any premium or interest is payable;

(v) impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any Security;

(vi) adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, such Security (if applicable);

(vii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Securityholders is required for modification or amendment of this Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

(viii) reduce the requirements contained in this Indenture for the consent of holders of the Notes of any series; or

(ix) modify any of the above provisions.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

Section 9.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article X, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 9.04 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series, affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article X, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.

Section 9.05 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon receipt of a Company Order, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, protections, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may, in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel (in addition to the documents required under Section 15.07 hereunder) as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture dated the date hereof that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

 

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Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to transmit such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 10.01 When the Company May Consolidate, Merge, Etc.

The Company may not (a) merge with or into or consolidate with another Person, or (b) convey, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any Person other than to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and no Person may merge with or into or consolidate with the Company, in each case unless:

(a) the Company is the surviving Person, or the Person formed by or surviving such merger or consolidation or to which such conveyance, lease or transfer shall have been made (the “Successor”), if other than the Company, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(c) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such supplemental indenture complies with this Indenture.

This Section 10.01 shall not prohibit (i) the direct or indirect conveyance or transfer of all or any portion of the capital stock, assets or liabilities of any of the Company’s direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries or (ii) the consolidation or merger of any of the Company’s direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries (including AXA Financial, Inc.) with and into the Company.

 

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The Successor will be the successor to the Company, and will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture and become the obligor on the Securities with the same effect as if the Successor had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all of its obligations and covenants under this Indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the predecessor Company will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07) and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company (and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations sufficient, without reinvestment, or a combination thereof, 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 at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.06 and 11.05, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.

 

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Section 11.02 Discharge of Obligations.

If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds money in U.S. dollars sufficient or an amount of non-callable Governmental Obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due, will be sufficient, without reinvestment, or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 7.06, 7.10 and 11.05 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 7.06 and 11.05 shall survive.

Section 11.03 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.

All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held, uninvested, in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Securityholders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.

Section 11.04 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any Paying Agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.

Section 11.05 Repayment to Company.

Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any Paying Agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the Securityholders of such Securities for at least two years after the date

 

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upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the Securityholder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.

ARTICLE XII

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 12.01 No Recourse.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or 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 this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 13.01 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 2.01 as being defeasible pursuant to such Sections 13.02 or 13.03, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 2.01 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 2.01 for such Securities.

Section 13.02 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 13.04 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 Securityholders to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 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 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02 and 4.03, (3) the rights, protections, 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 13.03 applied to such Securities.

Section 13.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Article X, and any covenants provided pursuant to Sections 2.01(a)(16), 9.01(4) or 9.01(7) for the benefit of the holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 6.01(a)(3) (with respect to any of Article X, and any such covenants provided pursuant to Sections 2.01(a)(16), 9.01(4) or 9.01(7) and 6.01(a)(7)) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 6.01(a)(3)), 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 13.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 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 Paying Agent (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 7.09 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) Governmental Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, without reinvestment, 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.

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 13.02 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 (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 Indenture, 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 13.03 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

 

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(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that it has been informed by the relevant securities exchange(s) that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

(5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 6.01(a)(5) and 6.01(a)(6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

(6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any indenture or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money, pursuant to which in excess of $100,000,000 principal amount is then outstanding, to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(7) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 13.05 Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of Section 4.03(d), all money and Governmental Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.06, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of any Securities shall be held, uninvested, 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.

 

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The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Governmental Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 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 receipt of a Company Request any money or Governmental Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 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.

The Securityholders shall be liable for all taxes, assessments, duties and other governmental charges, including any interest or penalty with respect thereto (“Taxes”), with respect to any cash or Securities held on behalf of Securityholder or any transaction related thereto. Each Securityholders shall indemnify the Trustee for the amount of any Tax that the Trustee or any withholding agent is required under applicable laws (whether by assessment or otherwise) to pay on behalf of, or in respect of income earned by or payments or distributions made to or for the account of each Securityholder (including any payment of Tax required by reason of an earlier failure to withhold). The Trustee shall, or shall instruct the applicable withholding agent to, withhold the amount of any Tax which is required to be withheld under applicable law upon collection of any dividend, interest or other distribution made with respect to any Security and any proceeds or income from the sale, loan or other transfer of any Security, and any Securityholder upon request by the Trustee is required to provide the information necessary to determine the nature of the income and whether any such tax or withholding obligations apply. In the event that the Trustee is required under applicable law to pay any Tax on behalf of the Securityholders, the Trustee is hereby authorized to withdraw cash from any cash account in the amount required to pay such Tax and to use such cash for the timely payment of such Tax in the manner required by applicable law. If the aggregate amount of cash in all cash accounts is not sufficient to pay such Tax, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Securityholders of the additional amount of cash required, and the Securityholders shall directly deposit such additional amount in the appropriate cash account promptly after receipt of such notice, for use by the Trustee as specified herein. In the event that the Trustee reasonably believes that any Securityholder is eligible, pursuant to applicable law or to the provisions of any tax treaty, for a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax which is otherwise required to be withheld or paid on behalf of each Securityholder under any applicable law, the Trustee shall, or shall instruct the applicable withholding agent to, either withhold or pay such Tax at such reduced rate or refrain from withholding or paying such Tax, as appropriate; provided that the Trustee shall have received from each Securityholder all documentary evidence of residence or

 

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other qualification for such reduced rate or exemption required to be received under such applicable law or treaty. In the event that the Trustee reasonably believes that a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax is obtainable only by means of an application for refund, the Trustee shall have no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of any forms or documentation provided by the Securityholders to the Trustee hereunder. Each Securityholder hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Trustee in respect of any liability arising from any underwithholding or underpayment of any Tax which results from the inaccuracy or invalidity of any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be a continuing obligation of each Securityholder, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Indenture.

Section 13.06 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 Sections 13.02 or 13.03 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 13.05 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

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 14.01 Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness of the Company.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Securities issued hereunder and under any supplemental indenture or by any resolutions by the Board of Directors (“Additional Provisions”), by such holder’s acceptance thereof, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article XIV, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all amounts then due and payable in respect of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company. Each holder of Securities, by its acceptance hereof, waives all notice of acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein by each holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

 

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No provision of this Article XIV shall prevent the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder.

Section 14.02 No Payment When Senior Indebtedness of the Company in Default.

In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist or such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled, then, in either case, no payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any Securities) of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or any sinking fund payment; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 14.02 shall prevent the satisfaction of any sinking fund payment in accordance with this Indenture (or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for the Securities of any series) by delivering and crediting pursuant to Section 3.06 (or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for the Securities of any series) Securities which have been acquired (upon redemption or otherwise) prior to such default.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee or the holder of any Security prohibited by this Section 14.02, before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear.

The provisions of this Section 14.02 shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 14.03 would be applicable.

Section 14.03 Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.

Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any (a) dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, (b) general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (c) marshaling of any assets or liabilities for the benefit of creditors or (d) other similar proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment or distribution is made by the Company

 

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with respect to the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, whether in cash, property or securities; and upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the holders of Securities or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XIV, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the holders of Securities or by the Trustee under the Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the holders or to the Trustee.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing paragraph, shall be received by the Trustee or any holder of Securities before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of (if received by the Trustee) and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, and their respective interests may appear, or to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution for the Company, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

Upon any payment by or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XIV, the Trustee and the holders of Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization is pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution for the Company, delivered to the Trustee or to the holders of Securities, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XIV.

 

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For purposes of this Article XIV, the words “any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XIV with respect to the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, that may at the time be outstanding; provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment.

The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article X shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 14.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article X. Nothing in Section 14.02 or in this Section 14.03 shall apply to claims of, or payments, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.06 of this Indenture.

Section 14.04 Payment Permitted If No Default.

Nothing contained in this Article XIV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent (i) the Company, at any time except during the pendency of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization referred to in Section 14.03 or under the conditions described in Section 14.02, from making payments at any time of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, or (ii) the application by the Trustee of any money or Governmental Obligations deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or the retention of such payment by the holders of Securities, if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee did not receive written notice as contemplated by Section 14.07(b). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, money or Governmental Obligations held in trust pursuant to Section 11.03 shall not be subject to the claims of the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company under this Article XIV.

 

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Section 14.05 Subrogation to the Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company.

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, or the provision for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the holders of Securities shall be subrogated, to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XIV, and no payments over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by holders the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness.

It is understood that the provisions of this Article XIV are, and are intended, solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XIV or elsewhere in this Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of Securities the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of Securities and creditors of the Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon any default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XIV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

Section 14.06 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

Each holder of Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XIV and appoints the Trustee such holder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company

 

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whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership proceedings, or otherwise, the timely filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of the indebtedness of the Company owing to such holder in the form required in such proceedings and the causing of such claim to be approved. If the Trustee does not file a proper claim at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, then the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and their agents, trustees or other representatives are authorized to do so (but shall in no event be liable for any failure to do so) for and on behalf of the holders of the Securities.

Section 14.07 Notice by the Company; Knowledge of Trustee.

(a) The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XIV or any other provision of this Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 14.07 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any debt security), 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 purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be (or a trustee on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders. 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 such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XIV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such 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 XIV, 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 or distribution.

 

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Section 14.08 Rights of the Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XIV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company that may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XIV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to holders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XIV or otherwise.

Nothing in this Article XIV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.06 or the second paragraph of Section 13.05.

Section 14.09 Subordination May Not Be Impaired.

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, as the case may be, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder of Securities, or by any noncompliance by the Company, as the case may be, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the holders of Securities, without incurring responsibility to the holders of Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XIV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of Securities to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of

 

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payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; or (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, as the case may be, and any other Person.

Section 14.10 Article Applicable to Paying Agents.

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article XIV shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article XIV in addition to or in place of the Trustee.

ARTICLE XV

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 15.01 Effect on Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 15.02 Actions by Successor.

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the successor of the Company.

Section 15.03 Notices.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, Attention: Treasurer, with copies of any notice of an Event of Default to the attention of the General Counsel at the same address. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given

 

68


or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Paying Agent or Security Registrar shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at (i) to the extent the Company is the Paying Agent or Security Registrar AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, Attention: Treasurer and (ii) to the extent that the Trustee is the Paying Agent or Security Registrar at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent in the form of a manually signed document by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing designated persons with the authority to provide such instructions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which incumbency certificate shall be amended whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. 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 that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions 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.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to holders 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, to each such holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, within the time prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to holders of Securities, is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other holders of Securities. Any notice mailed to a holder of Securities in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such holder, whether or not such holder actually receives such notice.

If by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice as provided above, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. If it is impossible or, in the opinion of the Trustee, impracticable to give any notice by publication in the manner herein required, then such publication in lieu thereof as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

 

69


Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Section 15.04 Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 15.05 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, THE SECURITY REGISTRAR, THE PAYING AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE 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 15.06 Submission to Jurisdiction.

The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture and the Securities, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts.

 

70


Section 15.07 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

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

(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (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 such Person, he has 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 or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 15.08 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel.

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.

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company.

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 15.09 Payments on Business Days.

Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal, and premium, if any, may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.

Section 15.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.

Section 15.11 Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 15.12 Separability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

Section 15.13 Assignment.

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company with the prior written consent of the parties hereto; provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations, subject to Section 10.01 of this Indenture. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns and may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.

 

72


Section 15.14 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 thereof.

 

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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.

 

AXA EQUITABLE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

[    ]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
EX-4.8 4 d830523dex48.htm EX-4.8 EX-4.8

Exhibit 4.8

AXA EQUITABLE HOLDINGS, INC.,

ISSUER

AND

[    ],

TRUSTEE

 

 

JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

DATED AS OF [    ]

 

 

PROVIDING FOR ISSUANCE OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES IN SERIES

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE(1)

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION

   SECTION OF
INDENTURE

310(a)

   7.09

310(b)

   7.08

311(a)

   7.13

311(b)

   7.13

312(a)

   5.01; 5.02(a)

312(b)

   5.02(c)

312(c)

   5.01(d)

313(a)

   5.04(a)

313(b)

   5.04(b)

313(c)

   5.04(b)

313(d)

   5.04(c)

314(a)

   5.03; 4.04; 15.07

314(b)

   Inapplicable

314(c)

   15.07

314(d)

   Inapplicable

314(e)

   15.07

315(a)

   7.01

315(b)

   6.01(b)

315(c)

   7.01(a); 7.02(d)

315(d)

   7.01(b)

315(e)

   6.08

316(a)

   6.07; 6.09

316(b)

   6.05

316(c)

   8.01

317(a)

   6.02

317(b)

   4.03

318(a)

   15.10

 

 

(1)

This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE  
ARTICLE I       
DEFINITIONS       

Section 1.01

   Definitions of Terms      1  
ARTICLE II   
DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,   
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES   

Section 2.01

   Designation and Terms of Securities      8  

Section 2.02

   Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate      12  

Section 2.03

   Denominations; Provisions for Payment      12  

Section 2.04

   Execution and Authentication      14  

Section 2.05

   Registration of Transfer and Exchange      15  

Section 2.06

   Temporary Securities      16  

Section 2.07

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities      17  

Section 2.08

   Cancellation      17  

Section 2.09

   Benefits of Indenture      18  

Section 2.10

   Authenticating Agent      18  

Section 2.11

   Global Securities      19  

Section 2.12

   Deferrals of Interest Payments      20  

Section 2.13

   CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.      20  

Section 2.14

   Calculation Agent      20  
ARTICLE III   
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS   

Section 3.01

   Redemption      21  

Section 3.02

   Notice of Redemption      21  

Section 3.03

   Payment upon Redemption      22  

Section 3.04

   Sinking Fund      23  

Section 3.05

   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      23  

Section 3.06

   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      24  

 

i


ARTICLE IV   
CERTAIN COVENANTS   

Section 4.01

   Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      24  

Section 4.02

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      24  

Section 4.03

   Paying Agents      25  

Section 4.04

   Statement by Officers as to Default      26  

Section 4.05

   Existence      27  

Section 4.06

   Waiver of Certain Covenants      27  

Section 4.07

   Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee      27  
ARTICLE V   
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE   

Section 5.01

   Company to Furnish Trustee with Names and Addresses of Securityholders      28  

Section 5.02

   Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders      28  

Section 5.03

   Reports by the Company      28  

Section 5.04

   Reports by the Trustee      29  
ARTICLE VI   
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT   

Section 6.01

   Events of Default      29  

Section 6.02

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      31  

Section 6.03

   Application of Moneys Collected      33  

Section 6.04

   Limitation on Suits      34  

Section 6.05

   Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal and Interest      34  

Section 6.06

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver      34  

Section 6.07

   Control by Securityholders      35  

Section 6.08

   Undertaking to Pay Costs      35  

Section 6.09

   Waiver of Past Defaults      35  

 

ii


ARTICLE VII   
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE   

Section 7.01

   Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee      36  

Section 7.02

   Certain Rights of Trustee      38  

Section 7.03

   Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities      40  

Section 7.04

   May Hold Securities      40  

Section 7.05

   Moneys Held in Trust      40  

Section 7.06

   Compensation and Reimbursement      40  

Section 7.07

   Reliance on Officers’ Certificate      41  

Section 7.08

   Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      42  

Section 7.09

   Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      42  

Section 7.10

   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      42  

Section 7.11

   Acceptance of Appointment By Successor      44  

Section 7.12

   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      45  

Section 7.13

   Preferential Collection of Claims against the Company      45  

Section 7.14

   Agents      46  
ARTICLE VIII   
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS   

Section 8.01

   Evidence of Action by Securityholders      46  

Section 8.02

   Proof of Execution by Securityholders      47  

Section 8.03

   Who May be Deemed Owners      47  

Section 8.04

   Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded      47  

Section 8.05

   Actions Binding on Future Securityholders      47  
ARTICLE IX   
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   

Section 9.01

   Supplemental Indentures without the Consent of Securityholders      48  

Section 9.02

   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders      50  

Section 9.03

   Effect of Supplemental Indentures      51  

Section 9.04

   Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures      51  

Section 9.05

   Execution of Supplemental Indentures      52  

 

iii


ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 10.01

   When the Company May Consolidate, Merge, Etc.      52  
ARTICLE XI

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01

   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      53  

Section 11.02

   Discharge of Obligations      54  

Section 11.03

   Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust      54  

Section 11.04

   Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents      54  

Section 11.05

   Repayment to Company      55  
ARTICLE XII

 

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 12.01

   No Recourse      55  
ARTICLE XIII

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 13.01

   Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      56  

Section 13.02

   Defeasance and Discharge      56  

Section 13.03

   Covenant Defeasance      56  

Section 13.04

   Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      57  

Section 13.05

   Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions      58  

Section 13.06

   Reinstatement      60  
ARTICLE XIV

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 14.01

   Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness of the Company      60  

Section 14.02

   No Payment When Senior Indebtedness of the Company in Default      61  

Section 14.03

   Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.      62  

 

iv


Section 14.04

   Payment Permitted If No Default      63  

Section 14.05

   Subrogation to the Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company      64  

Section 14.06

   Trustee to Effectuate Subordination      65  

Section 14.07

   Notice by the Company      65  

Section 14.08

   Rights of the Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness      66  

Section 14.09

   Subordination May Not Be Impaired      66  

Section 14.10

   Article Applicable to Paying Agents      67  
ARTICLE XV

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 15.01

   Effect on Successors and Assigns      67  

Section 15.02

   Actions by Successor      67  

Section 15.03

   Notices      68  

Section 15.04

   Governing Law      69  

Section 15.05

   Waiver of Jury Trial      69  

Section 15.06

   Submission to Jurisdiction      69  

Section 15.07

   Compliance Certificates and Opinions      70  

Section 15.08

   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      70  

Section 15.09

   Payments on Business Days      71  

Section 15.10

   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      71  

Section 15.11

   Counterparts      71  

Section 15.12

   Separability      71  

Section 15.13

   Assignment      72  

Section 15.14

   Headings and Table of Contents      72  

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of [    ], among AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and [    ] (the “Trustee”).

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured subordinated debt securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series, as provided in this Indenture;

WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders of Securities, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions of Terms.

The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument. All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Additional Interest” means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on any interest on the Securities of any series that is in arrears or not paid during any Extension Period, which in either case shall accrue at the rate per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “interest” in this Indenture shall be deemed to include references to “Additional Interest.”

 

1


Additional Provisions” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.01.

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. When used with respect to any Person, “control” means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” and “under common control with” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Agents” means the Authenticating Agent, the Paying Agent, the Security Registrar and the Calculation Agent, and each of their successor or assigns duly appointed herein, and any such other Person identified as an “Agent” in any supplemental indenture hereto.

Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Company or the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such 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 and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.

Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, legal holiday or a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

Calculation Agent” has the meaning stated in Section 2.14 of this Indenture.

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares or units of, rights to purchase, warrants or options for, or other equivalent interests in equity of such Person, including Preferred Stock.

Company” means AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor in interest thereto.

 

2


Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by (i) its President or any Vice President and (ii) its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at [    ].

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or Section 2.11.

Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.

Extension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.

Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee or Authenticating Agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall

 

3


also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, 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 Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

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.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.

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

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company that is delivered to the Trustee and the Agent (as applicable) in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(c).

 

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Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article Three provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07; and (d) Securities as to which Defeasance (as defined in Section 13.02) has been effected pursuant to Section 13.02; provided, however, that in determining whether the Securityholders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 6.01(c), (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 2.01, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 2.01, 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 Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.

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

 

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

Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 or Section 2.12 or, if not so specified, New York, New York.

Preferred Stock” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation or company means Capital Stock of any class or classes that by its terms is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation or company, over Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation or company.

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 2.07 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.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable), means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable), including any vice president, assistant vice president, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee or the Agent (as applicable) 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” has the meaning stated in the preamble of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

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

Security Register” has the meaning stated in Section 2.05(b) of this Indenture.

 

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Security Registrar” has the meaning stated in Section 2.05(b) of this Indenture.

Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” “registered holder,” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

Senior Indebtedness” means with respect to the Company, all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of this Indenture, or hereafter incurred, created or assumed, and any amendments, renewals, extensions or modifications of any such obligations, (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other written instruments issued by the Company (other than the Securities); (ii) all obligations of the Company as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the Company under generally accepted accounting principles and leases of property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which the Company is a party; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, assets or businesses, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company in respect of commodity contracts, interest rate swap, cap, floor, collar or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap arrangements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements; (vi) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vii) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company); provided that “Senior Indebtedness” shall not include: (1) indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services; or (2) any obligation or indebtedness that is, by its terms, subordinated in right of payment to, or ranks equally in right of payment with, the Securities.

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

 

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Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.

Trustee” means [    ], and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, shall also include its successors and assigns and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect at the date of execution of this Indenture, except as otherwise provided herein.

Voting Stock,” as applied to stock of any Person, all classes of Capital Stock of such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person.

Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity on a series of securities calculated at the time of issuance of such series or, if applicable, of the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

ARTICLE II

DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,

REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

Section 2.01 Designation and Terms of Securities.

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:

(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);

 

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(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that 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 that series);

(3) the price or prices at which the Company will sell the Securities;

(4) the Stated Maturity of the Securities;

(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;

(6) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates, the record date for the determination of holders of Securities to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates and the extent to which Additional Interest, if any, will be payable in respect of any Securities of the series;

(7) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods for any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.12, the maximum duration of any such extension period and the terms, conditions and covenants related thereto;

(8) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to any index, formula, or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(9) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

(10) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, and the manner in which the particular Securities of such series (if less than all Securities of such series are to be redeemed) are to be selected for redemption;

(11) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in participation of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder of Securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

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(12) if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(13) if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion or, methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;

(14) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;

(15) provisions granting special rights to Securityholders upon the occurrence of specific events;

(16) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or the Company’s covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;

(17) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(18) whether the Securities will be convertible into shares of common stock or other securities or property of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including the conversion price and the conversion period;

(19) whether the Securities are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the identity for the Depositary for such series and the terms and conditions upon which Global Securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities;

(20) the forms of the Securities of the series;

(21) any special tax implications of the Securities of the series, including any provisions for Original Issue Discount Securities, if offered;

 

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(22) any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Securityholders to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.01;

(23) any trustees, authenticating or Paying Agents, transfer agents or registrars, calculation agents or other agents with respect to the Securities;

(24) any restrictions on the registration, transfer or exchange of the Securities;

(25) whether the subordination provisions of this Indenture (including the provisions contained in Article XIV and the definition of “Senior Indebtedness”) or different subordination provisions will apply to the Securities; and

(26) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(10), but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture with respect to such series).

To the extent any such Officers’ Certificate setting forth such Board Resolution or supplemental indenture modifies or deletes any provision of this Indenture with respect to the series established thereunder, the terms as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture shall supersede this Indenture with respect to such series.

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, 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 of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.

Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.

 

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Section 2.02 Form of Securities and Trustees Certificate.

The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s or Authenticating Agent’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution of the Company and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.

Section 2.03 Denominations; Provisions for Payment.

The Securities shall be issuable in fully registered form, without coupons, and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, subject to Section 2.01(11). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.01, the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months, except as otherwise specified under Section 2.01 for Securities of any series.

The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01 and subject to any Extension Period contemplated by Section 2.12, any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder of Securities; and

 

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such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:

(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (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 and the Paying Agent in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and the Paying Agent for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 5 days after receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee and the Paying Agent of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Paying Agent.

Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution of the Company or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an

 

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Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.

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

Section 2.04 Execution and Authentication.

The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, or one of its Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, or one of its Assistant Treasurers, or its Secretary, or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature. The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or Vice President thereof, or of any Person who shall have been a Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President or a Vice President, the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Securityholder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

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 or an Authenticating Agent for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.

In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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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, protections, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Section 2.05 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided (the “Security Registrar”).

Upon surrender for the registration of transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.

All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.

 

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(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.

(d) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the transmittal of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmittal, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.

Section 2.06 Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the Securityholders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

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Section 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.

In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee or an Authenticating Agent may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon receipt of a Company Order. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent 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) connected therewith. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.08 Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any Paying Agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. Upon receipt of a timely Company Request at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such Company Request the

 

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Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.09 Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the holders of Securities and the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of Article XIV, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, holders of Securities and holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of Article XIV.

Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent.

So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Company or the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon receipt of a Company Request shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, protections, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.

 

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Section 2.11 Global Securities.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent will authenticate (or cause to authenticate) and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate (or cause to authenticate) and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global

 

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Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Security Registrar shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

(d) The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary.

Section 2.12 Deferrals of Interest Payments

If specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 with respect to the Securities of a series, so long as no Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of such series, to defer the payment of interest otherwise due and payable on such Securities for such period or periods as may be specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 (each, an “Extension Period”) during which periods the Company shall have the right to make no or partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date, and at the end of such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid thereon (together with Additional Interest thereon, if any, at the rate specified for the Securities of such series to the extent permitted by applicable law), subject to the terms, conditions and covenants as may be specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that the Company may not defer payment of interest beyond the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption or acceleration, as applicable, of the Securities of such series.

Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.

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

Section 2.14 Calculation Agent

The Company may appoint one or more calculation agents with respect to the Securities (the “Calculation Agent”). All calculations made by the Calculation Agent for the purposes of calculating interest on any series shall be conclusive and binding on the Trustee, the Company, and the registered holders, absent manifest errors.

 

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ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

Section 3.01 Redemption.

The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

Section 3.02 Notice of Redemption.

(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by transmitting a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is transmitted in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. 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 and the Paying Agent with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

 

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(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee and the Paying Agent at least 15 days’ (or such shorter period as the Trustee and the Paying Agent may agree) notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $2,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part; provided that if the Securities are represented by a Global Security, interests in such Global Security shall be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, instruct the Trustee or any Paying Agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such Paying Agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such Paying Agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such Paying Agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such Paying Agent to give any notice that may be required under the provisions of this Section.

Section 3.03 Payment upon Redemption.

(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest (including any Additional Interest) accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, such Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest (including any Additional Interest) accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).

 

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(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the Securityholder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

Section 3.04 Sinking Fund.

The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 3.05 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series 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 the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee and the Security Registrar at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

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Section 3.06 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 30 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Paying Agent an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 15 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.

ARTICLE IV

CERTAIN COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

(a) Subject to Section 2.12, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities on or prior to the dates and in the manner provided in such Securities or pursuant to this Indenture. An installment of principal, premium, if any, or interest shall be considered paid on the applicable due date if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to pay all of such installment then due.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as hereinabove authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by its President or a Vice President and delivered to the trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, 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, notices and demands.

 

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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 such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Section 4.03 Paying Agents.

(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more Paying Agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee or the initial Paying Agent, the Company will cause each such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:

(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;

(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;

(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent; and

(4) that it will perform all other duties of Paying Agent as set forth in this Indenture.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal, and premium, if any, or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. 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, and premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the 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, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (ii) 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 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 terms and conditions 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.

(d) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, any money or Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company at its option upon the delivery of a Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

(e) Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.

Section 4.04 Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, to the effect that to the best knowledge of the signers thereof (on behalf of the Company) the Company is or is not in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

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The Company shall, so long as any of the Securities are Outstanding, deliver to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, within ten Business Days upon any officer of the Company becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default.

Section 4.05 Existence.

Subject to Article X, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and its rights and franchises; provided that nothing in this Section 4.05 shall prevent the abandonment or termination of any right or franchise of the Company if, in the opinion of the Company, such abandonment or termination is in the best interests of the Company and not prejudicial in any material respect to the holders of the Securities.

Section 4.06 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Sections 2.01(a)(16), 9.01(4) or 9.01(7) for the benefit of the holder of such series, if before the time for such compliance the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by act of such holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 4.07 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE V

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.01 Company to Furnish Trustee with Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee and the Security Registrar (a) on a semi-annual basis not more than 10 days after each regular record date a list, in such form as the Trustee or the Security Registrar may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee and the Security Registrar by the Company; and (b) at such other times as the Trustee or the Security Registrar may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

Section 5.02 Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders.

(a) The Trustee and the Security Registrar shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Securityholders contained in the most recent list furnished to them as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of Securityholders received by the Trustee or the Security Registrar.

(b) The Trustee and the Security Registrar may destroy any list furnished to them as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities.

(d) Every Securityholder, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar that neither the Company, nor the Trustee, nor the Security Registrar, nor any agent of any of them, shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Securityholders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 5.03 Reports by the Company.

Following the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, the Company shall comply with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of such reports, documents and information to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of

 

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any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with the terms of this Article V or the posting of any reports, documents and information on the EDGAR system or any website.

Section 5.04 Reports by the Trustee.

(a) On or before July 15 in each year in which any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(b) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission.

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing, unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in accordance with Section 2.01:

(1) the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of:

(i) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

(ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

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(iii) a final and non-appealable order appointing a Custodian of the Company or of any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company;

(2) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: (i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding; (iii) files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief or consents to such filing or to the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, and such Custodian is not discharged within 60 days; (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (v) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or

(3) any other Event of Default provided for pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to Securities of that series.

(b) The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Default (of which it has received written notice and which is continuing) with respect to the Securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), give to the Securityholders of the Securities of such series notice of such Default; provided, however, that, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of the Securities of such series.

(c) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(1) or 6.01(a)(2)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the Securityholders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(1) or 6.01(a)(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 any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholder, become immediately due and payable. The payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) due as a result of the acceleration of the Securities of a series pursuant to this Section shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article XIV.

 

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(d) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company, the Trustee and the Paying Agent may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of, and premium, if any, on any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) expressed in the Securities of that series (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.09.

No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(e) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, protections, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

Section 6.02 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

(a) The Company covenants that (1) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series (including any Additional Interest) as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days (and, in the case of payment of any interest deferred pursuant to Section 2.12 and as may be specified as contemplated by Section 2.01, such default continues for a period of 30 days after the conclusion of any Extension Period), or (2) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon

 

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declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal, and premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest), or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal, and premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06.

(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.

(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee and Agents under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee and Agents, and, in the event that the Trustee and Agents shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee and Agents any amount due it under Section 7.06.

(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or 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 payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.

 

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In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.03 Application of Moneys Collected.

Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal, or premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest), upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee and the Agents under Section 7.06;

SECOND: Subject to Article XIV, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal, and premium, if any, and interest (including any Additional 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 Securities for principal, and premium, if any, and interest including any Additional Interest), respectively; and

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, its successors or assigns or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

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Section 6.04 Limitation on Suits.

No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity satisfactory to it as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Section 6.05 Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Securityholder to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Securityholder.

Section 6.06 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Securityholders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.

(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Securityholder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04 or Section 6.05, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.

 

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Section 6.07 Control by Securityholders.

The Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, 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 such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Securityholders of any other series at the time Outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.08 Undertaking to Pay Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.

Section 6.09 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 6.01(d), the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf of the Securityholders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

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(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security of such series, or

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

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

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations or duties (including fiduciary duties) shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series 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 or her own affairs.

(b) 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) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:

(a) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants, duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(b) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture;

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding 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 that series; and

(4) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

(5) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder, or losses, arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services, including Internet services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

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(6) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or personally liable for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, however styled, including, without limitation, lost profits, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of the loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(7) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for or with respect to the validity, perfection or priority of any lien or security interest or for or with respect to the preparation, filing, amendment or continuation of any financing statements in connection thereto.

Section 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or a Company Order or Company Request (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);

(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel, investment bankers, accountants or other professionals and the written advice of such counsel, investment bankers, accountants or other professionals or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to 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 or her own affairs;

 

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

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the Securityholders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.04); provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand; and

(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) Whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action to be taken hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate and delivered to the Trustee and such Officers’ Certificate, in the absence of gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

(i) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any fact or event unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has obtained “actual knowledge” thereof or unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received a written notice of such fact or event. The term “actual knowledge” as used herein shall mean the actual fact or statement of knowing by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee without independent investigation with respect thereto. Except for reports prepared by the Trustee pursuant to an express provision of an agreement signed by the Trustee, the delivery of reports or other information does not constitute actual knowledge.

 

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Section 7.03 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.

(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.

(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.

(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

Section 7.04 May Hold Securities.

The Trustee or any Paying Agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent or Security Registrar.

Section 7.05 Moneys Held in Trust.

Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held, uninvested, in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.

Section 7.06 Compensation and Reimbursement.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee and the Agents, and the Trustee and the Agents shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company, and the Trustee or the Agents may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee or the Agents, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee and the Agents upon their request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee or the Agents in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their counsel and of all Persons not regularly in their employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance

 

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as may arise directly from their negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee and the Agents (and their officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all claims, obligation, losses, liabilities, damages, injuries, penalties, stamp or other similar taxes, actions, suits, proceeding, judgment, reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and agents’ fees and expenses and fees and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of indemnification rights) of whatever kind or nature regardless of their merit, demanded, asserted, or claimed against the Trustee (whether asserted by any Securitiyholder, the Company or otherwise) directly or indirectly related to, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises, reasonable attorneys’ and consultants’ fees and expenses and court costs, enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.06) and of defending themselves against any claims except to the extent caused directly by the Trustee’s or Agents’ negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06(a) shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee or an Agent.

(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and Agents and to pay or reimburse the Trustee and Agents for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee or Agents as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders of particular Securities.

(c) Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee or the Agents under applicable law, when the Trustee or the Agents incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or Section 6.01(a)(2) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

Section 7.07 Reliance on Officers Certificate.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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Section 7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation 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, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.

Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the transmitting of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

 

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(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after receipt of a Company Request therefor or written request by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after receipt of a Company Request therefor or written request by any such Securityholder; or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, 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 may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or (ii) unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided herein, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that Securityholder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

(c) The Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.

(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.

(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.

 

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Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, upon receipt of a Company Request or upon the request of 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.

(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) 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, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; 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, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, upon receipt of a Company Request or upon the request of any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the 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.

 

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(c) Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, 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.

(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.

Section 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such entity shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. 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 with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

Section 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims against the Company.

The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.

 

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Section 7.14 Agents.

The rights, protections, immunities and indemnities afforded to the Trustee under this Indenture shall also be afforded to each Agent hereunder; provided (i) an Agent shall only be liable to extent of its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and (ii) in and during an Event of Default, only the Trustee, and not any Agent, shall be subject to the prudent person standard.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

Section 8.01 Evidence of Action by Securityholders.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of Securities of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of Securities of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of substantially similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the 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 Securityholders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on the date such action is taken.

 

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Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.

(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.

(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.03 Who May be Deemed Owners.

Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor the Paying Agent nor the Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 8.04 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.

In determining whether the Securityholders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent of waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are not Outstanding shall be disregarded for the purpose of any such determination. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

Section 8.05 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is

 

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shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures without the Consent of Securityholders.

In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, mistake, omission, defect or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;

(2) to comply with Article X;

(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(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, to the effect 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;

(5) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;

 

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(6) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder, provided that any change to the terms of the Indenture or to a series of Securities made solely to conform to the description of such series of Securities in an offering document, prospectus supplement or other similar offering document relating to the initial offering of such series of Securities shall be deemed to not materially adversely affect the rights of the Securityholders of such series;

(7) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the Securityholders of any series of Securities;

(8) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Securityholders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, to the effect that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series);

(9) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form;

(10) 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 addition, 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 Securityholder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding;

(11) to secure the Securities;

(12) to modify the provision in Article XIV with respect to the subordination of Outstanding Securities of any series in a manner not materially adverse to the holders of such Securities; or

(13) 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 7.11.

 

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The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, protections, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 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 9.02.

Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.

With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby:

(i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;

(ii) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(c);

(iii) change the obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency and for the purposes specified in this Indenture;

(iv) change the currency in which any Security or any premium or interest is payable;

(v) impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any Security;

(vi) adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, such Security (if applicable);

 

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(vii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Securityholders is required for modification or amendment of this Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

(viii) reduce the requirements contained in this Indenture for the consent of holders of the Notes of any series; or

(ix) modify any of the above provisions.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

Section 9.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article X, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 9.04 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series, affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article X, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.

 

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Section 9.05 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon receipt of a Company Order, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, protections, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may, in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel (in addition to the documents required under Section 15.07 hereunder) as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture dated the date hereof that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to transmit such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE X

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 10.01 When the Company May Consolidate, Merge, Etc.

The Company may not (a) merge with or into or consolidate with another Person, or (b) convey, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any Person other than to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and no Person may merge with or into or consolidate with the Company, in each case unless:

(a) the Company is the surviving Person, or the Person formed by or surviving such merger or consolidation or to which such conveyance, lease or transfer shall have been made (the “Successor”), if other than the Company, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

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(c) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such supplemental indenture complies with this Indenture.

This Section 10.01 shall not prohibit (i) the direct or indirect conveyance or transfer of all or any portion of the capital stock, assets or liabilities of any of the Company’s direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries or (ii) the consolidation or merger of any of the Company’s direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries (including AXA Financial, Inc.) with and into the Company.

The Successor will be the successor to the Company, and will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture and become the obligor on the Securities with the same effect as if the Successor had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all of its obligations and covenants under this Indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the predecessor Company will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07) and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company (and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations sufficient, without reinvestment, or a combination thereof, 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 at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, and premium, if any, and interest (including any Additional Interest) due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the

 

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Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.06 and 11.05, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.

Section 11.02 Discharge of Obligations.

If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds money in U.S. dollars sufficient or an amount of non-callable Governmental Obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due, will be sufficient, without reinvestment, or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 7.06, 7.10 and 11.05 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 7.06 and 11.05 shall survive.

Section 11.03 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.

All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held, uninvested, in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Securityholders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.

Section 11.04 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any Paying Agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.

 

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Section 11.05 Repayment to Company.

Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any Paying Agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the Securityholders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the Securityholder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.

ARTICLE XII

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 12.01 No Recourse.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or 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 this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 13.01 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 2.01 as being defeasible pursuant to such Sections 13.02 or 13.03, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 2.01 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 2.01 for such Securities.

Section 13.02 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 13.04 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 Securityholders to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 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 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02 and 4.03, (3) the rights, protections, 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 13.03 applied to such Securities.

Section 13.03 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, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Article X, and any covenants provided pursuant to Sections 2.01(a)(16), 9.01(4) or 9.01(7) for the benefit of the holders of such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant

 

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Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section, 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 13.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 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 Paying Agent (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 7.09 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) Governmental Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, without reinvestment, 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.

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 13.02 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 (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 Indenture, 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.

 

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(3) In the event of an election to have Section 13.03 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 it has been informed by the relevant securities exchange(s) that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

(5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 6.01(a)(1) and 6.01(a)(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 result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any indenture or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money, pursuant to which in excess of $100,000,000 principal amount is then outstanding, to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(7) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 13.05 Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of Section 4.03(d), all money and Governmental Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.06, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of any Securities shall be held, uninvested, 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.

 

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The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Governmental Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 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 receipt of a Company Request any money or Governmental Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 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.

The Securityholders shall be liable for all taxes, assessments, duties and other governmental charges, including any interest or penalty with respect thereto (“Taxes”), with respect to any cash or Securities held on behalf of Securityholder or any transaction related thereto. Each Securityholders shall indemnify the Trustee for the amount of any Tax that the Trustee or any withholding agent is required under applicable laws (whether by assessment or otherwise) to pay on behalf of, or in respect of income earned by or payments or distributions made to or for the account of each Securityholder (including any payment of Tax required by reason of an earlier failure to withhold). The Trustee shall, or shall instruct the applicable withholding agent to, withhold the amount of any Tax which is required to be withheld under applicable law upon collection of any dividend, interest or other distribution made with respect to any Security and any proceeds or income from the sale, loan or other transfer of any Security, and any Securityholder upon request by the Trustee is required to provide the information necessary to determine the nature of the income and whether any such tax or withholding obligations apply. In the event that the Trustee is required under applicable law to pay any Tax on behalf of the Securityholders, the Trustee is hereby authorized to withdraw cash from any cash account in the amount required to pay such Tax and to use such cash for the timely payment of such Tax in the manner required by applicable law. If the aggregate amount of cash in all cash accounts is not sufficient to pay such Tax, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Securityholders of the additional amount of cash required, and the Securityholders shall directly deposit such additional amount in the appropriate cash account promptly after receipt of such notice, for use by the Trustee as specified herein. In the event that the Trustee reasonably believes that any Securityholder is eligible, pursuant to applicable law or to the provisions of any tax treaty, for a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax which is otherwise required to be withheld or paid on behalf of each Securityholder under any applicable law, the Trustee shall, or shall instruct

 

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the applicable withholding agent to, either withhold or pay such Tax at such reduced rate or refrain from withholding or paying such Tax, as appropriate; provided that the Trustee shall have received from each Securityholder all documentary evidence of residence or other qualification for such reduced rate or exemption required to be received under such applicable law or treaty. In the event that the Trustee reasonably believes that a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax is obtainable only by means of an application for refund, the Trustee shall have no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of any forms or documentation provided by the Securityholders to the Trustee hereunder. Each Securityholder hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Trustee in respect of any liability arising from any underwithholding or underpayment of any Tax which results from the inaccuracy or invalidity of any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be a continuing obligation of each Securityholder, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Indenture.

Section 13.06 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 Sections 13.02 or 13.03 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 13.05 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

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 14.01 Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness of the Company.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Securities issued hereunder and under any supplemental indenture or by any resolutions by the Board of Directors (“Additional Provisions”), by such holder’s acceptance thereof, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article XIV, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including any Additional Interest) on each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all amounts then due and payable in respect of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company. Each holder of Securities, by its acceptance hereof, waives all notice of acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein by each holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

 

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No provision of this Article XIV shall prevent the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder.

Section 14.02 No Payment When Senior Indebtedness of the Company in Default.

In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist or such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled, then, in either case, no payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any Securities) of and premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities or any sinking fund payment; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 14.02 shall prevent the satisfaction of any sinking fund payment in accordance with this Indenture (or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for the Securities of any series) by delivering and crediting pursuant to Section 3.06 (or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for the Securities of any series) Securities which have been acquired (upon redemption or otherwise) prior to such default.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee or the holder of any Security prohibited by this Section 14.02, before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear.

The provisions of this Section 14.02 shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 14.03 would be applicable.

 

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Section 14.03 Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.

Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any (a) dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, (b) general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (c) marshaling of any assets or liabilities for the benefit of creditors or (d) other similar proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment or distribution is made by the Company with respect to the principal of and premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities, whether in cash, property or securities; and upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the holders of Securities or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XIV, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the holders of Securities or by the Trustee under the Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the holders or to the Trustee.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing paragraph, shall be received by the Trustee or any holder of Securities before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of (if received by the Trustee) and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, and their respective interests may appear, or to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution for the Company, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

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Upon any payment by or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XIV, the Trustee and the holders of Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization is pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution for the Company, delivered to the Trustee or to the holders of Securities, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XIV.

For purposes of this Article XIV, the words “any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XIV with respect to the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, that may at the time be outstanding; provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment.

The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article X shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 14.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article X. Nothing in Section 14.02 or in this Section 14.03 shall apply to claims of, or payments, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.06 of this Indenture.

Section 14.04 Payment Permitted If No Default.

Nothing contained in this Article XIV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent (i) the Company, at any time except during the pendency of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization referred to in Section 14.03 or under the conditions described in Section 14.02, from making payments at any time of principal of and premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities, or (ii) the application by the Trustee of any money or Governmental Obligations deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities or the retention of such payment by the holders of Securities, if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee did not receive written notice as contemplated by Section 14.07(b). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, money or Governmental Obligations held in trust pursuant to Section 11.03 shall not be subject to the claims of the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company under this Article XIV.

 

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Section 14.05 Subrogation to the Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company.

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, or the provision for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the holders of Securities shall be subrogated, to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XIV, and no payments over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by holders the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness.

It is understood that the provisions of this Article XIV are, and are intended, solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XIV or elsewhere in this Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of Securities the principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of Securities and creditors of the Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon any default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XIV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

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Section 14.06 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

Each holder of Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XIV and appoints the Trustee such holder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership proceedings, or otherwise, the timely filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of the indebtedness of the Company owing to such holder in the form required in such proceedings and the causing of such claim to be approved. If the Trustee does not file a proper claim at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, then the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and their agents, trustees or other representatives are authorized to do so (but shall in no event be liable for any failure to do so) for and on behalf of the holders of the Securities.

Section 14.07 Notice by the Company; Knowledge of Trustee.

(a) The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XIV or any other provision of this Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 14.07 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any debt security), 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 purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be (or a trustee on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf

 

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of any such holder or holders. 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 such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XIV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such 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 XIV, 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 or distribution.

Section 14.08 Rights of the Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XIV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company that may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XIV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to holders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XIV or otherwise.

Nothing in this Article XIV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.06 or the second paragraph of Section 13.05.

Section 14.09 Subordination May Not Be Impaired.

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, as the case may be, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder of Securities, or by any noncompliance by the Company, as the case may be, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

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Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the holders of Securities, without incurring responsibility to the holders of Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XIV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of Securities to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; or (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, as the case may be, and any other Person.

Section 14.10 Article Applicable to Paying Agents.

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article XIV shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article XIV in addition to or in place of the Trustee.

ARTICLE XV

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 15.01 Effect on Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 15.02 Actions by Successor.

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the successor of the Company.

 

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Section 15.03 Notices.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, Attention: Treasurer, with copies of any notice of an Event of Default to the attention of the General Counsel at the same address. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Paying Agent or Security Registrar shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at (i) to the extent the Company is the Paying Agent or Security Registrar AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, Attention: Treasurer and (ii) to the extent that the Trustee is the Paying Agent or Security Registrar at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent in the form of a manually signed document by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing designated persons with the authority to provide such instructions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which incumbency certificate shall be amended whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. 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 that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions 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.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to holders 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, to each such holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, within the time prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to holders of Securities, is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other holders of Securities. Any notice mailed to a holder of Securities in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such holder, whether or not such holder actually receives such notice.

 

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If by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice as provided above, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. If it is impossible or, in the opinion of the Trustee, impracticable to give any notice by publication in the manner herein required, then such publication in lieu thereof as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Section 15.04 Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 15.05 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, THE SECURITY REGISTRAR, THE PAYING AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE 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 15.06 Submission to Jurisdiction.

The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture and the Securities, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts.

 

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Section 15.07 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

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

(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (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 such Person, he has 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 or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 15.08 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel.

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.

 

70


Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company.

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

Section 15.09 Payments on Business Days.

Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal, and premium, if any, may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.

Section 15.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.

Section 15.11 Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 15.12 Separability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

 

71


Section 15.13 Assignment.

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company with the prior written consent of the parties hereto; provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations, subject to Section 10.01 of this Indenture. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns and may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.

Section 15.14 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 thereof.

 

72


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

AXA EQUITABLE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
[    ]

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
EX-5.1 5 d830523dex51.htm EX-5.1 EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019-6099

Tel: 212 728 8000

Fax: 212 728 8111

November 20, 2019

AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10104

RE: REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special New York counsel to AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the proposed issuance from time to time of (i) senior debt securities of the Company (the “Senior Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to a senior indenture (the “Senior Indenture”), dated as of April 5, 2019, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Senior Trustee”), (ii) subordinated debt securities of the Company (the “Subordinated Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to a subordinated indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be appointed by the Company (the “Subordinated Trustee”), (iii) junior subordinated debt securities of the Company (the “Junior Subordinated Debt Securities” and together with the Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to a junior subordinated indenture (the “Junior Subordinated Indenture” and together with the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture, the “Indentures” and each, an “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be appointed by the Company (the “Junior Subordinated Trustee” and together with the Senior Trustee and the Subordinated Trustee, the “Trustees” and each, a “Trustee”), (iv) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $1.00 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (v) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), (vi) depositary shares representing fractional interests in Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Common Stock (the “Depositary Shares”) pursuant to a deposit agreement (the “Deposit Agreement”), (vii) warrants representing rights to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock or other types of securities as well as other warrants (the “Warrants”) pursuant to one or more

NEW YORK    WASHINGTON    HOUSTON    PALO ALTO    SAN FRANCISCO    PARIS    LONDON    FRANKFURT    BRUSSELS    MILAN     ROME


AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

November 20, 2019

Page 2

 

warrant agreements (“Warrant Agreements”), (viii) purchase contracts representing rights or obligations to purchase or sell Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock or other securities (the “Purchase Contracts”) and (ix) units, representing ownership of one or more Debt Securities (or undivided beneficial interests therein), Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Purchase Contracts or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury Securities (the “Units” and, together with the Debt Securities, the Preferred Stock, the Common Stock, the Depositary Shares, the Warrants and the Purchase Contracts, the “Securities”).

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have (a) examined and relied on the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents and records of the Company and such other instruments and certificates of public officials and officers and representatives of the Company as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of such opinions, (b) examined and relied as to factual matters upon, and have assumed the accuracy of, the statements made in the certificates of public officials and officers and representatives of the Company delivered to us and (c) made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for such opinions. In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, with your permission, without independent investigation or inquiry, (i) the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, (ii) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents that we examined, (iii) the conformity to authentic originals and completeness of documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or reproduction copies, (iv) the legal capacity of all natural persons executing documents, (v) the power and authority of the Trustees to enter into and perform their respective obligations under each Indenture, (vi) the due authorization, execution and delivery of each Indenture by the applicable Trustee and (vii) the enforceability of each Indenture against the applicable Trustee.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the assumptions, qualifications and limitations hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Senior Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Senior Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

2. When (i) the terms, and the execution and delivery, of the Subordinated Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Indenture relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, as the case may be, have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action of the board of directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof (the “Board of Directors”), (ii) the Subordinated Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Indenture have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the applicable Trustee and the Subordinated Indenture and Junior Subordinated Indenture have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (iii)(a) the terms of the Debt Securities and their issuance and sale and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of such Debt Securities have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors and (b) the terms of such Debt Securities have been duly established in accordance with the applicable Indenture and supplemental indenture relating to such Debt


AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

November 20, 2019

Page 3

 

Securities so as not to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iv) the supplemental indenture in respect of such Debt Securities has been duly executed and delivered and (v) such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and supplemental indenture and any underwriting agreement, Warrants or Warrant Agreements relating to such issuance, against payment of the consideration fixed therefor by the Board of Directors, such Debt Securities will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

3. When (i) the terms of the Preferred Stock and of its issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and authorized and approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors, so as not to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (ii) a Certificate of Designations fixing and determining the terms of the Preferred Stock has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (iii) the Preferred Stock has been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, and in accordance with such action of the Board of Directors and the terms of any underwriting agreement, Warrants or Warrant Agreements or Purchase Contracts relating to such issuance, against payment of the consideration fixed therefor by the Board of Directors, the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

4. When (i) the terms, and the execution and delivery, of the Deposit Agreement relating to the Depositary Shares and the terms of the Depositary Shares and of their issuance and sale have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors, (ii) the Deposit Agreement and the depositary receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares (the “Depositary Receipts”) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and such depositary as shall have been duly appointed by the Company (the “Depositary”), (iii) the terms of the Depositary Shares and the Depositary Receipts have been established in accordance with the applicable Deposit Agreement, so as not to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any applicable requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company, (iv)(a)(1) in the case of Depositary Shares representing fractional interests in any Subordinated Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the Subordinated Indenture or Junior Subordinated Indenture, as the case may be, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the applicable Trustee as contemplated in paragraph 2 above, and (2) such Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 2 above, (b) the Preferred Stock relating to the Depositary Shares has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable as contemplated


AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

November 20, 2019

Page 4

 

in paragraph 3 above or (c) the Common Stock relating to the Depositary Shares has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable as contemplated in paragraph 5 below, and, in the case of (a), (b) or (c), have been deposited with the Depositary under the applicable Deposit Agreement and (v) the Depositary Receipts have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement related thereto, and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement and any underwriting agreement, Warrants or Warrant Agreements or Purchase Contracts relating to such issuance, against payment of the consideration fixed therefor by the Board of Directors, the Depositary Receipts will be validly issued.

5. When (i) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Common Stock have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors, so as not to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or result in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (ii) the Common Stock has been duly executed, issued, and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, and in accordance with such action of the Board of Directors and the terms of any underwriting agreement, Warrants or Warrant Agreements or Purchase Contracts relating to such issuance, against payment of the consideration fixed therefor by the Board of Directors, the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

6. When (i) the terms, and the execution and delivery, of the Warrants and any Warrant Agreement or Warrant Agreements relating to the Warrants and the terms of the issuance and sale of the Warrants and related matters have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors, (ii) the Warrant Agreement or Warrant Agreements relating to the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and such warrant agent as shall have been duly appointed by the Company, (iii) the terms of the Warrants have been established in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement, so as not to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or result in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (iv) the Warrants or certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, and in accordance with the terms of any Warrant Agreement and underwriting agreement relating to such issuance, against payment of the consideration fixed therefor by the Board of Directors, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

7. When (i) the terms, and the execution and delivery, of the Purchase Contracts and the terms of the issuance and sale thereof and related matters have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors, (ii) the terms of the Purchase Contracts have been established so as not to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or result in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental


AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

November 20, 2019

Page 5

 

body having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and such contract agent as shall have been duly appointed by the Company and any certificates representing Purchase Contracts have been duly executed, authenticated, if required, issued and delivered, in each case, as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, and in accordance with the terms of any Purchase Contract and underwriting agreement related to such issuance, against payment of the consideration fixed therefor by the Board of Directors, the Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

8. When (i) the terms of the Units and the terms of the issuance and sale thereof and related matters have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors, (ii) the terms of the Units have been established so as not to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or result in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) the Purchase Contracts that form a part of the Units have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated (if required), issued and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 7 above, (iv)(a)(1) the Indenture relating to any Debt Securities (or undivided beneficial interests therein) that form a part of the Units or that are deposited under the Deposit Agreement referred to below has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the applicable Trustee as contemplated in paragraph 2 above, and (2) such Debt Securities (or undivided beneficial interests therein) have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 2 above, (b) the Preferred Stock that forms a part of the Units has been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 3 above, (c) the Common Stock that forms a part of the Units has been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 5 above, (d)(1) the Deposit Agreement relating to the Depositary Shares that form a part of the Units, the related Depositary Shares and the Depositary Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, if required, and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 4 above, (2) in the case of Depositary Shares representing fractional interests in Subordinated Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the Subordinated Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Indenture, as the case may be, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the applicable Trustee as contemplated in paragraph 2 above and (3) the Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 2 above, (e) the Warrants that form a part of the Units have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 6 above, (f) the Purchase Contracts that form a part of the Units have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as contemplated in paragraph 7 above or (g) the debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury Securities, that form a part of the Units have been duly authorized, issued and delivered in accordance with their terms and (v) the certificates representing the Units have been duly executed, authenticated, if required, issued and delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, and in accordance with the terms of any Purchase Contract and underwriting agreement relating to such issuance, against payment of the consideration fixed therefor by the Board of Directors, the Units will be validly issued.


AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.

November 20, 2019

Page 6

 

9. If any Debt Securities are convertible into Common Stock, when (i) the terms of the issuance of the Common Stock have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors and (ii) the Common Stock has been issued upon conversion of such Debt Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, in accordance with the terms of such Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture, so as not to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or result in a default under or a violation of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any applicable requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company, the Common Stock so issued will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Our opinions set forth above are subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization and moratorium laws, and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or remedies generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) concepts of good faith, reasonableness and fair dealing, and standards of materiality.

We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and the reported judicial decisions interpreting the DGCL, and the federal laws of the United States of America, each as currently in effect.

We express no opinion as to the application of the securities or blue sky laws of the several states to the sale of the Securities. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth herein, we express no opinion in connection with the matters contemplated in the Registration Statement, and no opinion may be implied or inferred, except as expressly set forth herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Validity of Securities” in the Prospectus forming a part of thereof and in any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement and Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
EX-23.1 6 d830523dex231.htm EX-23.1 EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

 

LOGO

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. of our report dated March 8, 2019 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules, which appears in AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, NY

November 20, 2019

EX-25.1 7 d830523dex251.htm EX-25.1 EX-25.1

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

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-5160382

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y.   10286
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

AXA EQUITABLE HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   90-0226248

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY

  10104
(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

Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services of the State of New York    One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417, and Albany, N.Y. 12223
Federal Reserve Bank of New York    33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10045
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    550 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20429
The Clearing House Association L.L.C.    100 Broad Street, New York, N.Y. 10004

 

  (b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2.

Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

16.

List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

  1.

A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735).


  4.

A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229494).

 

  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. 333-229519).

 

  7.

A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 20th day of November, 2019.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:  

/s/ Francine Kincaid

  Name: Francine Kincaid
  Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

 

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business September 30, 2019, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

    

Dollar

amounts
in thousands

 

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     5,960,000  

Interest-bearing balances

     91,499,000  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     33,769,000  

Available-for-sale securities

     86,659,000  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     48,000  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     30,340,000  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment

     25,722,000  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     101,000  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     25,621,000  

Trading assets

     4,410,000  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     2,653,000  

Other real estate owned

     2,000  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     1,764,000  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets:

     6,997,000  

Other assets

     14,374,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     304,096,000  
  

 

 

 


LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     143,571,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     53,707,000  

Interest-bearing

     89,864,000  

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     111,933,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     3,725,000  

Interest-bearing

     108,208,000  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     3,578,000  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     1,375,000  

Trading liabilities

     2,627,000  

Other borrowed money: (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     7,503,000  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0  

Other liabilities

     7,506,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     278,093,000  
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,135,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     11,107,000  

Retained earnings

     15,167,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     -1,406,000  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Total bank equity capital

     26,003,000  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0  

Total equity capital

     26,003,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     304,096,000  
  

 

 

 


I, Michael Santomassimo, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Michael Santomassimo

Chief Financial Officer

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We 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 and is true and correct.

 

Thomas P. Gibbons

Samuel C. Scott

Joseph J. Echevarria

  LOGO    Directors

 

 

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