0001047469-17-004646.txt : 20170719 0001047469-17-004646.hdr.sgml : 20170719 20170718200314 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-17-004646 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: F-3/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20170719 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20170718 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Grupo Supervielle S.A. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001517399 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: COMMERCIAL BANKS, NEC [6029] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-3/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-218778 FILM NUMBER: 17970468 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: Bartolome Mitre 434, 5th Gloor STREET 2: C1036AAH CITY: Buenos Aires STATE: C1 ZIP: 00000 BUSINESS PHONE: 54-11-4340-3100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: Bartolome Mitre 434, 5th Gloor STREET 2: C1036AAH CITY: Buenos Aires STATE: C1 ZIP: 00000 F-3/A 1 a2232715zf-3a.htm F-3/A

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 18, 2017

Registration No. 333-218778


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549



Amendment No. 1
to

FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



Supervielle Group S.A.
(Translation of Registrant's Name into English)



Republic of Argentina
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

Bartolomé Mitre 434, 5th Floor
C1036AAH Buenos Aires
Republic of Argentina
Telephone: +54 (11) 4340-3053
(Address and Telephone Number of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)



CT Corporation System
111 Eighth Avenue
New York NY 10011
+1 (212) 590-9330
(Name, Address, and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)



Copies to:
Andrés de la Cruz, Esq.
Emilio Minvielle, Esq.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
+1 (212) 225-2000



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

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

         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 (the "Securities Act"), check the following box:    ý

         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:    o

         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:    o

         If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. 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:    o

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

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. Emerging growth company    o

         If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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.    o


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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

               
 
Title of each class of
securities to be registered

  Amount to be registered(1)
  Proposed maximum
offering price per
unit(1)

  Proposed maximum
offering price(1)

  Amount of
registration fee(2)

 

Primary Offering:

               

Class B shares, par value Ps.1.00 per share, which may be represented by American depositary shares ("ADSs")(3)

               
 

Preferred Stock, par value Ps.1.00 per share

               
 

Senior Debt Securities

               
 

Subordinated Debt Securities

               
 

Warrants

               
 

Rights

               
 

Units

               
 

Subtotal

  US$639,935,000.00     US$639,935,000.00   US$74,168.47
 

Secondary Offering:

               

Class B shares, par value Ps.1.00 per share, which may be represented by ADSs(3)

  45,000,000     US$160,065,000.00   US$18,551.53
 

Total(4)

        US$800,000,000.00   US$92,720.00(4)

 

(1)
The amount to be registered, proposed maximum aggregate offering price per unit and proposed maximum aggregate offering price for each class of security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.C. of Form F-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The aggregate maximum offering price of all securities issued pursuant to the registration statement by us shall not have a maximum aggregate offering price that exceeds US$639,935,000 or the equivalent at the time of offering in any other currency. The amount also includes such indeterminate principal amount, liquidation amount or number of identified classes of securities as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of other securities or that are issued in units. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are offered in units. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in a maximum aggregate offering price not to exceed US$639,935,000, less the aggregate dollar offering price of all securities previously sold by the registrant hereunder. In addition, up to 45,000,000 Class B shares may be sold by the selling shareholder identified in the prospectus forming part of this registration statement.

(2)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act with respect to the securities to be sold by the registrant and pursuant to Rule 457(c) with respect to the 45,000,000 Class B shares that may be sold by the selling shareholder. The proposed maximum offering price of the 45,000,000 Class B shares to be sold by the selling shareholder is based on the average of the high and low sale prices per ADS on the New York Stock Exchange on July 17, 2017. In no event will the aggregate price of all securities sold by the registrant from time to time pursuant to this registration statement exceed US$639,935,000.

(3)
Each ADS represents rights to five Class B shares of common stock. ADSs evidenced by American depository receipts ("ADRs") issuable on deposit of Class B shares registered hereby have been registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-208946), effective May 18, 2016.

(4)
Previously paid in connection with the initial filing of this registration statement on June 15, 2017.

         The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.

   


The term "new or revised financial accounting standard" refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.


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The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 18, 2017

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

Grupo Supervielle S.A.

Up to an aggregate price of US$639,935,000 Class B Shares
(which may be represented by American depositary shares), Preferred Stock, Debt Securities,
Warrants, Rights and Units offered by Grupo Supervielle S.A.
and

Up to 45,000,000 Class B Shares (which may be represented by American depositary shares)
offered by the Selling Shareholder



        We may from time to time offer and sell our Class B shares of common stock, par value Ps.1.00 per share and one vote per share, which may be represented by American depositary shares ("ADSs"), shares of our preferred stock, par value Ps.1.00 per share, debt securities, warrants, rights to purchase any of our Class B shares or any of the other securities offered pursuant to this registration statement or units, separately or together in any combination, in one or more offerings up to an aggregate price of US$639,935,000. The selling shareholder may offer up to 45,000,000 Class B shares, which may be represented by ADSs.

        You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in our securities. The prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the offering and the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to carry out sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

        Our Class B shares are listed on Bolsas y Mercados Argentinos S.A. (the "BYMA") and the Mercado Abierto Electrónico S.A. ("MAE"), under the symbol "SUPV." ADSs representing our Class B shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SUPV." On July 17, 2017, the last reported sale price of our Class B shares was Ps.59.80 per share and the last reported sale price of ADSs was US$17.80 per ADS.



        Investing in these securities involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, before you make your investment decision.



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



   

Prospectus dated                                    , 2017.


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Prospectus



        We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. We have not authorized anyone to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. Neither we nor the selling shareholder are making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") using a "shelf" registration process. Under the shelf registration process, any of the securities identified in this prospectus may be offered together or separately in one or more series, if any. We may offer and sell any combination of the securities identified in this prospectus in one or more offerings and the selling shareholder may sell up to 45,000,000 Class B shares in one or more offerings.

        This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time we or the selling shareholder sell securities using this shelf registration, we will provide a supplement or supplements to this prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The applicable prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read in their entirety both this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the sections entitled "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference," before deciding to invest in any of the securities being offered.

        This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information included in the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement on Form F-3, including its exhibits. We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, therefore, file reports and other information with the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are only summaries. If SEC rules require that any agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should refer to that agreement or document for its complete contents.

        You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any sale of securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since then.

        In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, we use the terms "we," "us," and "our," to refer to Grupo Supervielle S.A. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Banco Supervielle S.A. The terms "U.S. dollar" and "U.S. dollars" and the symbol "US$" refer to the legal currency of the United States. The terms "Peso" and "Pesos" and the symbol "Ps." refer to the legal currency of Argentina. The term "SMEs" refers to companies with annual sales over Ps.40.0 million and below Ps.200.0 million. The term "Middle-Market Companies" refers to companies with annual sales over Ps.200.0 million and below Ps.1.0 billion. The term "Large Corporates" refers to companies with annual sales over Ps.1.0 billion.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This prospectus contains estimates and forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current beliefs, expectations and projections about future courses of action, events and financial trends affecting our business. Many important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, could cause our actual results to differ substantially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements, including, among others:

    changes in general economic, financial, business, political, legal, social or other conditions in Argentina or elsewhere in Latin America or changes in either developed or emerging markets;

    changes in capital markets in general that may affect policies or attitudes toward lending to or investing in Argentina or Argentine companies, including expected or unexpected turbulence or volatility in domestic and international financial markets;

    changes in regional, national and international business and economic conditions, including inflation;

    changes in interest rates and the cost of deposits, which may, among other things, affect margins;

    unanticipated increases in financing or other costs or the inability to obtain additional debt or equity financing on attractive terms, which may limit our ability to fund existing operations and to finance new activities;

    changes in government regulation, including tax and banking regulations;

    adverse legal or regulatory disputes or proceedings;

    the interpretation by judicial courts of the new Argentine Civil and Commercial Code;

    credit and other risks of lending, such as increases in defaults by borrowers;

    fluctuations and declines in the value of Argentine public debt;

    increased competition in the banking, financial services, credit card services, asset management and related industries;

    a loss of market share by any of our main businesses;

    increase in the allowances for loan losses;

    technological changes or an inability to implement new technologies, changes in consumer spending and saving habits;

    ability to implement our business strategy;

    fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Peso; and

    other factors discussed under "Item 3.D Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the "2016 Form 20-F").

        The words "believe," "may," "will," "aim," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "forecast" and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, the effects of future regulation and the effects of competition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements after we distribute this prospectus because of new information, future events or other factors, except as required by applicable law. In light of the risks and uncertainties described above, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus might not occur and do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Because of these uncertainties, you should not make any investment decisions based on these estimates and forward-looking statements.

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GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.

        As of the date of this prospectus, we own the fourth largest Argentine private domestically-owned bank in terms of assets. We maintain a strong geographic presence in the City of Buenos Aires and the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area, which is Argentina's most commercially significant and highly populated area, and we are leaders in terms of our banking network in some of Argentina's most dynamic regions, including Mendoza and San Luis. Banco Supervielle S.A. and its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Bank"), which consolidated with Cordial Compañía Financiera S.A. ("CCF"), is our main asset and has a history of strong growth.

        We offer diverse financial products and services that are specifically tailored to cover the different needs of our customers through a multi-brand and multi-channel platform. We have developed a multi-brand business model to differentiate the financial products and services we offer to a wide spectrum of individuals, small businesses, SMEs, Middle-Market Companies and Large Corporates in Argentina. Our current infrastructure supports our multi-channel distribution strategy with a strategic national footprint of access points including bank branches, banking payment and collection centers, CCF points of sale located in Walmart supermarkets, consumer financing branches, ATMs and self-service terminals.

        Building on our banking sector expertise, we identify cross-selling opportunities and offer targeted products to our customers at each point of contact, including by acting as the exclusive on-site provider of financial services to customers at a majority of Walmart Argentina supermarkets.

        We have developed a segmentation strategy of our customer base to target the specific needs of each category of customers. Our business model has allowed us to deliver sustained levels of growth and profitability, that have accelerated since our IPO and capital raise executed in May 2016.

        Our technology-based sales model enhances our ability to offer customers efficient, high quality service. The Bank has made significant investments in its ATMs and self-service terminal network, more than doubling the network from 2010 to 2016. We were the first bank in Argentina to use biometrics technology as part of our distribution channels. We also have technology scoring systems that allow for an efficient credit-related decision-making process.

        We are an Argentine corporation headquartered in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our principal executive offices are located at Bartolomé Mitre 434, 5th floor, Buenos Aires, Argentina and our telephone number is +54-11-4340-3013. Our website is http://www.gruposupervielle.com. Information on, or accessible through, this website is not a part of, is not incorporated by reference into, and should not be considered part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

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RISK FACTORS

        We have set forth risk factors in our 2016 Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We may include further risk factors in more recent reports on Form 6-K incorporated in this prospectus by reference, or in a prospectus supplement. You should carefully consider all these risk factors in addition to the other information presented or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

        If any of the risks described in these documents actually materializes, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected. As a result, the value of our securities could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks described in these documents are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. See the sections entitled "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Information of Certain Documents by Reference," in this prospectus.

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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 general corporate purposes.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our Class B shares by the selling shareholder.

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

        The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated.

        For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, "earnings" consists of income before income taxes, non-controlling interests and fixed charges. "Fixed charges" consists of interest, either including or excluding interest on deposits as indicated, and the estimated portion of rental expense attributable to interest.

 
   
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  Three months
ended
March 31, 2017
 
 
  2016   2015   2014   2013   2012  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:

                                     

Excluding interest on deposits

    4.21 x     6.62 x     7.24 x     6.95 x     6.58 x     6.62 x  

Including interest on deposits

    1.53 x     1.46 x     1.34 x     1.29 x     1.44 x     1.61 x  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends:

                                     

Excluding interest on deposits

    4.21 x     6.62 x     7.11 x     6.82 x     6.42 x     6.43 x  

Including interest on deposits

    1.53 x     1.46 x     1.33 x     1.28 x     1.43 x     1.60 x  

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

    General

        We were incorporated in the City of Buenos Aires in 1979 under the name Inversiones y Participaciones S.A., acquiring the name Grupo Supervielle S.A. in November 2008. Our bylaws have been amended several times and were last amended at the ordinary and extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on April 27, 2017. As of the date of this prospectus, such amendment is still pending approval by the Argentine Comisión Nacional de Valores, or the Argentine securities regulator (the "CNV") and registration before the Inspección General de Justicia (Superintendency of Legal Entities, or the "IGJ").

    Corporate Purpose

        Our bylaws set forth in Article 4 that our corporate purpose is to carry out financial activities, within or outside of Argentina, either on our own account, or on account of a third-party or associated with a third-party, by providing capital, in cash or otherwise, to other existing or newly created companies, assuming their control or not (with the limitations set forth in Section 30 and related sections of the Argentine Corporate Law), or to individuals, as well as stock trading, shares, debentures and all types of securities, the issuance of guarantees, constitution or transfer of secured loans, whether real or not, excluding transactions provided under the Financial Institutions and any other law that requires public bidding. We may exercise mandates, representations, agencies and commissions for all transactions related to financial activity and manage assets and businesses of corporations, persons or entities located in Argentina or abroad. To that extent, and according to our bylaws, we have full legal capacity to acquire rights, incur obligations and exercise any kind of acts not prohibited by law or by our bylaws.

        The following summary of the terms of our capital stock, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, as amended and restated, and any references to Argentine law are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

    Authorized Capitalization

        Our authorized capital stock consists of shares of (1) 126,738,188 Class A shares, par value Ps.1.00 per share, all of which were issued and outstanding and (2) 411,821,459 Class B shares, par value Ps.1.00 per share, of which 244,534,137 shares were issued and outstanding; and 537,322 shares were authorized by the ordinary and extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on April 27, 2017 but have not yet been issued, and 166,750,000 were authorized by the ordinary and extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on July 7, 2017 but have not yet been issued or authorized by the CNV.

    Rights, Preferences and Restrictions of Each Class of Common Shares

        Our Class A shares are entitled to five votes each and our Class B shares are entitled to one vote each during shareholders' meetings, as established in subsection (a) of Article Six of our bylaws.

        However, Class A shares are entitled to only one vote with regard to certain issues detailed in the last paragraph of Article 244 of the Argentine Corporate Law, such as: (i) change of our corporate structure; (ii) our early dissolution; (iii) our relocation abroad; (iv) a fundamental change in our corporate purpose; or (v) total or partial recapitalization of our statutory capital after a loss. The provisions set forth in Article 244 of the Argentine Corporate Law will not apply to the surviving entity in a merger or a split-up. Also, under Article 284 of the Argentine Corporate Law, Class A shares are entitled to only one vote in the election of syndics.

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        Upon request from a shareholder of Class A shares, our Board of Directors must convert all or part of such shareholder's Class A shares into Class B shares at an exchange rate of one Class B share per one Class A share. Before making the exchange, the Board will verify that there are no restrictions that prohibit or limit the exchange (subsection b) of Article Six of the bylaws.

        A two thirds vote by our Class A shares is required, regardless of the percentage of capital they represent, in order for us to duly resolve a merger with another company, our voluntary dissolution, our relocation abroad, and the fundamental change in our corporate purpose (subsection d) of Article Six of the bylaws.

        Any person who directly or indirectly acquires through any means or title Class B shares, or any of our stock convertible into Class B shares, in an amount which gives that person control over more than 3% of all Class B shares, must inform us of this within five days (5) of completing the acquisition which causes them to exceed this 3% threshold (subsection e) of Article Six of our bylaws.

        The provisions of subsection (f) of Article Six of our bylaws authorize the total or partial redemption of fully paid-in shares, which must be made on the terms provided in Article 223 of the Argentine Corporate Law (including the condition that the shareholders' meeting set a fair price with respect to the shares to be redeemed) and such other terms as may be determined by our Board of Directors. This partial or total redemption must be approved by the affirmative vote of the absolute majority of the present votes at an extraordinary shareholders' meeting.

    Preferred Stock

        Our preferred shares may only be issued with the prior approval by a shareholders' general meeting.

        The Argentine Corporate Law and our bylaws permit our shareholders to issue preferred shares and determine their rights during a general shareholders' meeting. These preferred shares may be entitled to accumulated and non-accumulated fixed dividends, with or without additional participation.

        Holders of preferred shares may also have other privileges, such as in the event of liquidation. Holders of preferred shares may also have a right to vote. Additionally, if holders of preferred shares are not paid dividends they shall be entitled to vote. They shall also have a right to vote with respect to special issues, such as a change in our corporate structure, a merger into another company (where we are not the surviving company and the surviving company does not trade on an exchange), early liquidation, our relocation abroad, total or partial recapitalization of our statutory capital after a loss and a fundamental change in our corporate purpose as it is described in our bylaws.

        On December 27, 2012, our extraordinary shareholders' meeting approved the conversion of 1,600,000 Class B shares into preferred shares that were not entitled to voting rights except for (i) matters included in the fourth paragraph of Article 244 of the Argentine Corporate Law; and (ii) in any situation in which the preferred shareholders were delayed in receiving the benefits to which they were entitled. On October 7, 2015, our extraordinary shareholders' meeting approved the issuance of an additional 1,600,000 preferred shares. On January 14, 2016, Pilar Isabel Estella Supervielle converted her 3,200,000 preferred shares into Class B shares of common stock. As of the date of this prospectus, no preferred shares are outstanding. Pilar Isabel Estella Supervielle, received dividends in respect of the preferred shares for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 of Ps.5,962,000, pursuant to a resolution of our ordinary and extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on April 19, 2016.

        When we offer to sell a particular series of preferred share, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a supplement to this prospectus, including, without limitation:

    the specific designation and number of shares to be issued;

    the stated value per share of such preferred share;

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    the initial public offering price at which shares of such series of preferred shares will be sold;

    the annual rate of dividends on such preferred shares during the initial dividend period with respect thereto and the date on which such initial dividend period will end;

    the dividend rate or rates (or method of calculation);

    whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative;

    the minimum and maximum applicable rate for any dividend period;

    the dates on which dividends will be payable, the date from which dividends will accrue and the record dates for determining the holders entitled to such dividends;

    any redemption or sinking fund provisions; and

    any additional dividend, redemption, liquidation or other preference or rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferred share.

    Shareholders' Liability

        Shareholders' liability for the losses of a company is limited to the value of the shareholder's shareholdings in the company. According to the Argentine Corporate Law, however, shareholders who have a conflict of interest with the company with respect to certain matters and who do not abstain from voting on such matters may be held liable for damages to the company, provided that their votes were necessary for the adoption of the relevant decision. In addition, shareholders who voted in favor of a resolution that is subsequently declared void by a court as contrary to Argentine laws or a company's bylaws (or regulations, if any) may be held jointly and severally liable for damages to such company, other shareholders or third parties resulting from such resolution. See also "Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Class B Shares and the ADSs—Our shareholders may be subject to liability for certain votes of their securities" in the 2016 Form 20-F.

    Preemptive Rights and Accretion Rights

        According to the Argentine Corporate Law and Article Six, subsection c of our bylaws, in the event of a capital increase, holders of common shares of any class have a preferential right, in proportion to the number of shares they hold, to subscribe to additional shares of the same class as those they own. Article 15 of our bylaws and Section 216 of the Argentine Corporate Law, no shares issued after this offering may be entitled to multiple votes, except as permitted by applicable law. Holders of preferred shares have a preemptive right to subscribe only with respect to the issuance of preferred shares. Preemptive rights will also be given in the event of an issuance of preferred shares or convertible securities, but will not apply in the event of a conversion of such convertible securities.

        According to Article 194 of the Argentine Corporate Law, shareholders who would have exercised their right to a preemptive subscription and who have indicated their intention to exercise their right to accrue will have the right to assume the preemptive subscription rights of shareholders who do not exercise their right, in proportion to the number of shares bought by said shareholders upon exercising their right to preemptive subscription. The right to a preemptive subscription must be exercised within 30 days of the announcement to shareholders that they can exercise their right. Such announcement must be published for a period of three days in the Official Gazette and in an Argentine newspaper of wide circulation. According to the Argentine Corporate Law, companies that are authorized by the CNV to make public offers of their securities may, upon authorization of an extraordinary shareholders' meeting held in the same place and manner as other shareholders' meetings, reduce this period to 10 days. Any shares which are not subscribed by shareholders pursuant to their preemptive subscription right or right to accrue may be offered to third parties.

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    Appraisal Rights

        Whenever our shareholders approve:

    a merger or spin-off in which we are not the surviving corporation, unless the acquirer's shares are authorized for public offering or listed on any stock exchange;

    a transformation of our corporate legal status;

    a fundamental change in our corporate purpose;

    a change in our domicile outside Argentina;

    a voluntary termination of the public offering or listing authorization;

    a decision in favor of our continuation upon delisting or cancellation of our public offering authorization; or

    a total or partial recapitalization following a mandatory reduction of our capital or liquidation,

any shareholder that voted against such action or did not attend the relevant meeting may exercise appraisal rights, that is, the rights to withdraw and have its shares cancelled in exchange for the book value of its shares, determined on the basis of our latest balance sheet prepared, or that should have been prepared, in accordance with Argentine laws and regulations, provided that such shareholder exercises its appraisal rights within the time frame set forth below.

        Appraisal rights must be exercised within five (5) days following the meeting at which the resolution was adopted in the event of a dissenting shareholder that voted against such resolution, or within 15 days following such meeting in the case of a dissenting shareholder that did not attend the meeting and who can prove that it was a shareholder at the date of the meeting. In the case of mergers or spinoffs involving an entity authorized to make public offering of its shares, appraisal rights may not be exercised if the shares to be received as a result of the transaction are listed in any stock exchange. Appraisal rights are terminated if the resolution giving rise to such rights is overturned at another shareholders' meeting held within 60 days from the last day for our attending shareholders to exercise their appraisal rights.

        Payment of appraisal rights must be made within one year of the date of the shareholders' meeting at which the resolution was adopted, except where the resolution that gave rise to such rights was to delist the capital stock of the company or to reject a public offering or listing proposal, in which case the payment period is reduced to 60 days from the meeting at which the resolution was adopted or from the publication of the notice informing the delisting or rejection of the public offering or listing of the capital stock.

    Registration Requirements of Foreign Companies that Hold Class B Shares Directly

        Under the Argentine Corporate Law, foreign companies that hold shares directly (and not as ADSs) in an Argentine company must register with the IGJ in order to exercise certain shareholder rights, including voting rights. The registration requires the filing of corporate and accounting documents in order to demonstrate that the foreign shareholder's principal activity is performed outside Argentina. Therefore, it will have to prove that it is entitled to conduct business in its place of incorporation and meets certain foreign assets requirements.

    Liquidation Rights

        In the case of our liquidation or dissolution, our assets will be applied to satisfy our outstanding liabilities and proportionally distributed first among our holders of preferred stock, if any, as per the terms of the preferred stock, if any. If any surplus remains, it will be proportionally distributed among

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holders of our common stock. Our liquidation will be carried out by the Board of Directors or by the liquidator or liquidators appointed by a shareholders' meeting, under the surveillance of our monitoring body, the supervisory committee (the "Supervisory Committee").

    Meetings of Shareholders and Voting Rights

    Notice of Meetings

        Notices of shareholders' meetings are governed by the provisions of our bylaws, the Argentine Corporate Law and Law No. 26,831. Notice of shareholders' meetings must be published for five days in the Official Gazette, in an Argentine newspaper of wide circulation and in the publications of Argentine authorized markets in which the shares are listed and traded, at least 20 days but not more than 45 days prior to the date on which the meeting is to be held and must include information regarding the type of meeting to be held, the date, time and place of such meeting and the agenda. If a quorum is not available for such meeting, a notice for a second meeting, which must be held within 30 days from the date on which the first meeting was called, must be published for three days, at least eight days before the date of the second meeting. The above-described notices of shareholders' meetings may be effected simultaneously, in the case of ordinary meetings, in order for the second meeting to be held on the same day as the first meeting, one hour after, except in certain circumstances. Shareholders' meetings may be validly held without notice if all shares of our outstanding capital stock are present and resolutions are adopted by unanimous vote of such shares.

        The quorum for an ordinary shareholders' meeting is the majority of the share capital entitled to vote. The quorum for an extraordinary meeting is at least 60% of the share capital entitled to vote. Shareholders may attend in person or by proxy. Directors, syndics, members of the Supervisory Committee, managers and our employees may not hold proxies in representation of shareholders. If the quorum is not achieved, meetings may be reconvened with lower quorum requirements. According to our bylaws, the quorum for the second meeting of an extraordinary meeting will be satisfied with any presence of shareholders. Decisions at an ordinary or extraordinary shareholders' meeting require the affirmative vote of the absolute majority of the present votes. In addition, pursuant to the provisions of Article Sixteen of our bylaws, as amended at our extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on May 5, 2016 (pending registration by the IGJ), any amendment to Article Six paragraph (g) of our bylaws requires the affirmative vote of the absolute majority of the present votes of Class B shareholders. Class B shares are entitled to one vote per share. Class A shares are entitled to five votes per share, except in those cases described below.

        The Argentine Corporate Law requires that certain resolutions, such as early dissolution, major changes in corporate purpose or the transfer of a company's legal domicile abroad, be decided by the majority of all outstanding shares and without allowing multiple votes per share, except in the case of the surviving entity in a merger or a split-up. Under Article 284 of the Argentine Corporate Law, Class A shares are entitled to one vote only in the election of syndics. Our bylaws require a two thirds vote by Class A shares, regardless of the percentage of capital they represent, in order for us to duly resolve a merger with another company, our voluntary dissolution, our relocation abroad, and the fundamental change in our corporate purpose (subsection d) of Article six of the bylaws).

    Election of Directors

        The board is made up of the number of members determined at the ordinary shareholders' meeting, between a minimum of three and a maximum of nine directors. The shareholders may appoint as many alternate directors as there are effective directors, and for the same term in order to cover any vacancy and in the order in which they were elected.

        Board members are appointed at the annual ordinary shareholders' meeting.

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        Directors will be elected for a term of two years when the Board is composed of three to eight members, and for a term of three years when the Board is composed of nine members.

        According to our bylaws, if our Board of Directors is composed of six or more members, their election will be staggered. If the ordinary shareholders' meeting appoints six, seven or eight directors, half of our board will be elected annually if there is an even number of members, and the whole number of directors calculated by dividing the total number of members of our board by half and rounding either up or down based, as appropriate in each alternating year, will be elected if there is an odd number of members. In such circumstances, the shareholders will decide which one of the new directors is appointed for a term of one or two years for the purposes of electing half of our Board. If nine directors are appointed, a third of our board will be elected annually. In such circumstances, the shareholders will decide which one of the new directors is appointed for a term of one, two or three years, for the purposes of electing a third of our Board. In each case at least three directors shall be elected at each ordinary shareholders' meeting.

        Pursuant to section 257 of the Argentine Corporate Law, the directors maintain their positions until the following annual ordinary shareholders' meeting where directors are appointed.

        Argentine Corporate Law reserves the right to cumulative voting in order to elect up to one third of the directors to fill vacancies of the board of directors, sharing such part with candidates voted for by means of the plural system. Cumulative voting is a system designed to protect non-controlling interests results, as it gives rise to the possibility, but does not ensure, that non-controlling interests results will be able to elect some of their candidates to the board of directors. Such system works by multiplying the number of votes corresponding to the members that are taking part in the proceeding by the number of contemplated vacancies, which cannot exceed one third of the vacancies. The larger the number of vacancies, the greater the possibility that minority groups or shareholders will win positions in the board of directors.

    Mandatory Tender Offer Regime

        We are subject to the mandatory tender offer rules set forth in Law No. 26,831. These rules provide that in certain circumstances a mandatory tender offer ("OPA") with respect to some or all of our outstanding shares must be launched. The circumstances include situations in which anyone intends to purchase, either directly or indirectly, for cash, either individually or collectively, either in one act or in a series of successive acts during a period of 90 consecutive days, a number of voting shares, subscription rights or stock options, convertible negotiable securities or similar securities which together with that person's existing holdings could, directly or indirectly, entitle such person to subscribe, purchase or convert voting shares, shares entitled to or that once exercised grant the right to a "significant share" in the voting capital stock of a publicly traded company.

        In such circumstances, the OPA must be launched by the prospective purchaser within 10 days of having made the decision to participate in such purchase.

        Such obligation is not applicable in cases where the acquisition would not trigger a change of control of the company. It also does not apply in cases where there is a change of control as a consequence of a corporate reorganization or as a consequence of mere redistributions of shares among companies of the same group.

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    Concept of a "Significant Share"

        The regulations establish a duty to effect an offer with respect to part or all of the outstanding shares of the company depending on the percentage of the voting capital stock to be acquired. The regulations provide for the following duties relating to the OPA:

    Whenever the goal is to acquire a holding equal to or greater than 35% of the voting capital stock or of the company votes, the offer must be made for a number of securities that would enable the purchaser to acquire at least 50% of the voting capital stock of the affected company.

    Whenever a holding equal to or greater than 50% of the voting capital stock or the votes of the company is sought, the offer shall be made for the number of securities that would enable the purchaser to obtain 100% of the voting capital stock of the affected company. The application of this stipulation shall have priority over the stipulation discussed in the preceding paragraph.

    Determination of the OPA Price in the Case of a Change in Control

        The price shall be a fair price determined by the offeror.

        In order to determine the fair price, the following criteria must be considered, according to the CNV Rules: (i) book value of the shares; (ii) valuation of the target company according to discounted cash flows (DCF) or other applicable valuation criteria applicable to comparable business; and (iii) average price of the shares for the last six months before the "offer." Based on certain interpretations of Law No. 26,831 and the CNV Rules, there is no certainty as to whether the average price of the shares for the last six months before the "offer" should be considered as a minimum price. The price could be challenged by both the CNV and any offeree shareholder.

        Subsection (g) of Article Six of our bylaws, as amended at the extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on May 5, 2016 and the ordinary and extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on April 27, 2017, provides that if an OPA on our shares takes place, there may be no difference in the price to be offered for common shares, regardless of the class of shares. In addition, if there is an OPA triggered by a change of control, the price to be offered cannot be lower than the highest price that the offeror, acting individually or with its affiliates and/or other persons, paid or agreed to pay for our common shares regardless of the class of shares, during the 180 days prior to the date of the offer (inclusive of such date), which shall conform to the provisions of Law No. 26,831 and the CNV Rules, and the price to be offered must be, in any case, a fair price. As of the date of this prospectus, this amendment to our bylaws is pending authorization from the CNV and registration with the IGJ.

    Penalties for Breach

        Without prejudice to the penalties established by the CNV, Law No. 26,831 provides that purchases in violation of such regime will be declared irregular and ineffective for administrative purposes by the CNV and cause the auction of the shares acquired in violation of the applicable regulation, without prejudice to the penalties that may correspond.

    Tender Offer Regime in the Case of a Voluntary Withdrawal from the Public Offering and Listing System in Argentina

        Law 26,831 and CNV regulations also established that when a company whose shares are publicly offered and listed in Argentina agrees to withdraw voluntarily from the public offering and listing system in Argentina, it must follow the procedures provided for in the CNV's regulations and it must likewise launch an OPA for its aggregate shares or subscription rights or securities convertible into shares or stock options under the terms provided for in such regulation. It is not necessary to extend the public offering to those shareholders that voted for the withdrawal at the shareholders' meeting.

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        The acquisition of one's own shares must be made with liquid and realized profits or with free reserves, whenever paid up in full, and for the amortization or disposition thereof, within the term set forth in Section 221 of the Argentine Corporate Law and the company must present the CNV with evidence that it has the necessary solvency to effect such purchase and that the payment for the shares will not affect its solvency.

        According to Section 98 of Law No. 26,831 the price offered in the case of a voluntary withdrawal from the public offering and listing system in Argentina should be equitable and take into account the following relevant criteria:

    The equity value of the shares, taking into account a special financial statement for the withdrawal from the public offering system or listing;

    The value of the company, in accordance with discounted cash flow criteria and ratios applicable to comparable businesses or companies;

    The company's liquidation value;

    Average quotation prices on the stock exchange where the shares are listed during the six month period immediately preceding the withdrawal application, regardless of the number of sessions necessary for such negotiation; and

    The consideration offered before, or the placement of the new shares, in the event that a public offering has been made with regard to the same shares or if new shares have been issued, if applicable, during the last year, to be counted as of the date of the agreement for the withdrawal application.

        Under no circumstances can the fair price offered be lower than the price indicated in the fourth bullet above.

    Mandatory or Voluntary Tender Offer in the Case of Near-total Control

        If a shareholder or group of shareholders holds, directly or indirectly, 95% or more of the outstanding capital stock of a publicly traded Argentine company, any minority shareholder may request that the controlling shareholder launch an OPA for all outstanding shares of such company. In addition, a person that holds, directly or indirectly, 95% or more of the outstanding capital stock of a publicly traded Argentine company may issue a unilateral declaration of its intention to purchase all outstanding shares of such company within six months following the date of acquisition of near-total control and withdraw the company from public offering and its shares from listing and trading. The price offered should be an equitable price, following the criteria set forth in Law 26,831, but in no case may it be lower than the average trading price of such shares during the six-month period preceding the OPA application.

    Shareholder Claims

        Pursuant to article 46 of Law No. 26.831, companies whose shares are listed on any authorized market (including the BYMA), such as we intend our shares to be, are subject to the jurisdiction of the arbitration court of such authorized market for all matters concerning such companies' relationship with shareholders and investors, without prejudice to the right of shareholders and investors to submit their claims to the courts of the City of Buenos Aires.

    Corporate Governance

        We comply with the Argentine Corporate Law, the Law No. 26,831 and CNV rules and corporate governance regulations.

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    Dividends

        Declaration and payment of dividends to all holders of each class of our shares (Class A and Class B shares (to the extent any such shares are outstanding)), to the extent funds are legally available, is determined by all of our shareholders with voting rights (i.e., our Class A and Class B shareholders) at the annual ordinary shareholders' meeting. At such annual ordinary shareholders' meeting, our Class A shares will be entitled to five votes each and our Class B shares will be entitled to one vote each. It is the responsibility of our Board of Directors to make a recommendation to our shareholders with respect to the amount of dividends to be distributed. The Board of Directors' recommendation will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to, our operating results, cash flow, financial condition, capital position, legal requirements, contractual and regulatory requirements, and investment and acquisition opportunities. As a general rule, the Board of Directors will favor efficient use of capital in its recommendation making process. Thus, the Board will recommend reinvesting earnings when there are investment opportunities or it will recommend distributing dividends when there is excess capital.

        However, shareholders are ultimately entitled to overrule the recommendation of the Board of Directors through the affirmative vote of the absolute majority of the present votes at an ordinary shareholders' meeting.

        Holders of ADSs will be entitled to receive any dividends payable in respect of our underlying Class B shares. We will pay cash dividends to the ADS depositary in U.S. dollars abroad, although we reserve the right to pay cash dividends in Pesos in Argentina if so required by applicable foreign exchange regulations in place at the time of payment. The ADS deposit agreement provides that the depositary will convert cash dividends received by the ADS depositary in Pesos to U.S. dollars: if so permitted by, and subject to the limits set forth in, applicable foreign exchange regulations in place at such time and, after deduction or upon payment of fees and expenses of the ADS depositary and deduction of other amounts permitted to be deducted from such cash payments in accordance with the ADS deposit agreement (such as for unpaid taxes by the ADS holders in connection with personal asset taxes or otherwise), will make payment to holders of the ADSs in U.S. dollars. If dividend payments cannot be made in U.S. dollars outside of Argentina, the transfer outside of Argentina of any funds collected by foreign shareholders in Pesos in Argentina may be subject to certain restrictions. Although the transfer of funds abroad by local companies to pay annual dividends only to foreign shareholders based on approved and fully audited financial statements does not require formal approval by the Argentine Central Bank, however, in the past, the decrease in availability of U.S. dollars in Argentina has led the Argentine government to impose informal restrictions that consisted of de facto measures restricting local residents and companies from purchasing foreign currency through the MULC to make payments abroad, such as dividends, among others.

        We and our subsidiaries are subject to contractual, legal and regulatory requirements affecting our ability to pay dividends. See also "Item 4.B Business overview—Argentine Banking Regulation—Liquidity and Solvency Requirements—Requirements Applicable to Dividend Distribution" in the 2016 Form 20-F.

    Listing

        Our Class B shares are listed on the BYMA and the MAE, under the symbol "SUPV." ADSs representing our Class B shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SUPV."

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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

    American Depositary Shares

        The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will register and deliver American Depositary Shares, also referred to as ADSs. Each ADS will represent five Class B shares (or a right to receive five Class B shares) deposited with the principal Buenos Aires office of Banco Santander Río S.A., as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary's office at which the ADSs will be administered is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286. The Bank of New York Mellon's principal executive office is located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10286.

        You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American Depositary Receipt, also referred to as an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (ii) by having uncertificated ADSs registered in your name, or (B) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution that is a direct or indirect participant in The Depository Trust Company, also called DTC. If you hold ADSs directly, you are a registered ADS holder, also referred to as an ADS holder. This description assumes you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

        Registered holders of uncertificated ADSs will receive statements from the depositary confirming their holdings.

        As an ADS holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Argentine law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a registered holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary, ADS holders and all other persons indirectly or beneficially holding ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.

        The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR. Directions on how to obtain copies of those documents are provided in "Where You Can Find More Information."

    Dividends and Other Distributions

    How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the Class B shares?

        The depositary has agreed to pay or distribute to ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, upon payment or deduction of its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of shares your ADSs represent. For additional information on our dividend policy and restrictions related to the underlying Class B shares, see "Description of Capital Stock—Dividends."

        Cash. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the Class B shares into U.S. dollars if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.

        Before making a distribution, any withholding taxes, or other governmental charges that must be paid will be deducted. See "Taxation" in the applicable prospectus supplement. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange

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rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some of the value of the distribution.

        Shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell shares which would require it to deliver a fraction of an ADS (or ADSs representing those shares) and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed shares (or ADSs representing those shares) sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

        Rights to purchase additional shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the depositary may (i) exercise those rights on behalf of ADS holders, (ii) distribute those rights to ADS holders or (iii) sell those rights and distribute the net proceeds to ADS holders, in each case after deduction or upon payment of its fees and expenses. To the extent the depositary does not do any of those things, it will allow the rights to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. The depositary will exercise or distribute rights only if we ask it to and provide satisfactory assurances to the depositary that it is legal to do so. If the depositary will exercise rights, it will purchase the securities to which the rights relate and distribute those securities or, in the case of shares, new ADSs representing the new shares, to subscribing ADS holders, but only if ADS holders have paid the exercise price to the depositary. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute rights or ADSs or other securities issued on exercise of rights to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.

        Other distributions. The depositary will send to ADS holders anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal, fair and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to ADS holders unless it receives satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute securities to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.

        The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our Class B shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you.

    Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation

    How are ADSs issued?

        The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons that made the deposit.

    How can ADS holders withdraw the deposited securities?

        You may surrender your ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal at the depositary's office. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer

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taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to the ADS holder or a person the ADS holder designates at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible. The depositary may charge you a fee and its expenses for instructing the custodian regarding delivery of deposited securities.

    How do ADS holders interchange between certificated ADSs and uncertificated ADSs?

        You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send to the ADS holder a statement confirming that the ADS holder is the registered holder of uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to the ADS holder an ADR evidencing those ADSs.

    Voting Rights

    How do you vote?

        ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote the number of deposited shares their ADSs represent. If we request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions (and we are not required to do so), the depositary will notify you of a shareholders' meeting and send or make voting materials available to you. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions to be valid, they must reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to the laws of Argentina and of our bylaws or similar documents, to vote or to have its agents vote the Class B shares or other deposited securities as instructed by ADS holders. If we do not request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions, you can still send voting instructions, and, in that case, the depositary may try to vote as you instruct, but it is not required to do so. However, the depositary is not required to vote any Class B shares as to any matter unless, if so reasonably requested, it has received an opinion from our counsel that is reasonably satisfactory to it to the effect that that matter is not contrary to Argentine law or our bylaws (or regulations, if any).

        Except by instructing the depositary as described above, you will not be able to exercise voting rights unless you surrender your ADSs and withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. In any event, the depositary will not exercise any discretion in voting deposited securities and it will only vote or attempt to vote as instructed or as described in the following sentence. If we asked the depositary to solicit your instructions at least 30 days before the meeting date but the depositary does not receive voting instructions from you by the specified date, it will consider you to have authorized and directed it to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote the number of deposited securities represented by your ADSs. The depositary will give a discretionary proxy in those circumstances to vote on all questions to be voted upon unless we notify the depositary that:

    we do not wish to receive a discretionary proxy;

    there is substantial shareholder opposition to the particular question of which we are aware or should reasonably be aware; or

    the particular question would have a material and adverse impact on the rights of our shareholders.

        We are required to notify the depositary if one of the conditions specified above exists.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, if so requested in writing by the Company, the depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable and to the extent permitted by applicable law, to represent all deposited shares (whether or not voting instructions have been received in respect of such deposited

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shares from ADS holders as of the record date) for the sole purpose of establishing quorum at a meeting of shareholders.

        We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your voting rights and there may be nothing you can do if your shares are not voted as you requested.

        In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we agree to give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days in advance of the meeting date.

    Fees and Expenses

 
   
   
   
   
    Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or ADS holders must pay:      
For:
   
   

US$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)

     

Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property

   

 

         

Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates

   

 

 

US$0.05 (or less) per ADS

     

Any cash distribution to ADS holders

   

 

 

A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been Class B shares and the Class B shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs

     

Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities (including rights) which are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders

   

 

 

US$0.05 (or less) per ADS per calendar year

     

Depositary services

   

 

 

Registration or transfer fees

     

Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares

   

 

 

Expenses of the depositary

     

Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement) converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars

   

 

 

Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADSs or shares underlying an ADS, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes

     

As necessary

   

 

 

Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities

     

As necessary

   

        The depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly

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billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable (or by selling a portion of securities or other property distributable) to ADS holders that are obligated to pay those fees. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

        From time to time, the depositary may make payments to us to reimburse us for costs and expenses generally arising out of establishment and maintenance of the ADS program, waive fees and expenses for services provided to us by the depositary or share revenue from the fees collected from ADS holders. In performing its duties under the deposit agreement, the depositary may use brokers, dealers, foreign currency or other service providers that are owned by or affiliated with the depositary and that may earn or share fees, spreads or commissions.

        The depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates and, in those cases, acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor, broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under the deposit agreement and the rate that the depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or selling foreign currency for its own account. The depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained in any currency conversion under the deposit agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to ADS holders, subject to the depositary's obligations under the deposit agreement. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions is available upon request.

    Payment of Taxes

        You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register any transfer of your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until such taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to ADS holders any proceeds, or send to ADS holders any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.

    Tender and Exchange Offers; Redemption, Replacement or Cancellation of Deposited Securities

        The depositary will not tender deposited securities in any voluntary tender or exchange offer unless instructed to do by an ADS holder surrendering ADSs and subject to any conditions or procedures the depositary may establish.

        If deposited securities are redeemed for cash in a transaction that is mandatory for the depositary as a holder of deposited securities, the depositary will call for surrender of a corresponding number of ADSs and distribute the net redemption money to the holders of called ADSs upon surrender of those ADSs.

        If there is any change in the deposited securities such as a sub-division, combination or other reclassification, or any merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization affecting the issuer of deposited securities in which the depositary receives new securities in exchange for or in lieu of the old deposited securities, the depositary will hold those replacement securities as deposited securities under the deposit agreement. However, if the depositary decides it would not be lawful and to hold the replacement securities because those securities could not be distributed to ADS holders or for any other reason, the depositary may instead sell the replacement securities and distribute the net proceeds upon surrender of the ADSs.

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        If there is a replacement of the deposited securities and the depositary will continue to hold the replacement securities, the depositary may distribute new ADSs representing the new deposited securities or ask you to surrender your outstanding American depositary receipts ("ADRs") in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities.

        If there are no deposited securities underlying ADSs, including if the deposited securities are cancelled, or if the deposited securities underlying ADSs have become apparently worthless, the depositary may call for surrender or of those ADSs or cancel those ADSs upon notice to the ADS holders.

    Amendment and Termination

    How may the deposit agreement be amended?

        We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.

    How may the deposit agreement be terminated?

        The depositary will initiate termination of the deposit agreement if we instruct it to do so. The depositary may initiate termination of the deposit agreement if:

    60 days have passed since the depositary told us it wants to resign but a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment;

    we delist our shares from an exchange on which they were listed and do not list the shares on another exchange;

    we become insolvent or enter insolvency proceedings

    all or substantially all the value of the deposited securities has been distributed either in cash or in the form of securities;

    there are no deposited securities underlying the ADSs or the underlying deposited securities have become apparently worthless; or

    there has been a replacement of deposited securities.

        If the deposit agreement will terminate, the depositary will notify ADS holders at least 90 days before the termination date. At any time after the termination date, the depositary may sell the deposited securities. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. Normally, the depositary will sell as soon as practicable after the termination date.

        After the termination date and before the depositary sells, ADS holders can still surrender their ADSs and receive delivery of deposited securities, except that the depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing deposited securities if it would interfere with the selling process. The depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing sale proceeds until all the deposited securities have been sold. The depositary will continue to collect distributions on deposited securities, but, after the termination date, the depositary is not required to register any transfer of ADSs or distribute any dividends or other distributions on deposited securities to the ADSs holder (until they surrender their ADSs) or give any notices or perform any other duties under the deposit agreement except as described in this paragraph.

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    Limitations on Obligations and Liability

    Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs

        The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:

    are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith;

    are not liable if we are or it is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances beyond our or its control from performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement;

    are not liable if we or it exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;

    are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement, or for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement;

    have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other person;

    are not liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system; and

    may rely upon any documents we believe or it believes in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person.

        In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.

    Requirements for Depositary Actions

        Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of ADSs, make a distribution on ADSs, or permit withdrawal of the underlying Class B shares, the depositary may require:

    payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any shares or other deposited securities;

    satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and

    compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents.

        The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.

    Your Right to Receive the Class B Shares Underlying your ADSs

        ADS holders have the right to cancel their ADSs and withdraw the underlying Class B shares at any time except:

    when temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of Class B shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders' meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our Class B shares;

    when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; or

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    when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of Class B shares or other deposited securities.

        This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.

    Pre-release of ADSs

        The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the underlying Class B shares. This is called a pre-release of the ADSs. The depositary may also deliver Class B shares upon cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are canceled before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying shares are delivered to the depositary. The depositary may receive ADSs instead of Class B shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (i) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its customer owns the Class B shares or ADSs to be deposited; (ii) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (iii) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release on not more than five business days' notice. In addition, the depositary will limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release, although the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so.

    Direct Registration System

        In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the Direct Registration System, also referred to as DRS, and Profile Modification System, also referred to as Profile, will apply to the ADSs. DRS is a system administered by DTC that facilitates interchange between registered holding of uncertificated ADSs and holding of security entitlements in ADSs through DTC and a DTC participant. Profile is a feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register that transfer.

        In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an ADS holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery as described in the paragraph above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the depositary's reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the depositary through the DRS/Profile system and in accordance with the deposit agreement will not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the depositary.

    Shareholder Communications; Inspection of Register of Holders of ADSs

        The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. The depositary will send you copies of those communications or otherwise make those communications available to you if we ask it to. You have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADSs, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our business or the ADSs.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

        We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The debt securities will be our direct obligations. The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a banking or financial institution, as trustee. A successor trustee may be appointed in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture.

        Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of debt securities will describe the terms of those debt securities and the related indenture, which may include (without limitation) the following:

    the title and series of the debt securities;

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

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

    the maturity date or dates, or the method of determining the maturity date or dates, of the debt securities;

    the interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum of the debt securities or the method of determining the interest rate or rates of the debt securities;

    any conversion or exchange features;

    if applicable, the date or dates from which interest on the debt securities will accrue or the method or methods by which the date or dates are to be determined, the interest payment dates, the date or dates on which payment of interest will commence and the regular record dates for such interest payment dates;

    if applicable, the date after which and the price or prices at which the debt securities may, pursuant to any optional redemption provisions, be redeemed at our option or of the holders of the debt securities and the other detailed terms and provisions of such optional redemption;

    the extent to which any of the debt securities will be issuable in temporary or permanent global form and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global debt security, or the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary or permanent global debt security will be paid;

    the denomination or denominations of debt securities;

    whether the debt securities will be issued in registered or bearer form or both and, if in bearer form, the related terms and conditions and any limitations on issuance of these bearer debt securities (including exchange for registered debt securities of the same series);

    information with respect to book-entry procedures;

    whether any of the debt securities will be issued as original issue discount securities;

    each office or agency where, subject to the terms of the indenture, the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange;

    if other than the U.S. dollar, the currencies or currency units in which the debt securities are issued and in which the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on, and additional amounts, if any, in respect of the debt securities will be payable;

    if other than the trustee, the identity of each security registrar, paying agent and authenticating agent; and

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    any other terms of the debt securities.

        The indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Notices to holders of debt securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the security register for such debt securities.

        No director, officer, employee or shareholder, as such, of ours or any of our affiliates shall have any personal liability in respect of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities by reason of his, her or its status as such.

        The indenture and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act") incorporated by reference therein will contain certain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become a creditor to us, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate such conflicting interest or resign.


DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

        We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.


DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

        The following description summarizes only the general features of the rights that we may offer from time to time under this prospectus. The specific terms of a series of rights will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of rights along with any general provisions applicable to that series of rights. We may issue rights to our shareholders to purchase shares of our common stock and/or any of the other securities offered hereby. Each series of rights may be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The following description of the rights and any description of the rights in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the underlying rights agreement, which we will file with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the rights. You should refer to, and read this summary together with, the rights agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement to review the terms of a particular series of rights. You can obtain copies of any form of rights agreement or other agreement pursuant to which the rights are issued by following the directions described under the caption "Where You Can Find More Information." The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any rights will describe the terms of the offered rights, including, where applicable, the following:

    the date for determining the persons entitled to participate in the rights distribution;

    the exercise price for the rights;

    the aggregate number or amount of underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;

    the number of rights issued to each shareholder and the number of rights outstanding, if any;

    the extent to which the rights are transferable;

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    the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

    the extent to which the rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;

    anti-dilution provisions of the rights, if any; and

    any other material terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights.

        Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and, where applicable, the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than existing shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.


DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

        We may issue units that include senior or subordinated debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, rights, warrants or other securities. Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement or indenture and will represent an interest in two or more securities, which may or may not be separable from one another. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of units will describe the terms of those units.

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SELLING SHAREHOLDER

        This prospectus also relates to the possible resale from time to time by Julio Patricio Supervielle of up to 45,000,000 Class B shares that were issued and outstanding prior to the date of filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Class B shares to be potentially sold by the selling shareholder were originally acquired in a series of private transactions prior to the consummation of our initial public offering in May 2016.

        If the selling shareholder offers Class B shares in any future offering, an applicable prospectus supplement may set forth the nature of any position, office or other material relationship which the selling shareholder has had with us, our affiliates or predecessors during the three years prior to the date of the applicable prospectus supplement, the number of our Class B shares owned by the selling shareholder before and after the offering, the number of our Class B shares to be offered by the selling shareholder, the percentage of our Class B shares held by the selling shareholder before and after the offering, and the price and terms upon which our Class B shares are to be sold by the selling shareholder.

        We will pay the fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the Class B shares covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of our accountants and our and the selling shareholder's counsel. The selling shareholder will pay any underwriting or broker discounts and any commissions incurred by the selling shareholder in selling its Class B shares.

        The selling shareholder will not be authorized to use this prospectus for an offering of our Class B shares without first obtaining our consent. The selling shareholder may not sell any Class B shares pursuant to this prospectus until we have identified the above information in a subsequent prospectus supplement. However, the selling shareholder may sell or transfer all or a portion of his Class B shares pursuant to any available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We or the selling shareholder may from time to time offer and sell our Class B shares, which may be represented by ADSs, and we may from time to time offer and sell shares of our preferred stock, par value Ps.1.00 per share, debt securities, warrants, rights or units, separately or together in any combination, through agents, underwriters or dealers, or directly to one or more purchasers.

        The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of the securities will identify or describe:

    any underwriter, dealers or agents;

    the compensation of any underwriter, dealers or agents;

    our net proceeds from the offering;

    the purchase price of the securities;

    over-allotment;

    lock-up agreements;

    stabilization agreements;

    jurisdictions where securities are offered;

    the public offering price of the securities; and

    any exchange on which the securities will be listed.

        We and the selling shareholder may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit the purchase of securities during the term of their appointment to sell securities on a continuing basis.

        If we or the selling shareholder use underwriters for the sale of securities, they will acquire securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, various conditions will apply to the underwriters' obligation to purchase securities, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities contemplated in an offering if they purchase any of those securities. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

        If the selling shareholder uses dealers in the sale, unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the selling shareholder will sell our Class B shares to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices that the dealers may determine at the time of resale.

        The selling shareholder may also sell our Class B shares directly without using agents, underwriters or dealers.

        Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be "underwriters" as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Agreements that the selling shareholder enters into with underwriters, dealers or agents may entitle them to indemnification by us against various civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The agreement may also entitle them to contribution for payments which they may be required to make as a result of these liabilities. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

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        In the event that we do not list securities of any type or series on a U.S. national securities exchange, various broker-dealers may make a market in the securities, but will have no obligation to do so, and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Consequently, it may be the case that no broker-dealer will make a market in securities of any series or that the liquidity of the trading market for the securities will be limited.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the debt securities, warrants, rights and units, and certain matters of U.S. law will be passed upon for us by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. The validity of the Class B shares, the preferred stock and other matters governed by Argentine law will be passed upon for us by Errecondo, González & Funes.

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EXPERTS

        The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Price Waterhouse & Co. S.R.L, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

        We are incorporated under the laws of Argentina. Substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries are located outside the United States. All of our directors and all our officers and certain advisors named herein reside in Argentina or elsewhere outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon such persons.

        Enforcement of foreign judgments would be recognized and enforced by the courts in Argentina provided that the requirements of Articles 517 through 519 of the National Civil and Commercial Procedure Code (if enforcement is sought before federal courts) are met, such as (i) the judgment, which must be final in the jurisdiction where rendered, was issued by a court competent in accordance with the Argentine principles regarding international jurisdiction and resulted from a personal action, or an in rem action with respect to personal property if such was transferred to Argentine territory during or after the prosecution of the foreign action; (ii) the defendant against whom enforcement of the judgment is sought was personally served with the summons and, in accordance with due process of law, was given an opportunity to defend against the foreign action; (iii) the judgment must be valid in the jurisdiction where rendered and its authenticity must be established in accordance with the requirements of Argentine law; (iv) the judgment does not violate the principles of public policy of Argentine law; and (v) the judgment is not contrary to a prior or simultaneous judgment of an Argentine court.

        We have been advised by our Argentine counsel Errecondo, González & Funes, that judgments of United States courts for civil liabilities based upon the federal securities laws of the United States may be, subject to the requirements described above, enforced in Argentina. A judgment against us obtained outside Argentina would be enforceable in Argentina without reconsideration of the merits.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement, including exhibits, which we have filed with the SEC on Form F-3 under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. Statements made in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. We have filed certain of these documents as exhibits to our registration statement and we refer you to those documents. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.

        We file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC that apply to foreign private issuers. You may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Any filings we make electronically will be available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy certain documents we submit to the NSYE at its offices at 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. We maintain an Internet site at http://www.gruposupervielle.com. Information contained on our site is not part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

        We are a "foreign private issuer" as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act. As a result, although we are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain informational requirements of the Exchange Act to which domestic issuers are subject, including the proxy rules under Section 14 of the Exchange Act, the insider reporting and short-profit provisions under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the requirement to file current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of certain material events. We are also subject to the informational requirements of the BYMA and the CNV. You are invited to read and copy reports, statements or other information, other than confidential filings, that we have filed with the BYMA and the CNV. Our public filings with the CNV are electronically available from the CNV's Internet site at www.cnv.gob.ar. Information contained on this website is not part this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and certain later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede earlier information filed with the SEC or included in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the following documents:

    our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on May 1, 2017 (SEC File No. 001-37777);

    our report on Form 6-K, furnished to the SEC on June 15, 2017 (SEC File No. 001-37777), containing our unaudited consolidated interim financial statements as of March 31, 2017 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016;

    any future annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities offered by this prospectus; and

    any future reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of securities offered by this prospectus that are identified in such reports as being incorporated by reference in our registration statement on Form F-3.

        You may request a copy of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and that has not been delivered with this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at Grupo Supervielle S.A., Bartolomé Mitre 434, 5th floor, the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Attention: Ana Bartesaghi, +54 11 4340 3013.

        Our unaudited financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, which are included in our report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on June 15, 2017, do not include a reconciliation to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") of shareholders' equity as of March 31, 2017 or net income for the periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. There is no material difference from U.S. GAAP as it would be applied to our shareholders' equity as of March 31, 2017 or our net income for the three-month period ending March 31, 2017 and 2016 that was not disclosed and quantified in the reconciliation to U.S. GAAP as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016.

        For a discussion of the most significant differences between Argentine Banking GAAP and U.S. GAAP as they relate to our financial statements, please see note 35 to our consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016 and incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

34


Table of Contents

 

LOGO

Grupo Supervielle S.A.

Class B Shares
(which may be represented by American depositary shares)

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Units



PROSPECTUS



        We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. We have not authorized anyone to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. Neither we nor the selling shareholder are making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates.



   


Table of Contents


PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 8.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Neither the laws of Argentina nor our bylaws or other constitutive documents provide for indemnification of our directors or officers. Our officers' activities are regulated by Argentine labor law. However, following a decision by our shareholders during a shareholders' meeting number held on April 15, 2011, we agreed to indemnify our directors for any damages resulting from the performance of their duties as directors, except for damages resulting from gross negligence, fraud, dishonesty or bad faith by any director pursuant to a final judgment rendered by a competent court. We maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance covering our directors and executive officers with respect to general civil liability, which he or she may incur in his or her capacity as such.

        In connection with an offering of securities registered pursuant to this registration statement, we may enter into an underwriting agreement which may provide that the underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify our directors, officers and controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

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Item 9.    Exhibits.

Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Exhibit
  1.1 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Class B Shares.
        
  1.2 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Preferred Stock.
        
  1.3 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Debt Securities.
        
  1.4 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Warrants.
        
  1.5 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Rights.
        
  1.6 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Units.
        
  4.1   Deposit Agreement, among Grupo Supervielle S.A., The Bank of New York, as depositary, and the holders from time to time of American depositary shares issued thereunder, including the form of American depositary receipts, dated May 18, 2016 (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-37777) filed with the Commission on May 1, 2017 and incorporated by reference herein).
        
  4.2 * Form of Certificate of Preferred Stock and Form of Certificate of Designations.
        
  4.3   Form of Senior Debt Indenture.
        
  4.4   Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture.
        
  4.5 * Form of Senior Note.
        
  4.6 * Form of Subordinated Note.
        
  4.7 * Form of Warrant Agreement.
        
  4.8 * Form of Rights Agreement.
        
  4.9 * Form of Units Agreement.
        
  4.10   English translation of restated bylaws of Grupo Supervielle S.A. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to our registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208880) filed with the SEC on May 10, 2016 and incorporated by reference herein).
        
  5.1 Opinion of Errecondo, González & Funes Abogados, Argentine counsel to the registrant, as to the validity of the Class B shares and preferred stock.
        
  5.2 Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, U.S. counsel to the registrant, as to the validity of the securities (other than the Class B shares and preferred stock).
        
  12.1 Statements of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
        
  23.1 Consent of Price Waterhouse & Co. S.R.L.
        
  23.2 Consent of Errecondo, González & Funes Abogados (included in Exhibit 5.1).
        
  23.3 Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
        
  24.1 Powers-of-attorney (included in the signature page to this registration statement).
        
  25.1 ** Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for the Indenture for Senior Debt Securities under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
 
   

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Exhibit
Number
  Description of Exhibit
  25.2 ** Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for the Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

*
To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference.

**
To be filed, if necessary, on electronic Form 305b2 pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Included as part of the Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed on June 15, 2017.

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Item 10.    Undertakings

A.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

1.
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

i.
To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

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

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

      provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (A)(1)(i), (A)(1)(ii) and (A)(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 Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, 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 of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

    4.
    To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

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    5.
    That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 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 of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the 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.

    6.
    That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

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

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

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

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

B.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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C.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

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

E.
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 Commission under section 305(b)2 of the Act.

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Signatures

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 18, 2017.

    GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ALEJANDRA NAUGHTON

        Name:   Alejandra Naughton
        Title:   Chief Financial Officer

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Table of Contents

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the following capacities on July 18, 2017.

Signature
 
Title

 

 

 
*

Julio Patricio Supervielle
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)

/s/ JORGE OSCAR RAMIREZ

Jorge Oscar Ramirez

 

Vice-Chairman of the Board

*

Alejandra Naughton

 

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)

*

Laurence Nicole Mengin de Loyer

 

Director

*

Atilio Dell'Oro Maini

 

Director

*

Richard Guy Gluzman

 

Director

*

Alejandro Stengel

 

Director

*

María Gabriela Macagni

 

Director

*

Jorge Luis Mocetti

 

Director

*
Signed by Alejandra Naughton, as attorney-in-fact

II-8


Table of Contents


Signature of Authorized Representative of Grupo Supervielle S.A.

        Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the registrant, has signed this registration statement in Newark, Delaware, on July 18, 2017.

Signature
 
Title

 

 

 
/s/ DONALD J. PUGLISI

Donald J. Puglisi
  Authorized Representative in the United States

II-9


Table of Contents


Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Exhibit
  1.1 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Class B Shares.
        
  1.2 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Preferred Stock.
        
  1.3 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Debt Securities.
        
  1.4 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Warrants.
        
  1.5 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Rights.
        
  1.6 * Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Units.
        
  4.1   Deposit Agreement, among Grupo Supervielle S.A., The Bank of New York, as depositary, and the holders from time to time of American depositary shares issued thereunder, including the form of American depositary receipts, dated May 18, 2016 (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-37777) filed with the Commission on May 1, 2017 and incorporated by reference herein).
        
  4.2 * Form of Certificate of Preferred Stock and Form of Certificate of Designations.
        
  4.3   Form of Senior Debt Indenture.
        
  4.4   Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture.
        
  4.5 * Form of Senior Note.
        
  4.6 * Form of Subordinated Note.
        
  4.7 * Form of Warrant Agreement.
        
  4.8 * Form of Rights Agreement.
        
  4.9 * Form of Units Agreement.
        
  4.10   English translation of restated bylaws of Grupo Supervielle S.A. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to our registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208880) filed with the SEC on May 10, 2016 and incorporated by reference herein).
        
  5.1 Opinion of Errecondo, González & Funes Abogados, Argentine counsel to the registrant, as to the validity of the Class B shares and preferred stock.
        
  5.2 Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, U.S. counsel to the registrant, as to the validity of the securities (other than the Class B shares and preferred stock).
        
  12.1 Statements of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
        
  23.1 Consent of Price Waterhouse & Co. S.R.L.
        
  23.2 Consent of Errecondo, González & Funes Abogados (included in Exhibit 5.1).
        
  23.3 Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
        
  24.1 Powers-of-attorney (included in the signature page to this registration statement).
        
  25.1 ** Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for the Indenture for Senior Debt Securities under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
 
   

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Exhibit
Number
  Description of Exhibit
  25.2 ** Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for the Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

*
To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference.

**
To be filed, if necessary, on electronic Form 305b2 pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Included as part of the Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed on June 15, 2017.

II-11



EX-4.3 2 a2232715zex-4_3.htm EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

 

 

 

Grupo Supervielle S.A.,

 

as Issuer

 

and

 

   ,

 

as Trustee

 


 

 

SENIOR DEBT INDENTURE

 

 

Dated as of    

 


 

Senior Debt Securities

 



 

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310
through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

 

Trust
Indenture Act
Section

 

Indenture
Section

 

 

 

 

§310

(a)(1)

 

609

 

(a)(2)

 

609

 

(a)(3)

 

Not Applicable

 

(a)(4)

 

Not Applicable

 

(b)

 

608

 

 

 

610

§311

(a)

 

613

 

(b)

 

613

§312

(a)

 

701

 

 

 

702

 

(b)

 

702

 

(c)

 

702

§313

(a)

 

703

 

(b)

 

703

 

(c)

 

703

 

(d)

 

703

§313

(a)

 

704

 

(a)(4)

 

101

 

 

 

1004

 

(b)

 

Not Applicable

 

(c)(1)

 

102

 

(c)(2)

 

102

 

(c)(3)

 

103

 

(d)

 

103

 

(e)

 

102

§315

(a)

 

601

 

(b)

 

602

 

(c)

 

601

 

(d)

 

601

 

(e)

 

513

§316

(a)

 

101

 

(a)(1)(A)

 

502

 

 

 

512

 

(a)(1)(B)

 

513

 

(a)(2)

 

Not Applicable

 

(b)

 

508

 

(c)

 

104

§317

(a)(1)

 

503

 

i



 

 

(a)(2)

 

504

 

(b)

 

1003

§318

(a)

 

107

 

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

 

ii



 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

1

 

 

 

 

Section 101.

Definitions

 

1

Section 102.

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

 

8

Section 103.

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

 

9

Section 104.

Acts of Holders; Record Dates

 

9

Section 105.

Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company

 

12

Section 106.

Notice to Holders; Waiver

 

12

Section 107.

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

 

13

Section 108.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

 

13

Section 109.

Successors and Assigns

 

13

Section 110.

Separability Clause

 

13

Section 111.

Counterparts

 

13

Section 112.

Benefits of Indenture

 

13

Section 113.

Governing Law, Waiver of Trial by Jury

 

14

Section 114.

Legal Holidays

 

14

Section 115.

Consent to Service; Jurisdiction

 

14

Section 116.

Language of Notices, Etc.

 

15

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

 

15

 

 

 

 

Section 201.

Forms Generally

 

15

Section 202.

Form of Face of Security

 

15

Section 203.

Form of Reverse of Security

 

18

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

 

25

 

 

 

 

Section 301.

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

 

25

Section 302.

Denominations

 

28

Section 303.

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

 

28

Section 304.

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

 

29

Section 305.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

 

32

Section 306.

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

 

33

Section 307.

Persons Deemed Owners

 

34

Section 308.

Cancellation

 

35

Section 309.

Computation of Interest

 

35

Section 310.

CUSIP Numbers and ISINs

 

35

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

35

 

 

 

 

Section 401.

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

 

35

Section 402.

Application of Trust Money

 

37

 

iii



 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

 

37

 

 

 

 

Section 501.

Events of Default

 

37

Section 502.

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

 

38

Section 503.

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

 

39

Section 504.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

 

40

Section 505.

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

 

40

Section 506.

Application of Money Collected

 

41

Section 507.

Limitation on Suits

 

41

Section 508.

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

 

42

Section 509.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

 

42

Section 510.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

 

42

Section 511.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

 

43

Section 512.

Control by Holders

 

43

Section 513.

Waiver of Past Defaults

 

43

Section 514.

Undertaking for Costs

 

43

Section 515.

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

 

44

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

 

44

 

 

 

 

Section 601.

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

 

44

Section 602.

Notice of Defaults

 

44

Section 603.

Certain Rights of Trustee

 

44

Section 604.

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

 

46

Section 605.

May Hold Securities

 

46

Section 606.

Money Held in Trust

 

47

Section 607.

Compensation and Reimbursement

 

47

Section 608.

Conflicting Interests

 

48

Section 609.

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

 

48

Section 610.

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

 

48

Section 611.

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

 

50

Section 612.

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

 

51

Section 613.

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

 

51

Section 614.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

51

Section 615.

Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company

 

53

Section 616.

Rights, Protections and Immunities of the Trustee and Agents

 

53

 

iv



 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

53

 

 

 

 

Section 701.

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

 

53

Section 702.

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

 

54

Section 703.

Reports by Trustee

 

54

Section 704.

Reports by Company

 

54

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

55

 

 

 

 

Section 801.

Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms

 

55

Section 802.

Successor Substituted

 

55

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

56

 

 

 

 

Section 901.

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders

 

56

Section 902.

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

 

57

Section 903.

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

 

58

Section 904.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

59

Section 905.

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

 

59

Section 906.

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

 

59

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

 

59

 

 

 

 

Section 1001.

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

 

59

Section 1002.

Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

59

Section 1003.

Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust

 

60

Section 1004.

Statement by Officers as to Default

 

62

Section 1005.

Exchange Act Reports

 

63

Section 1009.

Payment of Additional Amounts

 

63

Section 1007.

Indemnification of Judgment Currency

 

65

Section 1011.

Waiver of Certain Covenants

 

66

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

66

 

 

 

 

Section 1101.

Right of Redemption

 

66

Section 1102.

Notice of Redemption

 

67

Section 1103.

Deposit of Redemption Price

 

68

Section 1104.

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

 

68

Section 1105.

Securities Redeemed in Part

 

68

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

69

 

 

 

 

Section 1201.

Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

69

Section 1202.

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

 

69

Section 1203.

Covenant Defeasance

 

70

 

v



 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Section 1204.

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

70

Section 1205.

Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

 

71

Section 1206.

Reinstatement

 

72

 

vi


 

SENIOR DEBT INDENTURE, dated as of    ,    , between Grupo Supervielle S.A. (the “Company”), a sociedad anónima organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Argentina (“Argentina”), having its principal office at Bartolomé Mitre 434, 5th floor, C1036AAH, Buenos Aires, Argentina and    , a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of     authorized to conduct a banking business, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its senior debt securities (herein called collectively the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

 

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

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Securities by the Holders (as defined below) thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 101.             Definitions.

 

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

 

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

 

(2)           all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference thereto, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(3)           all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with Argentine Banking GAAP;

 

(4)           any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 

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(5)           any reference to a statute, rule or regulation refers to the same (including any successor statute, rule or regulation thereto) as it may be amended from time to time; and

 

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

 

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Additional Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1006.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Agent” means any Security Registrar, Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, Transfer Agent or other agent appointed hereunder.

 

“Agent Members” has the meaning specified in Clause (5) of the last paragraph of Section 304.

 

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

 

“Argentina” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture.

 

“Argentine Banking GAAP” means generally accepted accounting rules of the Argentine Central Bank as in effect from time to time.

 

“Argentine Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 1006.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

“beneficial owner” has the meaning determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and the terms “beneficial ownership” and “beneficially owned” have meanings correlative to the definition of beneficial owner.

 

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act for it in respect hereof.

 

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“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, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is (i) not a day on which banking institutions in New York City or the City of Buenos Aires generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close and (ii) a day on which banks and financial institutions in Argentina are open for business with the general public.

 

“Clearstream” has the meaning specified in Clause (5) of the last paragraph of Section 304.

 

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under applicable law, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

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

 

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Risk, Legal Affairs and Compliance Manager or any person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee in             at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered which office as of the date hereof is located at             

 

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 306.

 

“Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company until a successor Depositary shall have become Depositary pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean such successor Depositary.

 

“Dollar” and “U.S.$” mean a U.S. dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

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“Euroclear” has the meaning specified in Clause (5) of the last paragraph of Section 304.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104(g).

 

“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee thereof.

 

“Government Securities” means (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or a government, governmental agency or central bank of a country whose currency is the Security Currency, (ii) obligations the timely payment of the principal of and interest on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or a government, governmental agency or central bank of a country whose currency is the Security Currency, and (iii) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in Clause (i) or (ii) above or in any specific principal or interest payments due in respect thereof.

 

“guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

 

(1)                                 to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

 

(2)                                 entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Holder” means, with respect to any Security, a Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation, or (without double-counting) the guarantee of any obligation, for the payment or repayment of

 

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money borrowed or otherwise evidenced by debentures, notes, bonds or similar instruments or any other obligation that would appear or be treated as indebtedness upon a balance sheet if such Person prepared it in accordance with Argentine Banking GAAP from time to time.

 

“Indenture” means this indenture as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more supplemental indentures hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.  The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1007.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, hypothecation, security interest or other encumbrance, including, without limitation, any equivalent of the foregoing created under the laws of Argentina or any other jurisdiction.

 

“Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(3).

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Risk, Legal Affairs and Compliance Manager, or any person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be in-house counsel for the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)           Securities of such series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in

 

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trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made; and

 

(iii)          Securities of such series which have been paid pursuant to Section 305 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, Securities of such series owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities of such series which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities of such series so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

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

 

“Permitted Holder” means, at any time, any Person who, at such time, is the Holder of at least U.S.$1,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Securities.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of any series and subject to Section 1002, the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified in the terms of such securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Predecessor Security” means, with respect to any particular Security, 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 305 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost

 

6



 

or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

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

 

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

 

“Regular Record Date” means, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series, the date specified for that purpose pursuant to the terms of Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Security Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1007.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 304.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that constitutes a “significant subsidiary” as defined under Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Commission, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

“Special Record Date” means, for the payment of any Defaulted Interest, a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 306.

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” means (i) a corporation more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries thereof or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which the Company, or one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company or the Company

 

7



 

and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has at least a majority ownership and power to direct the policies, management and affairs thereof.

 

“transfer” means, with respect to any Security, any sale, pledge, transfer, hypothecation or other disposition of such Security or any interest therein.

 

“Transfer Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, capital stock of or other ownership interest in such Person which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors of (or Persons performing similar functions for) such Person, whether at all times or only as long as no senior class of securities or other ownership interests has such voting power by reason of any contingency.  For the purpose of calculating the percentage of (i) the combined voting power of the Voting Stock of any Person that is represented by (ii) any capital stock of or other ownership interests in such Person, all capital stock of and other ownership interests in such Person that are beneficially owned by such Person will be excluded in determining the combined voting power described in Clause (i) but will not be excluded from (if otherwise included in) the capital stock or other ownership interests described in Clause (ii).

 

SECTION 102.             Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be reasonably required hereunder.  Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

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Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 103.             Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

SECTION 104.             Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

 

(a)           Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by

 

9



 

Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company.  Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 104.

 

(b)           The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof.  Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c)           The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register and the Trustee may rely on such information and shall not be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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

 

(e)           The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series; provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph.  If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the

 

10


 

record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken.  Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

(f)            The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series.  If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and without any action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), nor shall anything in this paragraph be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken.  Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

(g)           With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date.  If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

 

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

 

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which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

SECTION 105.             Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

 

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

 

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

 

(2)           the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and delivered to the Company in accordance with Section 106, at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention:            , or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

In respect of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and, except where due to bad faith, the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, notices, reports or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

SECTION 106.             Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and delivered to each Holder affected by such event, in accordance with Section 106, at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, or if to holders of Global Securities, to the relevant Depositary in accordance with its applicable procedures, in each case not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.  In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.  Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and

 

12



 

such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.  Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice 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.

 

SECTION 107.             Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control.  Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 108.             Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

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

 

SECTION 109.             Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

SECTION 110.             Separability Clause.

 

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions contained in this Indenture, and to the extent and only to the extent that any such provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, this Indenture shall be construed as if such provision had never been contained herein.

 

SECTION 111.             Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be simultaneously executed and delivered in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 112.             Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and, the Holders of

 

13



 

Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 113.             Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO (EXCEPT, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE HOLDERS OF THE SECURITIES) HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

 

SECTION 114.             Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity, as the case may be; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 115.             Consent to Service; Jurisdiction.

 

Each party hereto agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the Securities may be instituted in any U.S. federal or New York state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and in the courts of its own corporate domicile, in respect of actions brought against each such party as a defendant, and each waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such legal suit, action or proceeding, waives any immunity from jurisdiction or to service of process in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding, waives any right to which it may be entitled on account of place of residence or domicile and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding.  The Company hereby designates and appoints CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10011, as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the Securities which may be instituted in any U.S. federal or New York state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, and agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice, or notice in any other manner permitted by applicable law, of said service to the Company by the Person serving the same, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit, action or proceeding and further designates its domicile, the

 

14



 

domicile of CT Corporation System specified above and any domicile CT Corporation System may have in the future as its domicile to receive any notice hereunder (including service of process).  If for any reason CT Corporation System (or any successor agent for this purpose) shall cease to act as agent for service of process as provided above, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor agent for this purpose reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and shall notify the Trustee in writing of the same. The Company agrees to take any and all actions as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 116.             Language of Notices, Etc.

 

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.

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

SECTION 201.             Forms Generally.

 

The Securities and the Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article Two or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more supplemental indentures hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary thereof or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.  If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

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

 

SECTION 202.             Form of Face of Security.

 

[INCLUDE IF SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY — THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE

 

15



 

TREATED BY GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A., THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.]

 

[INCLUDE IF SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY AND THE DEPOSITARY IS THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY—UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS CERTIFICATE OR ANY PORTION HEREOF IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR A NOMINEE THEREOF IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR REGISTERED SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES REFERRED TO IN THE INDENTURE, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.]

 

GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.

 


 

No.

 

 

CUSIP No.

 

U.S.$

ISIN No.

 

 

 

Grupo Supervielle S.A. (the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), a sociedad anónima organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Argentina (“Argentina”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                                     , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                                            Dollars, as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security attached hereto on                                 (unless earlier redeemed, in which case, on the applicable Redemption Date) [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — , and to pay interest thereon from                   or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, semi-annually in arrears on                  and                  of each year, commencing

 

16



 

on             , at the rate of      % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment  [if applicable, insert —; provided that any principal of and any premium and interest on, this Security which is overdue shall bear interest (to the extent that payment thereof shall be legally enforceable) at the rate per annum then borne by this Security from the date such amount is due to but not including the day it is paid or made available for payment, and such overdue interest shall be paid as provided in Section 306 of the Indenture.]

 

[Insert if applicable — Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.]  [Insert if applicable — Interest on the Securities shall be calculated on the basis of a 365-day year and 366-day year, as applicable, with the actual number of days elapsed from and including the last Interest Payment Date (or, with respect to interest payable on the first Interest Payment Date, from the issue date of this Security) to but excluding the Interest Payment Date on which the interest payment falls due.]

 

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the           or           (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture].

 

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal [and any overdue premium] shall bear interest at the rate of      % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal [or premium] shall be payable on demand.]

 

Payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, this Security shall be made at the office of the Trustee or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York maintained for such purpose and at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, against surrender of this Security in the case of any payment due at the Maturity of the principal thereof;  provided, however, that at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address

 

17



 

of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. [Insert if applicable — and; provided, further, that all payments of principal of and interest on this Security, the Permitted Holders of which have given wire transfer instructions to the Trustee in writing, the Company or its agent at least 10 Business Days prior to the applicable payment date, shall be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by such Permitted Holders in such instructions].  [If the Security is a Global Security, then insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of any amount payable in respect of a Global Security shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary.]

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

SECTION 203.             Form of Reverse of Security.

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of            (the “Indenture”), between the Company and          , as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), Security Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent, and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The terms, conditions and provisions of this Security are those stated in the Indenture

 

18



 

(including those made a part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act). This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof.

 

Additional securities on terms and conditions identical to those of this Security (except for issue date, issue price and the date from which interest shall accrue and, if applicable, first be paid) may be issued by the Company without the consent of the Holders of the Securities.  The amount evidenced by such additional securities shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with, the Securities, in which case the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security attached hereto will be correspondingly adjusted.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or of the Securities) payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity, as the case may be; provided that no interest shall accrue on account of such delay for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than           days’ nor more than           days’ notice, at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after              , 20  ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount):

 

Year

 

Redemption
Price

 

Year

 

Redemption
Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If redeemed [if applicable, insert — on or before                     ,     %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning                   of the years indicated, and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to       % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of

 

19



 

like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of all of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

All payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of the Securities shall be made after withholding or deduction for any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of Argentina or any authority therein or thereof having power to tax (“Argentine Taxes”).  In the event of any withholding or deduction for any Argentine Taxes, the Company shall pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as will result in receipt by the Holders of Securities on the respective due dates of such amounts as would have been received by them had no such withholding or deduction (including for any Argentine Taxes payable in respect of Additional Amounts) been required, except that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable with respect to any payment on a Security to the extent:

 

(i)            that any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges are imposed because of (A) a connection between the Holder or beneficial owner and Argentina other than the ownership or holding of such Security or the mere receipt of payments with respect to such Security or (B) failure by the Holder or any other Person to comply with any certification, identification, information, documentation or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with Argentina of the Holder or any beneficial owner of such Security if compliance is required by law, regulation or by an applicable income tax treaty to which Argentina is a party, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, the tax, assessment or other governmental charge and we have given the Holders at least 30 days’ notice prior to the first payment date with respect to which such certification, identification or reporting requirement is required;

 

(ii)           of any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges with respect to such Security presented for payment more than 15 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the

 

20


 

date on which payment thereof is duly provided for and notice thereof given to Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the Holder of such Security would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Security for payment on any date during such 15-day period;

 

(iii)          of any estate, inheritance, gift or other similar taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed with respect to such Security;

 

(iv)          of any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments on such Security;

 

(v)           of any payment on such Security to a Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or a person other than the sole beneficial owner of any such payment, to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such a partnership or the beneficial owner of such payment would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of such Security;

 

(vi)          any combination of the items in Clauses (i) through (v) above.

 

The Company shall provide the Trustee with relevant documentation, if any (which may consist of certified copies of such documentation), satisfactory to the Trustee evidencing the payment of Argentine Taxes in respect of which the Company has paid any Additional Amounts.  Copies of such documentation shall be made available to the Holders of the Securities or any Paying Agent, as applicable, upon request therefor.

 

The Company shall pay all stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar duties, if any, which may be imposed by Argentina or any governmental entity or political subdivision therein or thereof, or any taxing authority of or in any of the foregoing, with respect to the Indenture or the issuance of the Securities.

 

All references herein, in the Indenture, or in one or more supplemental indentures thereto and the Securities to principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of any Security shall be deemed to include all Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of such principal, premium or interest.

 

In the event that Additional Amounts actually paid with respect to the Securities pursuant to the preceding paragraphs are based on rates of deduction or withholding of withholding taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the Holder of such Securities, and, as a result thereof such Holder is entitled to make claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the authority imposing such withholding tax, then such Holder shall, by accepting such Securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title, and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to the Company.  However, by making such assignment, the Holder makes no representation or warranty

 

21



 

that the Company will be entitled to receive such claim for a refund or credit and incurs no other obligation with respect thereto.

 

The Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at any time, in whole but not in part, at a Redemption Price equal to the sum of (A) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed, (B) any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date, (C) any premium applicable in the case of redemption prior to Stated Maturity and (D) any Additional Amounts which would otherwise be payable thereon up to but not including the Redemption Date, if, as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of Argentina or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation or any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment to or change in such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective on or after the date of issuance of the Securities of such series, the Company would be obligated, after making reasonable endeavors to avoid such requirement, to pay Additional Amounts and/or Argentine Taxes on or in respect of such Securities.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company, on the one hand, and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series, on the other hand, to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of such series.  The Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected under the Indenture, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture with respect to such series and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected under the Indenture, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such

 

22



 

notice, request and offer of indemnity or security. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or premium, if any, and/or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth (including, without limitation, the restrictions on transfer under Section 304 of the Indenture), the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office of the Trustee or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, shall be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes (subject to Section 306 of the Indenture), whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, any Agent nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

[If the Security is a Global Security, then insert — This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations in Section 304 of the Indenture on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities.]

 

This Security and the Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

23



 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 


 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Security, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM - as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—

 

 

 

 

(Cust)

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

 

Custodian

under Uniform

 

 

(Minor)

 

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

Gifts to Minors Act


(State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used
though not in the above list.

 


 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of
transfer or
exchange

 

Amount of
decrease in
principal
amount of
this Global
Security

 

Amount of
increase in
principal amount
of this Global
Security

 

Principal amount
of this Global
Security
following such
decrease or
increase

 

Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Security Registrar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

24



 

ARTICLE THREE

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301.             Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

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

 

(b)           Additional securities on terms and conditions identical to those of a series of Securities (except for issue date, issue price and the date from which interest shall accrue and, if applicable, first be paid) may be issued by the Company without the consent of the Holders of the Securities; provided that such additional Securities shall be issued under a separate CUSIP or ISIN number unless the additional Securities are issued pursuant to a “qualified reopening” of the original series, are otherwise treated as part of the same “issue” of debt instruments as the original series or are issued with no more than a de minimis amount of original discount, in each case for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  The amount evidenced by such additional securities shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with the previously outstanding series of Securities.

 

(c)           The Securities may be issued in one or more series.  There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more supplemental indentures hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1)           the title of the series of Securities, including “CUSIP” numbers and “ISINs,” of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

(2)           any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 906 or 1105 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

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

 

(4)           the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

 

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

 

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rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates and the basis upon which interest will be calculated of other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months,

 

(6)           in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(7)           the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner in which any payment may be made;

 

(8)           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;

 

(9)           the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series, including but not limited to the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption or repayment of the Securities of the series (including pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof) and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(10)         if other than denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(11)         if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and 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 purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

 

(12)         if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(13)         if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods

 

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within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

 

(14)         if other than the principal amount thereof, 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 502;

 

(15)         the applicability, nonapplicability, or variation, of Section 1006 with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(16)         if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 304 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

 

(17)         the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of the series are convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities, including any requirements relating to the reservation of any shares or other securities for purposes of conversion;

 

(18)         any trustees or Agents with respect to the Securities of the series if different than, or in addition to, those set forth in this Indenture;

 

(19)         any guarantees on, or any security provided with respect to the Securities of the series;

 

(20)         any events which shall constitute Events of Default with respect to the Securities of the series if not set forth herein, and any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default set forth herein shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Event of Default set forth herein inapplicable to the Securities of that series);

 

(21)         any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to the Securities of the series;

 

(22)         any restriction or condition on the transferability of Securities of the series;

 

(23)         the terms applicable to deferral or cancellation of payments of principal, premium or interest in respect of the Securities of the series, if any; 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 901(5)), including, without limitation, any variances to terms described in Section 107,

 

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Section 302, Section 306, Section 309, Section 401, Article Five, Section 801, Article Ten, Section 1101, Section 1103 and Section 1201.

 

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 the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such supplemental indenture hereto.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

SECTION 302.             Denominations.

 

Except as expressly provided by the terms of any series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301, the Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof.

 

SECTION 303.             Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any two of its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Treasurer, its Risk, Legal Affairs and Compliance Manager or any person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

 

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(1)           if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)           if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

SECTION 304.             Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency designated pursuant to Section 1002 being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. Upon surrender for

 

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registration of transfer of any Security at an office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

At the option of the Holder, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of any same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon receipt of a Company order, and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

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

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 906 or 1105 not involving any transfer.

 

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1102 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

(1)           Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee thereof and delivered to

 

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such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

(2)           Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture or the Securities, no Global Security of beneficial interest therein may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof unless (A) the Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security and a successor Depositary is not appointed within 90 days or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor Depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) a request for certificates has been made by the Company upon 60 days’ prior written notice given to the Trustee in accordance with the Depositary’s customary procedures and a copy of such notice has been received by the Company from the Trustee.  Any Global Security exchanged pursuant to Clause (A) above shall be so exchanged in whole and not in part and any Global Security exchanged pursuant to Clause (B) or (C) above may be exchanged in whole or from time to time in part as directed by the Depositary.  Any Security issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be a Global Security; provided that any such Security so issued that is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof shall not be a Global Security.

 

(3)           Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof pursuant to Clause (2) above shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons, shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of such Global Security or portion thereof to be so exchanged, shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depositary shall designate and shall bear any legends required hereunder.  Any Global Security to be exchanged in whole shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, as Security Registrar.  With regard to any Global Security to be exchanged in part, either such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or, if the Trustee is acting as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee with respect to such Global Security, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced, by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee.  Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Security issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depositary or an authorized representative thereof.

 

(4)           In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Clause (2) above, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons.

 

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(5)           Neither any members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) nor any other Persons on whose behalf Agent Members may act, shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security, or under any Global Security, and the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner and holder of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, or impair, as between the Depositary, its Agent Members and any other person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act, the operation of customary practices of such Persons governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Security.

 

(6)           None of the Company, the Trustee or any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, an Agent Member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or Agent Member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in a Global Security or with respect to the delivery to any participant, Agent Member, beneficial owner or other person (other than the Depositary) of any notice or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Global Security (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Global Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Global Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the Depositary. 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. The Company, the Trustee and each Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its Agent Members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

(7)           Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with or with respect to any securities or tax laws (including but not limited to any United States federal or state or other securities or tax laws), or except as specifically provided herein, obtain documentation on any transfers or exchanges of the Securities.

 

SECTION 305.             Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or

 

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indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 305, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 305 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section 305 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

SECTION 306.             Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, or deferred or cancelled (if permitted pursuant to the terms of the Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 301) on any Interest Payment Date (“Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)           The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing

 

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of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be delivered, in accordance with Section 106, to each Holder of Securities of such series, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

(2)           The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange 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 of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

SECTION 307.             Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any other agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 306) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, any Agent nor any other agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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SECTION 308.             Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it.  The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section 308, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures unless otherwise directed by a Company Order.

 

SECTION 309.             Computation of Interest.

 

Except as expressly provided by the terms of any series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301, interest on the Securities of any series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 310.             CUSIP Numbers and ISINs.

 

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

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401.             Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture, with respect to the Securities of any series (for purposes of this Article Four, meaning Securities having identical terms, except as to issue date, principal amount and, if applicable, the date from which interest begins to accrue), if all series issued under this Indenture are not to be affected, shall, upon Company Request, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for, the rights powers, trusts, duties, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and rights to receive payments of principal of and interest on such Securities) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

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(1)           either

 

(A)  all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series that have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 305 or (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

 

(i)    have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section 401, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

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SECTION 402.             Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.  All moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of Securities subsequently converted shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501.             Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

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

 

(2)           default by the Company in the payment of the principal (including any Redemption Price and any Additional Amounts) of or premium on any Security of that series when due at its Maturity; or

 

(3)           default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 501 specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been delivered to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(4)           the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, suspension of payments, concurso preventivo, reorganization or other similar law, or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company or any Significant Subsidiary a bankrupt or insolvent, in concurso preventivo or suspending payments, or

 

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approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary under any applicable law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, síndico, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(5)           the commencement by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, concurso preventivo, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, concurso preventivo, suspension of payments, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or the filing by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable law or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, síndico, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or the making by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action (evidenced by the adoption of a corporate resolution in favor of any such actions or an action of any of the officers of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary that similarly binds the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be).

 

An Event of Default under or a series of Securities under this Indenture will not necessarily be a default under another series of Securities under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 502.             Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or (5)) occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee shall, at the written request of the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by notice in writing to the Company, declare the principal of all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration such principal and any accrued interest and any unpaid Additional Amounts thereon shall become immediately due and payable.  If an Event of

 

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Default specified in Sections 501(4) and (5) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, the principal and any accrued interest, together with any Additional Amounts thereon, on all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

 

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

 

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

 

(A)  all overdue interest and any Additional Amounts thereon on all of the Securities of that series,

 

(B)  the principal of any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration,

 

(C)  to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate borne by the Securities of that series, and

 

(D)  all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and all amounts owing the Trustee under Section 607;

 

and

 

(2)           all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 503.             Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

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

 

(2)           default is made in the payment of the principal (including any Redemption Price) of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

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the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate borne by such Securities, together with any Additional Amounts thereon, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

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

 

SECTION 504.             Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding.  In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

SECTION 505.             Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust,

 

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and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

SECTION 506.             Application of Money Collected.

 

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

 

FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

 

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

 

THIRD:  Any remaining amounts shall be repaid to the Company.

 

SECTION 507.             Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Securities of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

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

 

(2)           the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute an action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

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

 

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

 

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(5)           no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.  For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 507, each and every Holder of the Outstanding Securities of any series and the Trustee shall be entitled, subject to Section 513, to such relief as can be given at law or in equity.

 

SECTION 508.             Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 306) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date).

 

SECTION 509.             Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

SECTION 510.             Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 305, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

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SECTION 511.             Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

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

 

SECTION 512.             Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that

 

(1)           such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and

 

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

 

SECTION 513.             Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Subject to Section 502, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 514.             Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust

 

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Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section 514 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee or to require the Company to repurchase any Security in accordance with its terms.

 

SECTION 515.             Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601.             Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 601.

 

SECTION 602.             Notice of Defaults.

 

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 602, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 603.             Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

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(a)           the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(b)           any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

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

 

(d)           the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own choice and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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

 

(f)            the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document in connection with this Indenture, but the Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

(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; provided that the Trustee shall be required to terminate any such agent if it has actual knowledge of any failure by such agent to perform its delegated duties;

 

(h)           the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless received written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is

 

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received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the relevant series of Securities and this Indenture;

 

(i)            the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties;

 

(j)            in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

(k)           in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; provided that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;

 

(l)            the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it reasonably believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence; and

 

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

 

SECTION 604.             Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assume any responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained herein or in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication.  The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder.  Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 605.             May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise

 

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deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

SECTION 606.             Money Held in Trust.

 

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

 

SECTION 607.             Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1)           to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the parties for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2)           except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable and documented expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

(3)           to fully indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives harmless for, from and against, any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the exercise or performance of any of its rights, powers or duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

To secure the Company’s obligation under this Section 607, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all money or property held or collected by the Trustee in its capacity as Trustee, except for such money and property which is held in trust to pay principal (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities and may withhold or set of any amounts due and only to it under the Indenture from any such money or property held by it.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or Section 501(5), the expenses (including the

 

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reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The provisions of this Section 607 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 608.             Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

SECTION 609.             Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least U.S.$50,000,000 and has its principal corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City.  If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 609 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 609, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

 

SECTION 610.             Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article Six shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

If at any time:

 

(1)           the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2)           the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(3)           the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the role of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and shall have accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, the Trustee or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, at the expense of the Company, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent

 

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jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 611.             Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to such series of Securities; but, on the written request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver a supplemental indenture hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all series of Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on written

 

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request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article Six.

 

SECTION 612.             Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

SECTION 613.             Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

 

SECTION 614.             Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.  Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.  Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing

 

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business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than U.S.$50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority.  If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 614, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 614.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 614, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment, to all Holders in accordance with Section 106 as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register.  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.  No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 614.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 614.

 

If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section 614, the Securities may have annexed thereto or endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

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

 

   ,

 

 

 

as Trustee

 

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By:

 

 

 

 

as Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 615.             Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company.

 

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective.  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

 

SECTION 616.             Rights, Protections and Immunities of the Trustee and Agents

 

The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder as Security Registrar, Transfer Agent, Paying Agent and each other Agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701.             Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)           semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date with respect to each series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, and

 

(b)           at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably 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;

 

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excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 702.             Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

 

(a)           The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)           The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(c)           Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 703.             Reports by Trustee.

 

Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.  Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty days after each anniversary date of this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company.  The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

SECTION 704.             Reports by Company.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute

 

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constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their respective covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

SECTION 801.             Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or, directly or indirectly, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and properties and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into it unless:

 

(1)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, or an event or condition which, after the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, with respect to any series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(2)           the Person formed by such consolidation or merger or the Person which acquires by transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Company, if not the Company, shall (a) be organized and validly existing under the laws of Argentina or the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof and (b) shall expressly assume by a supplemental indenture hereto executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture and any applicable supplemental indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; and

 

(3)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

SECTION 802.             Successor Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and

 

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may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901.             Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the consent of any Holder of Securities of a series, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)           to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

 

(2)           to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

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

 

(4)           to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

 

(5)           to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided 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 Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

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(6)           to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of Article Ten or otherwise; or

 

(7)           to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 201 and 301; or

 

(8)           to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611; or

 

(9)           to modify the restrictions on the transferability of any Securities, and the procedures for resales and other transfers of the Securities to reflect any change in applicable law or regulation (or the interpretation thereof) or to provide alternative procedures in compliance with applicable law and practices relating to the resale or other transfer of restricted securities generally; or

 

(10)         to comply with the requirements of the Commission in connection with qualifying this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(11)         to add one or more guarantors for the benefit of all or any series of Securities; or

 

(12)         to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (12) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect. For the avoidance of doubt, any change made to conform the terms of any series of Securities to the description thereof in the prospectus pursuant to which such Securities were initially sold by the Company shall be deemed to be a correction that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of such Securities in any material respect.

 

SECTION 902.             Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected thereby:

 

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(1)           change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of any Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or modify in any way the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1006 or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date); or

 

(2)           reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of which Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of which Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture; or

 

(3)           modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 513 or Section 1011, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this Clause (3) shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 902 and Section 1011, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

SECTION 903.             Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the documents required under Section 102, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee may, but shall not be

 

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obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, protections, indemnity or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

SECTION 904.             Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities of the series to which such supplemental indenture relates theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

SECTION 905.             Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 906.             Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001.          Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

The Company shall duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest (together with any Additional Amounts payable thereon) on the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1002.          Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 301, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been

 

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effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

With respect to any securities that are not in the form of a Global Security, the Company shall maintain, in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served.  The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies (in or outside the Borough of Manhattan, New York City) where the Securities of one or more series, notices and other items 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 the Borough of Manhattan, New York City for such purposes.  The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

SECTION 1003.          Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

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

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent shall (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the

 

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Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in New York City, 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 shall be repaid to the Company.

 

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

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Company, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that

 

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such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, 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.

 

Each Paying Agent shall comply with applicable backup withholding tax and information reporting requirements under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to payments made under the Securities (including, to the extent required, the collection of Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8 and W-9 and the filing of United States Internal Revenue Service Forms 1099 and 1096).

 

SECTION 1004.          Statement by Officers as to Default.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officer’s Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions 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 deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 15 days after the Company becomes aware that a default or an Event of Default, or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, as the case may be, has occurred and is continuing, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 1005.          Exchange Act Reports.

 

The Company shall furnish the Trustee, within 15 days after filing with the Commission, with copies of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including its annual reports on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K. In addition, the Company shall make the same information, documents and other reports available, at its expense, to Holders who so request in writing. In the event that, in the future, the Company is not required to file such information, documents or other reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall furnish on a reasonably prompt basis to the Trustee and Holders who so request in writing, substantially the same financial and other information that the Company would be required to include and file in an annual report on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. To the extent any Securities are issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and solely with respect to such Securities, the Company agrees that if it is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act at any time when the Securities are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, then it shall promptly furnish or cause to be furnished financial and other information described in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision thereto) with respect to the Company to any Holder or to a prospective purchaser of any such Security who is designated by such Holder and is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A), upon the request of such Holder or prospective purchaser, to the extent required to permit such Holder to comply with Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with any resale of Securities held by such Holder.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents 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 hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

SECTION 1006.          Payment of Additional Amounts.

 

(a)           All payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of the Securities shall be made after withholding or deduction for any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of Argentina or any authority therein or thereof having power

 

63



 

to tax (“Argentine Taxes”).  In the event of any withholding or deduction for any Argentine Taxes, the Company shall pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as will result in receipt by the Holders of Securities on the respective due dates of such amounts as would have been received by them had no such withholding or deduction (including for any Argentine Taxes payable in respect of Additional Amounts) been required, except that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable with respect to any payment on a Security to the extent:

 

(i)            that any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges are imposed because of (A) a connection between the Holder or beneficial owner and Argentina other than the ownership or holding of such Security or the mere receipt of payments with respect to such Security or (B) failure by the Holder or any other Person to comply with any certification, identification, information, documentation or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with Argentina of the Holder or any beneficial owner of such Security if compliance is required by law, regulation or by an applicable income tax treaty to which Argentina is a party, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, the tax, assessment or other governmental charge and we have given the Holders at least 30 days’ notice prior to the first payment date with respect to which such certification, identification or reporting requirement is required;

 

(ii)           of any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges with respect to such Security presented for payment more than 15 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for and notice thereof given to Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the Holder of such Security would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Security for payment on any date during such 15-day period;

 

(iii)          of any estate, inheritance, gift or other similar taxes, assessments or other governmental charge imposed with respect to such Security;

 

(iv)          of any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments on such Security;

 

(v)           of any payment on such Security to a Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or a person other than the sole beneficial owner of any such payment, to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such a partnership or the beneficial owner of such payment would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of such Security;

 

(vi)          any combination of the items in Clauses (i) through (v) above.

 

64



 

The Company shall provide the Trustee with relevant documentation, if any (which may consist of certified copies of such documentation), satisfactory to the Trustee evidencing the payment of Argentine Taxes in respect of which the Company has paid any Additional Amounts.  Copies of such documentation shall be made available to the Holders of the Securities or the Paying Agent, as applicable, upon request therefor.

 

(b)           The Company shall pay all stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar duties, if any, which may be imposed by Argentina or any other governmental entity or political subdivision therein or thereof, or any taxing authority of or in any of the foregoing, with respect to this Indenture or the issuance of the Securities.

 

(c)           The Company shall provide each Paying Agent and any withholding agent under relevant tax regulations with copies of each certificate received by the Company from a Holder of a Security pursuant to the text of such Security.  Each such Paying Agent and withholding agent shall retain each such certificate received by it for as long as any Security is outstanding and in no event for less than four years after its receipt, and for such additional period thereafter, as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, as such certificate may become material in the administration of applicable tax laws.

 

(d)           In the event that Additional Amounts actually paid with respect to the Securities pursuant to the preceding paragraphs are based on rates of deduction or withholding of withholding taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the Holder of such Securities, and, as a result thereof such Holder is entitled to make claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the authority imposing such withholding tax, then such Holder shall, by accepting such Securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title, and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to the Company.  However, by making such assignment, the Holder makes no representation or warranty that the Company shall be entitled to receive such claim for a refund or credit and incurs no other obligation with respect thereto.

 

(e)           All references in this Indenture, one or more supplemental indentures hereto and the Securities to principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of any Security shall be deemed to include all Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of such principal, premium or interest.

 

SECTION 1007.          Indemnification of Judgment Currency.

 

The Company shall indemnify the Trustee and any Holder of a Security against any loss incurred by the Trustee or such Holder, as the case may be, as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any amount due under this Indenture or such Security and being expressed and paid in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than Dollars or such other currency in which such Security is denominated (the “Security Currency”), and as a result of any variation between (i) the rate of exchange at which the Security Currency amount is converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order and (ii) the spot rate of exchange in New York City at which the Trustee or such Holder, as the case may be, on the date of payment of such judgment or order is able to purchase the Security Currency with the amount of the Judgment

 

65



 

Currency actually received by the Trustee or such Holder.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 1007, in the event that the amount of the Security Currency purchased by any Holder as a result of such indemnification exceeds the amount originally to be paid to such Holder, such Holder shall reimburse such excess to the Company. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the Company and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid.  The term “spot rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or conversion into, the Security Currency.

 

SECTION 1008.          Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

Except as expressly provided by the terms of any series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301 the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(22), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Section 1006, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101.          Right of Redemption.

 

(a)           The Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity may not be redeemed at the election of the Company except in accordance with their terms and (except as expressly provided by the terms of any series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301) in accordance with the provisions of this Article Eleven.

 

(b)           The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution.  In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company, notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

(c)           If, as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulation thereunder) of Argentina or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation or any amendment to or change in an

 

66



 

official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change of such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective on or after the date of issuance of the Securities of any series, the Company would be obligated to pay Additional Amounts and/or Argentine taxes on or in respect of such Securities , and if such obligation cannot be avoided by the Company after taking measures the Company considers reasonable to avoid it, then, at the Company’s option, the Securities of such series may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at any time, on giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to the Trustee and the Holders of such Securities, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof and any premium applicable thereto, together with accrued interest up to but not including the Redemption Date and any Additional Amounts which would otherwise be payable.

 

(d)           Before any notice of redemption pursuant to Section 1101(c) is given to the Trustee or the Holders of Securities of the relevant series, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (i) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the condition or conditions precedent to the right of the Company so to redeem have occurred or been satisfied and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Company has or shall become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment.  Such notice, once given to the Trustee, shall be irrevocable.

 

SECTION 1102.          Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in accordance with Section 106 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)           the Redemption Date,

 

(2)           the Redemption Price and amount of accrued interest, if any,

 

(3)           that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and any accrued interest shall become due and payable upon each Security to be redeemed and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(4)           the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest, and

 

(5)           applicable “CUSIP” numbers and “ISINs, if any.”

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s written request, by the Trustee (provided the Company shall have provided the Trustee with a copy of such notice at least 5 Business Days prior to the mailing date) in the name and at the expense of the Company, and such notice, when given to the Holders, shall be irrevocable.

 

67



 

In the event the Company requests that the Trustee deliver notice of redemption to the Holders, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required to be delivered in such notice pursuant to this Section 1102 at least 10 calendar days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date such notice is to be given to the Holders of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 1103.          Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On the Business Day prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date other than any Securities called for redemption on that date which have been converted prior to the date of such deposit.

 

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 306) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

 

SECTION 1104.          Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price herein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest.  Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 306.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security.

 

SECTION 1105.          Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in

 

68



 

writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company order, authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 1201.          Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Company may at its option, at any time, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 1202 (if applicable) or Section 1203 (if applicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in Section 1204.

 

SECTION 1202.          Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 1202, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “legal defeasance”).

 

For this purpose, such legal defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series 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 written request and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(a)           the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1204 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities when such payments are due;

 

(b)           the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 304, 305, 607, 1002, 1003 and 1009 (but only to the extent that any Additional Amounts payable exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1204);

 

(c)           the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities and indemnities and other provisions in respect of the Trustee hereunder; and

 

69



 

(d)           this Article Twelve.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article Twelve, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 1202 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1203 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 1203.          Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 1203, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 801, 1004, 1102, 501(3) (as to Sections 801 and 1004), 501(6) and 501(7) with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”).

 

For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, 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 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.  Following a covenant defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified above in this Section 1203.

 

SECTION 1204.          Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1202 or Section 1203 to the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

(a)           The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Twelve 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 benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) an amount in the Security Currency, or (B) Government Securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide without reinvestment, within two weeks prior to the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) 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 and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and each installment of interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.  Before such a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of any series of Securities at a future date in accordance with any redemption provisions relating to such series, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

 

70



 

(b)           No event which is, or which with notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit.

 

(c)           Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee for the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any Securities of the Company.

 

(d)           Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(e)           Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be deleted.

 

(f)            In the case of an election under Section 1202, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance had not occurred.

 

(g)           In the case of an election under Section 1203, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(h)           Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

 

(i)            The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to either the legal defeasance under Section 1202 or the covenant defeasance under or Section 1203 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

 

SECTION 1205.          Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last two paragraphs of Section 1003, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee

 

71



 

(or other qualifying trustee, collectively, for purposes of this Section 1205, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1204 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (but not 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 interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 1204 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 the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

Anything in this Article Twelve to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 1204 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 an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

 

SECTION 1206.          Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 1204 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of a series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 1204, until such time as the Trustee or such Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Securities in accordance with Sections 1204; provided that, if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on the Securities of such series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent.

 

72



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed on their respective behalves, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.,

 

 

as Issuer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

Risk, Legal Affair and Compliance Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   ,

 

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

73



EX-4.4 3 a2232715zex-4_4.htm EX-4.4

Exhibit 4.4

 

 

 

Grupo Supervielle S.A.,

 

as Issuer

 

and

 

         ,

 

as Trustee

 


 

 

SUBORDINATED DEBT INDENTURE

 

 

Dated as of     

 

 


 

Subordinated Debt Securities

 



 

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310
through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

 

Trust
Indenture Act
Section

 

Indenture
Section

 

 

 

 

§310

(a)(1)

 

609

 

(a)(2)

 

609

 

(a)(3)

 

Not Applicable

 

(a)(4)

 

Not Applicable

 

(b)

 

608

 

 

 

610

§311

(a)

 

613

 

(b)

 

613

§312

(a)

 

701

 

 

 

702

 

(b)

 

702

 

(c)

 

702

§313

(a)

 

703

 

(b)

 

703

 

(c)

 

703

 

(d)

 

703

§313

(a)

 

704

 

(a)(4)

 

101

 

 

 

1004

 

(b)

 

Not Applicable

 

(c)(1)

 

102

 

(c)(2)

 

102

 

(c)(3)

 

103

 

(d)

 

103

 

(e)

 

102

§315

(a)

 

601

 

(b)

 

602

 

(c)

 

601

 

(d)

 

601

 

(e)

 

513

§316

(a)

 

101

 

(a)(1)(A)

 

502

 

 

 

512

 

(a)(1)(B)

 

513

 

(a)(2)

 

Not Applicable

 

(b)

 

508

 

(c)

 

104

§317

(a)(1)

 

503

 

i



 

 

(a)(2)

 

504

 

(b)

 

1003

§318

(a)

 

107

 

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

 

ii



 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

1

 

 

 

 

Section 101.

Definitions

 

1

Section 102.

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

 

9

Section 103.

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

 

10

Section 104.

Acts of Holders; Record Dates

 

10

Section 105.

Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company

 

13

Section 106.

Notice to Holders; Waiver

 

13

Section 107.

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

 

14

Section 108.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

 

14

Section 109.

Successors and Assigns

 

14

Section 110.

Separability Clause

 

14

Section 111.

Counterparts

 

14

Section 112.

Benefits of Indenture

 

14

Section 113.

Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury

 

15

Section 114.

Legal Holidays

 

15

Section 115.

Consent to Service; Jurisdiction

 

15

Section 116.

Language of Notices, Etc.

 

16

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

 

16

 

 

 

 

Section 201.

Forms Generally

 

16

Section 202.

Form of Face of Security

 

17

Section 203.

Form of Reverse of Security

 

19

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

 

26

 

 

 

 

Section 301.

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

 

26

Section 302.

Denominations

 

29

Section 303.

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

 

29

Section 304.

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

 

31

Section 305.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

 

34

Section 306.

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

 

35

Section 307.

Persons Deemed Owners

 

36

Section 308.

Cancellation

 

36

Section 309.

Computation of Interest

 

36

Section 310.

CUSIP Numbers and ISINs

 

36

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

37

 

 

 

 

Section 401.

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

 

37

Section 402.

Application of Trust Money

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

iii



 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

 

38

 

 

 

 

Section 501.

Events of Default

 

38

Section 502.

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

 

40

Section 503.

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

 

41

Section 504.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

 

41

Section 505.

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

 

42

Section 506.

Application of Money Collected

 

42

Section 507.

Limitation on Suits

 

43

Section 508.

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

 

43

Section 509.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

 

44

Section 510.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

 

44

Section 511.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

 

44

Section 512.

Control by Holders

 

44

Section 513.

Waiver of Past Defaults

 

44

Section 514.

Undertaking for Costs

 

45

Section 515.

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

 

45

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

 

45

 

 

 

 

Section 601.

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

 

45

Section 602.

Notice of Defaults

 

46

Section 603.

Certain Rights of Trustee

 

46

Section 604.

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

 

48

Section 605.

May Hold Securities

 

48

Section 606.

Money Held in Trust

 

48

Section 607.

Compensation and Reimbursement

 

48

Section 608.

Conflicting Interests

 

49

Section 609.

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

 

49

Section 610.

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

 

50

Section 611.

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

 

51

Section 612.

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

 

52

Section 613.

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

 

53

Section 614.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

53

Section 615.

Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company

 

54

Section 616.

Rights, Protections and Immunities of the Trustee and Agents

 

54

 

iv



 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

55

 

 

 

 

Section 701.

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

 

55

Section 702.

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

 

55

Section 703.

Reports by Trustee

 

55

Section 704.

Reports by Company

 

56

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

56

 

 

 

 

Section 801.

Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms

 

56

Section 802.

Successor Substituted

 

57

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

57

 

 

 

 

Section 901.

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders

 

57

Section 902.

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

 

59

Section 903.

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

 

60

Section 904.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

60

Section 905.

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

 

60

Section 906.

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

 

60

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

 

61

 

 

 

 

Section 1001.

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

 

61

Section 1002.

Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

61

Section 1003.

Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust

 

62

Section 1004.

Statement by Officers as to Default

 

64

Section 1005.

Exchange Act Reports

 

64

Section 1006.

Payment of Additional Amounts

 

65

Section 1007.

Indemnification of Judgment Currency

 

67

Section 1008.

Waiver of Certain Covenants

 

67

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

68

 

 

 

 

Section 1101.

Right of Redemption

 

68

Section 1102.

Notice of Redemption

 

69

Section 1103.

Deposit of Redemption Price

 

69

Section 1104.

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

 

70

Section 1105.

Securities Redeemed in Part

 

70

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

70

 

 

 

 

Section 1201.

Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

70

Section 1202.

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

 

71

Section 1203.

Covenant Defeasance

 

71

 

v



 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

Section 1204.

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

72

Section 1205.

Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

 

73

Section 1206.

Reinstatement

 

74

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

SUBORDINATION OF THE SECURITIES

 

74

 

 

 

 

Section 1301.

Securities Subordinate to Claims of Senior Creditors

 

74

 

 

vi


 

SUBORDINATED DEBT INDENTURE, dated as of        , between Grupo Supervielle S.A. (the “Company”), a sociedad anónima organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Argentina (“Argentina”), having its principal office at Bartolomé Mitre 434, 5th floor, C1036AAH, Buenos Aires, Argentina and       , a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of        authorized to conduct a banking business, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its subordinated debt securities (herein called collectively the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

 

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

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Securities by the Holders (as defined below) thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 101.             Definitions.

 

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

 

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

 

(2)           all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference thereto, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(3)           all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with Argentine Banking GAAP;

 

(4)           any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 

1



 

(5)           any reference to a statute, rule or regulation refers to the same (including any successor statute, rule or regulation thereto) as it may be amended from time to time; and

 

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

 

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Additional Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1006.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Agent” means any Security Registrar, Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, Transfer Agent or other agent appointed hereunder.

 

“Agent Members” has the meaning specified in Clause (5) of the last paragraph of Section 304.

 

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

 

“Argentina” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture.

 

“Argentine Banking GAAP” means generally accepted accounting rules of the Argentine Central Bank as in effect from time to time.

 

“Argentine Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 1006.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

“beneficial owner” has the meaning determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and the terms “beneficial ownership” and “beneficially owned” have meanings correlative to the definition of beneficial owner.

 

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act for it in respect hereof.

 

2



 

“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, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is (i) not a day on which banking institutions in New York City or the City of Buenos Aires generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close and (ii) a day on which banks and financial institutions in Argentina are open for business with the general public.

 

“Clearstream” has the meaning specified in Clause (5) of the last paragraph of Section 304.

 

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under applicable law, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

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

 

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Risk, Legal Affairs and Compliance Manager or any person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee in                 at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered which office as of the date hereof is located at              

 

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 306.

 

“Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company until a successor Depositary shall have become Depositary pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean such successor Depositary.

 

“Dollar” and “U.S.$” mean a U.S. dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

3



 

“Euroclear” has the meaning specified in Clause (5) of the last paragraph of Section 304.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104(g).

 

“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee thereof.

 

“Government Securities” means (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or a government, governmental agency or central bank of a country whose currency is the Security Currency, (ii) obligations the timely payment of the principal of and interest on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or a government, governmental agency or central bank of a country whose currency is the Security Currency, and (iii) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in Clause (i) or (ii) above or in any specific principal or interest payments due in respect thereof.

 

“guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

 

(1)                                 to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

 

(2)                                 entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Holder” means, with respect to any Security, a Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation, or (without double-counting) the guarantee of any obligation, for the payment or repayment of

 

4



 

money borrowed or otherwise evidenced by debentures, notes, bonds or similar instruments or any other obligation that would appear or be treated as indebtedness upon a balance sheet if such Person prepared it in accordance with Argentine Banking GAAP from time to time.

 

“Indenture” means this indenture as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more supplemental indentures hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.  The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1007.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, hypothecation, security interest or other encumbrance, including, without limitation, any equivalent of the foregoing created under the laws of Argentina or any other jurisdiction.

 

“Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(3).

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Risk, Legal Affairs and Compliance Manager, or any person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be in-house counsel for the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)           Securities of such series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in

 

5



 

trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made; and

 

(iii)          Securities of such series which have been paid pursuant to Section 305 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, Securities of such series owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities of such series which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities of such series so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

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

 

“Permitted Holder” means, at any time, any Person who, at such time, is the Holder of at least U.S.$1,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Securities.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of any series and subject to Section 1002, the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified in the terms of such Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Predecessor Security” means, with respect to any particular Security, 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 305 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost

 

6



 

or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

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

 

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

 

“Regular Record Date” means, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series, the date specified for that purpose pursuant to the terms of Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Security Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1007.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 304.

 

“Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on and any other payment due pursuant to any of the following, whether incurred on or prior to the date hereof or hereafter incurred:

 

(i) all obligations of the Company for money borrowed;

 

(ii) all obligations of the Company evidenced by securities, notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments (other than the Securities), including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;

 

(iii) all capital lease obligations of the Company;

 

(iv) facilities issued for the account of the Company;

 

(v) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, including all obligations under master lease transactions

 

7



 

pursuant to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries have agreed to be treated as owner of the subject property for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

(vi) all payment obligations of the Company under interest rate swap or similar agreements or foreign currency hedge, exchange or similar agreements at the time of determination, including any such obligations incurred by the Company solely to act as a hedge against increases in interest rates that may occur under the terms of other outstanding variable or floating rate indebtedness of the Company; and

 

(vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, the Company has assumed or guaranteed or for which the Company is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise;

 

provided, however, 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; (2) indebtedness that is by its terms subordinate, or not superior, in right of payment to the Securities; or (3) any indebtedness of the Company to its Affiliates (including all debt securities and guarantees in respect of those debt securities, issued to any other trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is a financing vehicle of the Company (a “financing entity”) in connection with the issuance by such financing entity of common securities and preferred securities or other securities guaranteed by the Company) unless otherwise expressly provided in the terms of any such indebtedness.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that constitutes a “significant subsidiary” as defined under Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Commission, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

“Special Record Date” means, for the payment of any Defaulted Interest, a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 306.

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” means (i) a corporation more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries thereof or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which the Company, or one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company or the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has at least a majority ownership and power to direct the policies, management and affairs thereof.

 

“transfer” means, with respect to any Security, any sale, pledge, transfer, hypothecation or other disposition of such Security or any interest therein.

 

8



 

“Transfer Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, capital stock of or other ownership interest in such Person which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors of (or Persons performing similar functions for) such Person, whether at all times or only as long as no senior class of securities or other ownership interests has such voting power by reason of any contingency.  For the purpose of calculating the percentage of (i) the combined voting power of the Voting Stock of any Person that is represented by (ii) any capital stock of or other ownership interests in such Person, all capital stock of and other ownership interests in such Person that are beneficially owned by such Person will be excluded in determining the combined voting power described in Clause (i) but will not be excluded from (if otherwise included in) the capital stock or other ownership interests described in Clause (ii).

 

SECTION 102.             Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be reasonably required hereunder.  Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:

 

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

 

9



 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 103.             Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

SECTION 104.             Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

 

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

 

10



 

instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 104.

 

(b)           The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof.  Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c)           The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register and the Trustee may rely on such information and shall not be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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

 

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

 

11



 

Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

(f)            The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series.  If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and without any action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), nor shall anything in this paragraph be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken.  Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

(g)           With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date.  If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

 

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

 

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SECTION 105.             Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

 

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

 

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

 

(2)           the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and delivered to the Company in accordance with Section 106, at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention:          , or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

In respect of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and, except where due to bad faith, the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, notices, reports or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

SECTION 106.             Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and delivered to each Holder affected by such event, in accordance with Section 106, at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, or if to holders of Global Securities, to the relevant Depositary in accordance with its applicable procedures, in each case not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.  In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.  Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.  Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

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In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice 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.

 

SECTION 107.             Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control.  Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 108.             Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

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

 

SECTION 109.             Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

SECTION 110.             Separability Clause.

 

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions contained in this Indenture, and to the extent and only to the extent that any such provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, this Indenture shall be construed as if such provision had never been contained herein.

 

SECTION 111.             Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be simultaneously executed and delivered in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 112.             Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and, the Holders of Securities and the holders of indebtedness to which the Securities of a series are subordinated in right of payment as provided for in the terms of the Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 301, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 113.             Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO (EXCEPT, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE HOLDERS OF THE SECURITIES) HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

 

SECTION 114.             Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity, as the case may be; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 115.             Consent to Service; Jurisdiction.

 

Each party hereto agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the Securities may be instituted in any U.S. federal or New York state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and in the courts of its own corporate domicile, in respect of actions brought against each such party as a defendant, and each waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such legal suit, action or proceeding, waives any immunity from jurisdiction or to service of process in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding, waives any right to which it may be entitled on account of place of residence or domicile and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding.  The Company hereby designates and appoints CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10011, as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the Securities which may be instituted in any U.S. federal or New York state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, and agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice, or notice in any other manner permitted by applicable law, of said service to the Company by the Person serving the same, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit, action or proceeding and further designates its domicile, the domicile of CT Corporation System specified above and any domicile CT Corporation System may have in the future as its domicile to receive any notice hereunder (including service of process).  If for any reason CT Corporation System (or any successor agent for

 

15



 

this purpose) shall cease to act as agent for service of process as provided above, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor agent for this purpose reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and shall notify the Trustee in writing of the same.  The Company agrees to take any and all actions as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 116.             Language of Notices, Etc.

 

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.

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

SECTION 201.             Forms Generally.

 

The Securities and the Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article Two or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more supplemental indentures hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary thereof or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.

 

If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

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

 

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SECTION 202.             Form of Face of Security.

 

[INCLUDE IF SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY —THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE

 

TREATED BY GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A., THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.]

 

[INCLUDE IF SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY AND THE DEPOSITARY IS THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY—UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS CERTIFICATE OR ANY PORTION HEREOF IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR A NOMINEE THEREOF IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR REGISTERED SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES REFERRED TO IN THE INDENTURE, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.]

 

GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.

 


 

No.                   

 

 

 

CUSIP No.                   

 

 

 

ISIN No.                   

 

U.S.$                

 

 

Grupo Supervielle S.A. (the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), a sociedad anónima organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Argentina (“Argentina”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                        , or registered assigns, the principal

 

17



 

sum of                              Dollars, as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security attached hereto on                         (unless earlier redeemed, in which case, on the applicable Redemption Date) [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert      , and to pay interest thereon from              or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, semi-annually in arrears on              and              of each year, commencing on          , at the rate of     % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment  [if applicable, insert —; provided that any principal of and any premium and interest on, this Security which is overdue shall bear interest (to the extent that payment thereof shall be legally enforceable) at the rate per annum then borne by this Security from the date such amount is due to but not including the day it is paid or made available for payment, and such overdue interest shall be paid as provided in Section 306 of the Indenture.]

 

[Insert if applicable — Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.]  [Insert if applicable — Interest on the Securities shall be calculated on the basis of a 365-day year and 366-day year, as applicable, with the actual number of days elapsed from and including the last Interest Payment Date (or, with respect to interest payable on the first Interest Payment Date, from the issue date of this Security) to but excluding the Interest Payment Date on which the interest payment falls due.]

 

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the        or        (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture].

 

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal [and any overdue premium] shall bear interest at the rate of     % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal [or premium] shall be payable on demand.]

 

Payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, this Security shall be made at the office of the Trustee or agency of the Company in the Borough of

 

18



 

Manhattan, The City of New York, New York maintained for such purpose and at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, against surrender of this Security in the case of any payment due at the Maturity of the principal thereof;  provided, however, that at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. [Insert if applicable — and; provided, further, that all payments of principal of and interest on this Security, the Permitted Holders of which have given wire transfer instructions to the Trustee in writing, the Company or its agent at least 10 Business Days prior to the applicable payment date, shall be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by such Permitted Holders in such instructions].  [If the Security is a Global Security, then insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of any amount payable in respect of a Global Security shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary.]

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

SECTION 203.             Form of Reverse of Security.

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of               (the “Indenture”), between the Company and             , as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), Security

 

19



 

Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent, and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The terms, conditions and provisions of this Security are those stated in the Indenture (including those made a part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act). This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof.

 

Additional securities on terms and conditions identical to those of this Security (except for issue date, issue price and the date from which interest shall accrue and, if applicable, first be paid) may be issued by the Company without the consent of the Holders of the Securities.  The amount evidenced by such additional securities shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with, the Securities, in which case the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security attached hereto will be correspondingly adjusted.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or of the Securities) payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity, as the case may be; provided that no interest shall accrue on account of such delay for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than       days’ nor more than        days’ notice, at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after          , 20  ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount):

 

Year

 

Redemption
Price

 

Year

 

Redemption
Price

 

                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If redeemed [if applicable, insert — on or before                ,    %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning              of the years indicated, and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to     % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business

 

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on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent, in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of all of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

All payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of the Securities shall be made after withholding or deduction for any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of Argentina or any authority therein or thereof having power to tax (“Argentine Taxes”).  In the event of any withholding or deduction for any Argentine Taxes, the Company shall pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as will result in receipt by the Holders of Securities on the respective due dates of such amounts as would have been received by them had no such withholding or deduction (including for any Argentine Taxes payable in respect of Additional Amounts) been required, except that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable with respect to any payment on a Security to the extent:

 

(i)            that any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges are imposed because of (A) a connection between the Holder or beneficial owner and Argentina other than the ownership or holding of

 

21



 

such Security or the mere receipt of payments with respect to such Security or (B) failure by the Holder or any other Person to comply with any certification, identification, information, documentation or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with Argentina of the Holder or any beneficial owner of such Security if compliance is required by law, regulation or by an applicable income tax treaty to which Argentina is a party, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, the tax, assessment or other governmental charge and we have given the Holders at least 30 days’ notice prior to the first payment date with respect to which such certification, identification or reporting requirement is required;

 

(ii)           of any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges with respect to such Security presented for payment more than 15 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for and notice thereof given to Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the Holder of such Security would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Security for payment on any date during such 15-day period;

 

(iii)          of any estate, inheritance, gift or other similar taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed with respect to such Security;

 

(iv)          of any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments on such Security;

 

(v)           of any payment on such Security to a Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or a person other than the sole beneficial owner of any such payment, to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such a partnership or the beneficial owner of such payment would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of such Security;

 

(vi)          any combination of the items in Clauses (i) through (v) above.

 

The Company shall provide the Trustee with relevant documentation, if any (which may consist of certified copies of such documentation), satisfactory to the Trustee evidencing the payment of Argentine Taxes in respect of which the Company has paid any Additional Amounts.  Copies of such documentation shall be made available to the Holders of the Securities or any Paying Agent, as applicable, upon request therefor.

 

The Company shall pay all stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar duties, if any, which may be imposed by Argentina or any governmental entity or political subdivision therein or thereof, or any taxing authority of or in any of the foregoing, with respect to the Indenture or the issuance of the Securities.

 

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All references herein, in the Indenture, or in one or more supplemental indentures thereto and the Securities to principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of any Security shall be deemed to include all Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of such principal, premium or interest.

 

In the event that Additional Amounts actually paid with respect to the Securities pursuant to the preceding paragraphs are based on rates of deduction or withholding of withholding taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the Holder of such Securities, and, as a result thereof such Holder is entitled to make claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the authority imposing such withholding tax, then such Holder shall, by accepting such Securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title, and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to the Company.  However, by making such assignment, the Holder makes no representation or warranty that the Company will be entitled to receive such claim for a refund or credit and incurs no other obligation with respect thereto.

 

The Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at any time, in whole but not in part, at a Redemption Price equal to the sum of (A) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed, (B) any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date, (C) any premium applicable in the case of redemption prior to Stated Maturity and (D) any Additional Amounts which would otherwise be payable thereon up to but not including the Redemption Date, if, as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of Argentina or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation or any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment to or change in such  laws, rules or regulations becomes effective on or after the date of issuance of the Securities of such series, the Company would be obligated, after making reasonable endeavors to avoid such requirement, to pay Additional Amounts and/or Argentine Taxes on or in respect of such Securities.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company, on the one hand, and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series, on the other hand, to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of such series.  The Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected under the Indenture, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture with respect to such series and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected under the Indenture, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration

 

23



 

of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or premium, if any, and/or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

Subject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness, as set forth in the Indenture, no reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth (including, without limitation, the restrictions on transfer under Section 304 of the Indenture), the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office of the Trustee or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, shall be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

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Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes (subject to Section 306 of the Indenture), whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, any Agent nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

[If the Security is a Global Security, then insert — This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations in Section 304 of the Indenture on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities.]

 

This Security and the Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 


 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Security, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM - as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—

 

 

 

 

(Cust)

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

 

Custodian

under Uniform

 

 

(Minor)

 

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

Gifts to Minors Act


(State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used
though not in the above list.

 


 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

 

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

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Date of
transfer or
exchange

 

Amount of
decrease in
principal
amount of
this Global
Security

 

Amount of
increase in
principal amount
of this Global
Security

 

Principal amount
of this Global
Security
following such
decrease or
increase

 

Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Security Registrar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

ARTICLE THREE

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301.             Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

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

 

(b)           Additional securities on terms and conditions identical to those of a series of Securities (except for issue date, issue price and the date from which interest shall accrue and, if applicable, first be paid) may be issued by the Company without the consent of the Holders of the Securities; provided that such additional Securities shall be issued under a separate CUSIP or ISIN number unless the additional Securities are issued pursuant to a “qualified reopening” of the original series, are otherwise treated as part of the same “issue” of debt instruments as the original series or are issued with no more than a de minimis amount of original discount, in each case for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  The amount evidenced by such additional securities shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with the previously outstanding series of Securities.

 

(c)           The Securities may be issued in one or more series.  There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more supplemental indentures hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1)           the title of the series of Securities, including “CUSIP” numbers and “ISINs,” of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

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(2)           any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 906 or 1105 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

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

 

(4)           the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

 

(5)           the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates and the basis upon which interest will be calculated of other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months,

 

(6)           in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(7)           the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner in which any payment may be made;

 

(8)           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;

 

(9)           the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series, including but not limited to the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption or repayment of the Securities of the series (including pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof) and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(10)         if other than denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

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(11)         if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and 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 purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

 

(12)         if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

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

 

(14)         if other than the principal amount thereof, 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 502;

 

(15)         the applicability, nonapplicability, or variation, of Section 1006 with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(16)         if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 304 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

 

(17)         the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of the series are convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities, including any requirements relating to the reservation of any shares or other securities for purposes of conversion;

 

(18)         any trustees or Agents with respect to the Securities of the series if different than, or in addition to, those set forth in this Indenture;

 

(19)         any guarantees on, or any security provided with respect to the Securities of the series;

 

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(20)         any events which shall constitute Events of Default with respect to the Securities of the series if not set forth herein, and any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default set forth herein shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Event of Default set forth herein inapplicable to the Securities of that series);

 

(21)         any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to the Securities of the series;

 

(22)         any restriction or condition on the transferability of Securities of the series;

 

(23)         any terms with respect to the subordination of the Securities of the series, including, without limitation, the definition of “Senior Indebtedness” in respect of which the Securities of the series will be subordinated;

 

(24)         the terms applicable to deferral or cancellation of payments of principal, premium or interest in respect of the Securities of the series, if any;  and

 

(25)         any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5)), including, without limitation, any variances to terms described in Section 107, Section 302, Section 306, Section 309, Section 401, Article 5, Section 801, Article 10, Section 1101, Section 1103 and Section 1201.

 

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 the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such supplemental indenture hereto.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

SECTION 302.             Denominations.

 

Except as expressly provided by the terms of any series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301, the Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof.

 

SECTION 303.             Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any two of its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Treasurer, its Risk, Legal Affairs and Compliance Manager or any person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such

 

29



 

person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

 

(1)           if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)           if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if

 

30



 

such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

SECTION 304.             Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency designated pursuant to Section 1002 being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at an office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

At the option of the Holder, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of any same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon receipt of a Company order, and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

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

 

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No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 906 or 1105 not involving any transfer.

 

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1102 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

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

 

(2)           Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture or the Securities, no Global Security of beneficial interest therein may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof unless (A) the Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security and a successor Depositary is not appointed within 90 days or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor Depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) a request for certificates has been made by the Company upon 60 days’ prior written notice given to the Trustee in accordance with the Depositary’s customary procedures and a copy of such notice has been received by the Company from the Trustee.  Any Global Security exchanged pursuant to Clause (A) above shall be so exchanged in whole and not in part and any Global Security exchanged pursuant to Clause (B) or (C) above may be exchanged in whole or from time to time in part as directed by the Depositary.  Any Security issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be a Global Security; provided that any such Security so issued that is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof shall not be a Global Security.

 

(3)           Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof pursuant to Clause (2) above shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons, shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to

 

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that of such Global Security or portion thereof to be so exchanged, shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depositary shall designate and shall bear any legends required hereunder.  Any Global Security to be exchanged in whole shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, as Security Registrar.  With regard to any Global Security to be exchanged in part, either such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or, if the Trustee is acting as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee with respect to such Global Security, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced, by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee.  Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Security issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depositary or an authorized representative thereof.

 

(4)           In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Clause (2) above, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons.

 

(5)           Neither any members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) nor any other Persons on whose behalf Agent Members may act, shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security, or under any Global Security, and the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner and holder of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, or impair, as between the Depositary, its Agent Members and any other person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act, the operation of customary practices of such Persons governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Security.

 

(6)           None of the Company, the Trustee or any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, an Agent Member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or Agent Member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in a Global Security or with respect to the delivery to any participant, Agent Member, beneficial owner or other person (other than the Depositary) of any notice or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Global Security (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Global Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Global Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the Depositary. 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. The Company, the Trustee and each

 

33



 

Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its Agent Members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

(7)           Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with or with respect to any securities or tax laws (including but not limited to any United States federal or state or other securities or tax laws), or except as specifically provided herein, obtain documentation on any transfers or exchanges of the Securities.

 

SECTION 305.             Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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

 

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

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 305, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 305 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section 305 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

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SECTION 306.             Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, or deferred or cancelled (if permitted pursuant to the terms of the Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 301) on any Interest Payment Date (“Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)           The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be delivered, in accordance with Section 106, to each Holder of Securities of such series, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

(2)           The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given

 

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by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

SECTION 307.             Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any other agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 306) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, any Agent nor any other agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

SECTION 308.             Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it.  The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section 308, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures unless otherwise directed by a Company Order.

 

SECTION 309.             Computation of Interest.

 

Except as expressly provided by the terms of any series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301, interest on the Securities of any series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 310.             CUSIP Numbers and ISINs.

 

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

 

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ARTICLE FOUR

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401.             Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture, with respect to the Securities of any series (for purposes of this Article Four, meaning Securities having identical terms, except as to issue date, principal amount and, if applicable, the date from which interest begins to accrue), if all series issued under this Indenture are not to be affected, shall, upon Company Request, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for, the rights powers, trusts, duties, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and rights to receive payments of principal of and interest on such Securities) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(1)           either

 

(A)  all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series that have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 305 or (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

 

(i)    have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section 401, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

SECTION 402.             Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.  All moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of Securities subsequently converted shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501.             Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

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

 

(2)           default by the Company in the payment of the principal (including any Redemption Price and any Additional Amounts) of or premium on any Security of that series when due at its Maturity; or

 

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(3)           default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 501 specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been delivered to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(4)           the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, suspension of payments, concurso preventivo, reorganization or other similar law, or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company or any Significant Subsidiary a bankrupt or insolvent, in concurso preventivo or suspending payments, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary under any applicable law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, síndico, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(5)           the commencement by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, concurso preventivo, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, concurso preventivo, suspension of payments, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or the filing by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable law or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, síndico, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or the making by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action (evidenced by the adoption of a corporate

 

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resolution in favor of any such actions or an action of any of the officers of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary that similarly binds the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be).

 

An Event of Default under or a series of Securities under this Indenture will not necessarily be a default under another series of Securities under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 502.             Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or (5)) occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee shall, at the written request of the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by notice in writing to the Company, declare the principal of all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration such principal and any accrued interest and any unpaid Additional Amounts thereon shall become immediately due and payable.  If an Event of Default specified in Sections 501(4) and (5) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, the principal and any accrued interest, together with any Additional Amounts thereon, on all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

 

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

 

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

 

(A)  all overdue interest and any Additional Amounts thereon on all of the Securities of that series,

 

(B)  the principal of any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration,

 

(C)  to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate borne by the Securities of that series, and

 

(D)  all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and all amounts owing the Trustee under Section 607;

 

and

 

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(2)           all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 503.             Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

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

 

(2)           default is made in the payment of the principal (including any Redemption Price) of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate borne by such Securities, together with any Additional Amounts thereon, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

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

 

SECTION 504.             Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding.  In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that

 

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the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

SECTION 505.             Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

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

 

SECTION 506.             Application of Money Collected.

 

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

 

FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

 

SECOND:  Subject to Article 13 hereof or any terms of the Security established pursuant hereto, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD:  Any remaining amounts shall be repaid to the Company.

 

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SECTION 507.             Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Securities of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

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

 

(2)           the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute an action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

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

 

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

 

(5)           no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.  For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 507, each and every Holder of the Outstanding Securities of any series and the Trustee shall be entitled, subject to Section 513, to such relief as can be given at law or in equity.

 

SECTION 508.             Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 306) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date).

 

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SECTION 509.             Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

SECTION 510.             Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 305, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

SECTION 511.             Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

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

 

SECTION 512.             Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that

 

(1)           such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and

 

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

 

SECTION 513.             Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Subject to Section 502, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the

 

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Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 514.             Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section 514 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee or to require the Company to repurchase any Security in accordance with its terms.

 

SECTION 515.             Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601.             Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial

 

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liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 601.

 

SECTION 602.             Notice of Defaults.

 

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 602, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 603.             Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

(a)           the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(b)           any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

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

 

(d)           the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own choice and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(e)           the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee

 

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security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(f)            the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document in connection with this Indenture, but the Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

(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; provided that the Trustee shall be required to terminate any such agent if it has actual knowledge of any failure by such agent to perform its delegated duties;

 

(h)           the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless received written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the relevant series of Securities and this Indenture;

 

(i)            the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties;

 

(j)            in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

(k)           in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; provided that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;

 

(l)            the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it reasonably believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence; and

 

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

 

SECTION 604.             Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assume any responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained herein or in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication.  The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder.  Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 605.             May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

SECTION 606.             Money Held in Trust.

 

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

 

SECTION 607.             Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1)           to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the parties for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2)           except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable and documented expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

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(3)           to fully indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives harmless for, from and against, any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the exercise or performance of any of its rights, powers or duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

To secure the Company’s obligation under this Section 607, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all money or property held or collected by the Trustee in its capacity as Trustee, except for such money and property which is held in trust to pay principal (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities and may withhold or set of any amounts due and only to it under the Indenture from any such money or property held by it.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or Section 501(5), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The provisions of this Section 607 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 608.             Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

SECTION 609.             Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least U.S.$50,000,000 and has its principal corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City.  If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 609 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined

 

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capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 609, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

 

SECTION 610.             Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article Six shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

If at any time:

 

(1)           the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2)           the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(3)           the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the role of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of

 

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one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and shall have accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, the Trustee or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, at the expense of the Company, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 611.             Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to such series of Securities; but, on the written request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver a supplemental indenture hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or

 

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desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all series of Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on written request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article Six.

 

SECTION 612.             Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

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SECTION 613.             Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

 

SECTION 614.             Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.  Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.  Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than U.S.$50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority.  If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 614, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 614.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 614, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, the Trustee may appoint a successor

 

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Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment, to all Holders in accordance with Section 106 as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register.  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.  No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 614.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 614.

 

If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section 614, the Securities may have annexed thereto or endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

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

 

 

     ,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

as Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

 

SECTION 615.             Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company.

 

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective.  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

 

SECTION 616.     Rights, Protections and Immunities of the Trustee and Agents.

 

The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be

 

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enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder as Security Registrar, Transfer Agent, Paying Agent and each other Agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701.             Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)           semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date with respect to each series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, and

 

(b)           at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 702.             Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

 

(a)           The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)           The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(c)           Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 703.             Reports by Trustee.

 

Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times

 

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and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.  Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty days after each anniversary date of this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company.  The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

SECTION 704.             Reports by Company.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their respective covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

SECTION 801.             Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or, directly or indirectly, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and properties and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into it unless:

 

(1)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, or an event or condition which, after the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, with respect to any series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(2)           the Person formed by such consolidation or merger or the Person which acquires by transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Company, if not the Company, shall (a) be organized and validly existing under the laws of Argentina or the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof and (b) shall expressly assume by a supplemental indenture hereto executed and delivered to

 

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the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture and any applicable supplemental indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; and

 

(3)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

SECTION 802.             Successor Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901.             Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the consent of any Holder of Securities of a series, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)           to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

 

(2)           to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

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

 

(4)           to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

 

(5)           to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided 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 Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

(6)           to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of Article Ten or otherwise; or

 

(7)           to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 201 and 301; or

 

(8)           to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611; or

 

(9)           to modify the restrictions on the transferability of any Securities, and the procedures for resales and other transfers of the Securities to reflect any change in applicable law or regulation (or the interpretation thereof) or to provide alternative procedures in compliance with applicable law and practices relating to the resale or other transfer of restricted securities generally; or

 

(10)         to comply with the requirements of the Commission in connection with qualifying this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(11)         to add one or more guarantors for the benefit of all or any series of Securities; or

 

(12)         to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (12) shall not adversely affect the

 

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interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect. For the avoidance of doubt, any change made to conform the terms of any series of Securities to the description thereof in the prospectus pursuant to which such Securities were initially sold by the Company shall be deemed to be a correction that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of such Securities in any material respect.

 

SECTION 902.             Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected thereby:

 

(1)           change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of any Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or modify in any way the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1006 or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date); or

 

(2)           reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of which Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of which Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture; or

 

(3)           modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 513 or Section 1011, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this Clause (3) shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 902 and Section 1011, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of

 

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Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

SECTION 903.             Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the documents required under Section 102, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, protections, indemnity or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

SECTION 904.             Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities of the series to which such supplemental indenture relates theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

SECTION 905.             Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Subsequent to the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 906.             Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001.          Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

The Company shall duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest (together with any Additional Amounts payable thereon) on the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1002.          Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 301, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

With respect to any securities that are not in the form of a Global Security, the Company shall maintain, in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served.  The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies (in or outside the Borough of Manhattan, New York City) where the Securities of one or more series, notices and other items 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 the Borough of Manhattan, New York City for such purposes.  The Company shall 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 1003.          Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

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

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent shall (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in New York

 

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City, 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 shall be repaid to the Company.

 

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

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Company, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Company,

 

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cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, 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.

 

Each Paying Agent shall comply with applicable backup withholding tax and information reporting requirements under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to payments made under the Securities (including, to the extent required, the collection of Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8 and W-9 and the filing of United States Internal Revenue Service Forms 1099 and 1096).

 

SECTION 1004.          Statement by Officers as to Default.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officer’s Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions 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 deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 15 days after the Company becomes aware that a default or an Event of Default, or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, as the case may be, has occurred and is continuing, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 1005.          Exchange Act Reports.

 

The Company shall furnish the Trustee, within 15 days after filing with the Commission, with copies of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including its annual reports on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K. In addition, the Company shall make the same information, documents and other reports available, at its expense, to Holders who so request in writing. In the event that, in the future, the Company is not required to file such information, documents or other reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall furnish on a reasonably prompt basis to the Trustee and Holders who so request in writing, substantially the same financial and other information that the Company would be required to include and file in an annual report on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. To the extent any Securities are issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and solely with respect to such Securities, the Company agrees that if it is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act at

 

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any time when the Securities are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, then it shall promptly furnish or cause to be furnished financial and other information described in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision thereto) with respect to the Company to any Holder or to a prospective purchaser of any such Security who is designated by such Holder and is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A), upon the request of such Holder or prospective purchaser, to the extent required to permit such Holder to comply with Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with any resale of Securities held by such Holder.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents 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 hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

SECTION 1006.          Payment of Additional Amounts.

 

(a)           All payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of the Securities shall be made after withholding or deduction for any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of Argentina or any authority therein or thereof having power to tax (“Argentine Taxes”).  In the event of any withholding or deduction for any Argentine Taxes, the Company shall pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as will result in receipt by the Holders of Securities on the respective due dates of such amounts as would have been received by them had no such withholding or deduction (including for any Argentine Taxes payable in respect of Additional Amounts) been required, except that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable with respect to any payment on a Security to the extent:

 

(i)            that any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges are imposed because of (A) a connection between the Holder or beneficial owner and Argentina other than the ownership or holding of such Security or the mere receipt of payments with respect to such Security or (B) failure by the Holder or any other Person to comply with any certification, identification, information, documentation or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with Argentina of the Holder or any beneficial owner of such Security if compliance is required by law, regulation or by an applicable income tax treaty to which Argentina is a party, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, the tax, assessment or other governmental charge and we have given the Holders at least 30 days’ notice prior to the first payment date with respect to which such certification, identification or reporting requirement is required;

 

(ii)           of any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges with respect to such Security presented for payment more

 

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than 15 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for and notice thereof given to Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the Holder of such Security would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Security for payment on any date during such 15-day period;

 

(iii)          of any estate, inheritance, gift or other similar taxes, assessments or other governmental charge imposed with respect to such Security;

 

(iv)          of any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments on such Security;

 

(v)           of any payment on such Security to a Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or a person other than the sole beneficial owner of any such payment, to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such a partnership or the beneficial owner of such payment would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of such Security;

 

(vi)          any combination of the items in Clauses (i) through (v) above.

 

The Company shall provide the Trustee with relevant documentation, if any (which may consist of certified copies of such documentation), satisfactory to the Trustee evidencing the payment of Argentine Taxes in respect of which the Company has paid any Additional Amounts.  Copies of such documentation shall be made available to the Holders of the Securities or the Paying Agent, as applicable, upon request therefor.

 

(b)           The Company shall pay all stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar duties, if any, which may be imposed by Argentina or any other governmental entity or political subdivision therein or thereof, or any taxing authority of or in any of the foregoing, with respect to this Indenture or the issuance of the Securities.

 

(c)           The Company shall provide each Paying Agent and any withholding agent under relevant tax regulations with copies of each certificate received by the Company from a Holder of a Security pursuant to the text of such Security.  Each such Paying Agent and withholding agent shall retain each such certificate received by it for as long as any Security is outstanding and in no event for less than four years after its receipt, and for such additional period thereafter, as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, as such certificate may become material in the administration of applicable tax laws.

 

(d)           In the event that Additional Amounts actually paid with respect to the Securities pursuant to the preceding paragraphs are based on rates of deduction or withholding of withholding taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the Holder of such Securities, and, as a result thereof such Holder is entitled to make claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the authority imposing such withholding tax,

 

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then such Holder shall, by accepting such Securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title, and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to the Company.  However, by making such assignment, the Holder makes no representation or warranty that the Company shall be entitled to receive such claim for a refund or credit and incurs no other obligation with respect thereto.

 

(e)           All references in this Indenture, one or more supplemental indentures hereto and the Securities to principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of any Security shall be deemed to include all Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of such principal, premium or interest.

 

SECTION 1007.          Indemnification of Judgment Currency.

 

The Company shall indemnify the Trustee and any Holder of a Security against any loss incurred by the Trustee or such Holder, as the case may be, as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any amount due under this Indenture or such Security and being expressed and paid in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than Dollars or such other currency in which such Security is denominated (the “Security Currency”), and as a result of any variation between (i) the rate of exchange at which the Security Currency amount is converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order and (ii) the spot rate of exchange in New York City at which the Trustee or such Holder, as the case may be, on the date of payment of such judgment or order is able to purchase the Security Currency with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually received by the Trustee or such Holder.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 1007, in the event that the amount of the Security Currency purchased by any Holder as a result of such indemnification exceeds the amount originally to be paid to such Holder, such Holder shall reimburse such excess to the Company. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the Company and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid.  The term “spot rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or conversion into, the Security Currency.

 

SECTION 1008.          Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

Except as expressly provided by the terms of any series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(22), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Section 1006, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101.          Right of Redemption.

 

(a)           The Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity may not be redeemed at the election of the Company except in accordance with their terms and (except as expressly provided by the terms of any series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301) in accordance with the provisions of this Article Eleven.

 

(b)           The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution.  In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company, notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

(c)           If, as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulation thereunder) of Argentina or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation or any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change of such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective on or after the date of issuance of the Securities of any series, the Company would be obligated to pay Additional Amounts and/or Argentine taxes on or in respect of such Securities , and if such obligation cannot be avoided by the Company after taking measures the Company considers reasonable to avoid it, then, at the Company’s option, the Securities of such series may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at any time, on giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to the Trustee and the Holders of such Securities, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof and any premium applicable thereto, together with accrued interest up to but not including the Redemption Date and any Additional Amounts which would otherwise be payable.

 

(d)           Before any notice of redemption pursuant to Section 1101(c) is given to the Trustee or the Holders of Securities of the relevant series, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (i) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the condition or conditions precedent to the right of the Company so to redeem have occurred or been satisfied and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Company has or shall become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment.  Such notice, once given to the Trustee, shall be irrevocable.

 

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SECTION 1102.          Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in accordance with Section 106 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)           the Redemption Date,

 

(2)           the Redemption Price and amount of accrued interest, if any,

 

(3)           that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and any accrued interest shall become due and payable upon each Security to be redeemed and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(4)           the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest, and

 

(5)           applicable “CUSIP” numbers and “ISINs, if any.”

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s written request, by the Trustee (provided the Company shall have provided the Trustee with a copy of such notice at least 5 Business Days prior to the mailing date) in the name and at the expense of the Company, and such notice, when given to the Holders, shall be irrevocable.

 

In the event the Company requests that the Trustee deliver notice of redemption to the Holders, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required to be delivered in such notice pursuant to this Section 1102 at least 10 calendar days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date such notice is to be given to the Holders of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 1103.          Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On the Business Day prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date other than any Securities called for redemption on that date which have been converted prior to the date of such deposit.

 

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 306) be paid to

 

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the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

 

SECTION 1104.          Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price herein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest.  Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 306.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security.

 

SECTION 1105.          Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company order, authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 1201.          Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Company may at its option, at any time, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 1202 (if applicable) or Section 1203 (if applicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in Section 1204.

 

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SECTION 1202.          Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 1202, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “legal defeasance”).

 

For this purpose, such legal defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series 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 written request and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(a)           the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1204 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities when such payments are due;

 

(b)           the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 304, 305, 607, 1002, 1003 and 1009 (but only to the extent that any Additional Amounts payable exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1204);

 

(c)           the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities and indemnities and other provisions in respect of the Trustee hereunder; and

 

(d)           this  Article Twelve.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article Twelve, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 1202 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1203 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 1203.          Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 1203, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 801, 1004, 1102, 501(3) (as to Sections 801 and 1004), 501(6) and 501(7) with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”).

 

For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, 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 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

 

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herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.  Following a covenant defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified above in this Section 1203.

 

SECTION 1204.          Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1202 or Section 1203 to the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

(a)           The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Twelve 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 benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) an amount in the Security Currency, or (B) Government Securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide without reinvestment, within two weeks prior to the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) 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 and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and each installment of interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.  Before such a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of any series of Securities at a future date in accordance with any redemption provisions relating to such series, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

 

(b)           No event which is, or which with notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit.

 

(c)           Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee for the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any Securities of the Company.

 

(d)           Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(e)           Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be deleted.

 

(f)            In the case of an election under Section 1202, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has

 

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received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance had not occurred.

 

(g)           In the case of an election under Section 1203, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(h)           Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

 

(i)            The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to either the legal defeasance under Section 1202 or the covenant defeasance under or Section 1203 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

 

SECTION 1205.          Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last two paragraphs of Section 1003, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively, for purposes of this Section 1205, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1204 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (but not 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 interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 1204 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 the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

Anything in this Article Twelve to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 1204 which, in the opinion of a

 

73



 

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 an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

 

SECTION 1206.          Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 1204 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of a series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 1204, until such time as the Trustee or such Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Securities in accordance with Sections 1204; provided that, if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on the Securities of such series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

SUBORDINATION OF THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1301.          Securities Subordinate to Claims of Senior Creditors.

 

The Securities and payments in respect thereof shall be subordinated in right of payment to the extent and in the manner and with the effect provided for in the terms of the Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

74



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed on their respective behalves, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

GRUPO SUPERVIELLE S.A.,

 

 

as Issuer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

Risk, Legal Affair and Compliance Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   ,

 

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

75



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