AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 17, 1997
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION NEW YORK 16-0968385
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED
(Exact name of registrants (State or other jurisdiction FOR
specified in their charters) of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or Identification
organization) No.)
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ONE M&T PLAZA
BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14240
(716 842-5445
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrants' principal executive offices)
--------------------------
RICHARD A. LAMMERT, ESQ.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
ONE M&T PLAZA
BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14240
(716) 842-5390
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
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WITH COPIES TO:
STEVEN KAPLAN, ESQ. WILLIAM P. ROGERS, JR.
ARNOLD & PORTER CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE
555 12TH STREET, N.W. WORLDWIDE PLAZA
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004 825 EIGHT AVENUE
(202) 942-5998 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
(212) 474-1270
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
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If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. / /
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. / /
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. / /
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF MAXIMUM AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
% Junior Subordinated Debentures of First Empire State Corporation.......... $5,000,000 $1,516
% Capital Securities of First Empire Capital Trust I........................ (2) --
Guarantee of First Empire State Corporation of certain obligations under the
Capital Securities.............................................................. (3) --
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee,
exclusive of accrued interest and dividends, if any.
(2) The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be purchased by First Empire Capital
Trust I with the proceeds of the sale of the Capital Securities. Such
securities may later be distributed for no additional consideration to the
holders of the Capital Securities upon its dissolution and the distribution
of its assets.
(3) This Registration Statement is deemed to cover the Guarantee.
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THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
The prospectus contained in this Registration Statement will be used in
connection with the offering of the following securities: (1) % Junior
Subordinated Debentures of First Empire State Corporation; (2) % Capital
Securities of First Empire Capital Trust I; (3) a Guarantee of First Empire
State Corporation of certain obligations under the Capital Securities.
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
PROSPECTUS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 17, 1997
$5,000,000
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
% CAPITAL SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25.00 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
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THE CAPITAL SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY REPRESENT PREFERRED UNDIVIDED
BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THE ASSETS OF FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I, A STATUTORY
BUSINESS TRUST CREATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (THE "ISSUER
TRUST"). FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY") WILL INITIALLY BE THE
HOLDER OF ALL OF THE
(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
------------------------
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE HEREOF FOR CERTAIN
INFORMATION RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE CAPITAL SECURITIES.
---------------------
THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK
AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE BANK
INSURANCE FUND OR ANY OTHER INSURER OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
------------------------
THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY. FURTHERMORE, THE
FOREGOING AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT REVIEWED THIS DOCUMENT OR
CONFIRMED OR DETERMINED THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS
DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
PUBLIC (1) DISCOUNT (2) COMPANY (3)(4)
--------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
PER CAPITAL SECURITY............................ $ $ $
TOTAL........................................... $ $ $
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(1) PLUS ACCRUED DISTRIBUTIONS, IF ANY, FROM , 1997.
(2) THE COMPANY AND THE ISSUER TRUST HAVE EACH AGREED TO INDEMNIFY THE
UNDERWRITERS AGAINST CERTAIN LIABILITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933. SEE "UNDERWRITING."
(3) IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OF THE CAPITAL
SECURITIES WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES,
THE COMPANY HAS AGREED TO PAY TO THE UNDERWRITERS, AS COMPENSATION FOR
THEIR ARRANGING THE INVESTMENT THEREIN OF SUCH PROCEEDS, $ PER
CAPITAL SECURITY (OR $ IN THE AGGREGATE). SEE "UNDERWRITING."
(4) BEFORE DEDUCTION OF EXPENSES PAYABLE BY THE COMPANY ESTIMATED AT
$ .
THE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED BY THE UNDERWRITERS SUBJECT TO RECEIPT AND
ACCEPTANCE BY THEM, PRIOR SALE AND THE UNDERWRITERS' RIGHT TO REJECT ANY ORDER
IN WHOLE OR IN PART AND TO WITHDRAW, CANCEL OR MODIFY THE OFFER WITHOUT NOTICE.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT DELIVERY OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES WILL BE MADE IN NEW YORK,
NEW YORK ON OR ABOUT , 1997.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
INCORPORATED
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.
------------------------
, 1997
(COVER PAGE CONTINUED)
beneficial interests represented by common securities of the Issuer Trust (the
"Common Securities" and, together with the Capital Securities, the "Trust
Securities"). The Issuer Trust exists for the sole purpose of issuing the Trust
Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in % Junior Subordinated
Debentures (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures," and together with the Trust
Securities, the "Securities") to be issued by the Company. The Junior
Subordinated Debentures will mature on , 2027 (the "Stated
Maturity"). The Capital Securities will have a preference under certain
circumstances over the Common Securities with respect to cash distributions and
amounts payable on liquidation, redemption or otherwise. See "Description of
Capital Securities--Subordination of Common Securities."
The Capital Securities will be represented by one or more global securities
registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, as
depository (the "DTC"). Beneficial interests in the global securities will be
shown on, and transfer thereof will be effected only through, records maintained
by the Depository and its participants. Except as described under "Description
of Capital Securities," Capital Securities in definitive form will not be issued
and owners of beneficial interests in the global securities will not be
considered holders of the Capital Securities.
The Capital Securities offered hereby represent preferred undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of First Empire Capital Trust I, a statutory
business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Issuer
Trust"). First Empire State Corporation (the "Company") initially will be the
holder of all the beneficial interests represented by common securities of the
Issuer Trust (the "Common Securities" and, collectively with the Capital
Securities, the "Trust Securities"). The Issuer Trust exists for the sole
purpose of issuing the Trust Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in
% Junior Subordinated Debentures (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures") to be
issued by the Company. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on
, 2027 (the "Stated Maturity"). The Capital Securities will have a
preference under certain circumstances over the Common Securities with respect
to cash distributions and amounts payable on liquidation, redemption or
otherwise. See "Description of Capital Securities--Subordination of Common
Securities."
Holders of the Capital Securities will be entitled to receive preferential
cumulative cash distributions accumulating from , 1997 and payable
quarterly in arrears on the day of , , and of each
year, commencing , 1997, at the annual rate of % of the
Liquidation Amount of $25.00 per Capital Security ("Distributions"). The Company
has the right to defer payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
at any time or from time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive
quarterly periods with respect to each deferral period (each, an "Extension
Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. No interest shall be due and
payable during any Extension Period, except at the end thereof. Upon the
termination of any such Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then
due, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject to the
requirements set forth herein. If interest payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are so deferred, Distributions on the Capital Securities will also be
deferred and the Company will not be permitted, subject to certain exceptions
described herein, to declare or pay any cash distributions with respect to the
Company's capital stock or with respect to debt securities of the Company that
rank pari passu in all respects with or junior to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. During an Extension Period, interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will continue to accrue (and the amount of Distributions to which
holders of the Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate) at the rate of
% per annum, compounded quarterly, and holders of Capital Securities will be
required to accrue interest income for United States federal income tax
purposes. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures--Option to Extend
Interest Payment Period" and "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Interest
Income and Original Issue Discount."
The Company has, through the Guarantee, the Trust Agreement, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Junior Subordinated Indenture (each as defined
herein), taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all
the Issuer Trust's obligations under the Capital Securities as described below.
See "Relationship Among the Capital Securities, the Junior Subordinated
Debentures and the Guarantee--Full and Unconditional Guarantee." The Guarantee
of the Company guarantees the payment of Distributions and payments on
liquidation or redemption of the Capital Securities, but only in each case to
the extent of funds held by the Issuer Trust, as described herein (the
"Guarantee"). See "Description of Guarantee." If the Company does not make
payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Issuer Trust, the
Issuer Trust may have insufficient funds to pay Distributions on the Capital
Securities. The Guarantee does not cover payment of Distributions when the
Issuer Trust does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In such
event, a holder of Capital Securities
ii
(COVER PAGE CONTINUED)
may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce payment
of such Distributions to such holder. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Capital Securities." The
obligations of the Company under the Guarantee and the Capital Securities are
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as
defined in "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures--Subordination") of
the Company.
The Capital Securities are subject to mandatory redemption (i) in whole, but
not in part, upon repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures at Stated
Maturity or their earlier redemption in whole upon the occurrence of a Tax
Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event (each as defined
herein) and (ii) in whole or in part at any time on or after , 2002
contemporaneously with the optional redemption by the Company of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in whole or in part. The Junior Subordinated Debentures
are redeemable prior to maturity at the option of the Company (i) on or after
, 2002, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii)
in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence
and continuation of a Tax Event, Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment
Event, in each case at a redemption price set forth herein, which includes the
accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures so redeemed to
the date fixed for redemption. The ability of the Company to exercise its rights
to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures or to cause the redemption of the
Capital Securities prior to the Stated Maturity may be subject to prior
regulatory approval by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
"Federal Reserve"), if then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital
guidelines or policies. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Redemption" and "Description of Capital Securities-- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination."
The holders of the outstanding Common Securities have the right at any time
to terminate the Issuer Trust and, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, to cause the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Capital
Securities and Common Securities in liquidation of the Issuer Trust. The ability
of the Company to terminate the Issuer Trust may be subject to prior regulatory
approval of the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable Federal
Reserve capital guidelines or policies. See "Description of Capital
Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."
In the event of the termination of the Issuer Trust, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, the
holders of the Capital Securities will be entitled to receive a Liquidation
Amount of $25.00 per Capital Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions
thereon to the date of payment, subject to certain exceptions, which may be in
the form of a distribution of such amount in Junior Subordinated Debentures. See
"Description of Capital Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and subordinated to all
Senior Indebtedness of the Company. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Subordination."
Prospective purchasers must carefully consider the restrictions on purchase
set forth in "Certain ERISA Considerations."
THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES ARE DIRECT AND UNSECURED OBLIGATIONS OF
THE COMPANY, DO NOT EVIDENCE DEPOSITS AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER INSURER OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
------------------------
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
---------
Available Information............................................................................................. 3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference................................................................... 3
Summary........................................................................................................... 4
Risk Factors...................................................................................................... 7
First Empire State Corporation.................................................................................... 12
Selected Consolidated Financial Data and Other Information........................................................ 14
Recent Financial Results.......................................................................................... 15
First Empire Capital Trust I...................................................................................... 16
Use of Proceeds................................................................................................... 16
Capitalization.................................................................................................... 17
Accounting Treatment.............................................................................................. 18
Description of Capital Securities................................................................................. 18
Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures..................................................................... 31
Description of Guarantee.......................................................................................... 40
Relationship Among the Capital Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee................... 43
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences........................................................................... 44
Certain ERISA Considerations...................................................................................... 48
Supervision, Regulation and Other Matters......................................................................... 50
Underwriting...................................................................................................... 52
Validity of Securities............................................................................................ 53
Experts........................................................................................................... 53
iv
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional offices of the Commission located at
7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and Suite
1400, Citicorp Center, 14th Floor, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
60661. Copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates by
writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Such material also may be accessed electronically
by means of the Commission's home page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. In
addition, such reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the
Company can be inspected at the offices of the American Stock Exchange, 86
Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006. This Prospectus does not contain all
the information set forth in the Registration Statement and exhibits thereto,
which the Company has filed with the Commission under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and to which reference is hereby made.
No separate financial statements of the Issuer Trust have been included or
incorporated by reference herein. The Company and the Issuer Trust do not
consider that such financial statements would be material to holders of the
Capital Securities because the Issuer Trust is a newly formed special purpose
entity, has no operating history or independent operations and is not engaged in
and does not propose to engage in any activity other than holding as trust
assets the Junior Subordinated Debentures and issuing the Trust Securities. See
"First Empire Capital Trust I," "Description of Capital Securities,"
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures" and "Description of Guarantee."
In addition, the Company does not expect that the Issuer Trust will be filing
reports under the Exchange Act with the Commission.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Company hereby incorporates by reference in this Prospectus the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1995, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March
31, June 30 and September 30, 1996, and the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated as of December 27, 1996, previously filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act.
In addition, all reports and definitive proxy or information statements
filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of any
offering of securities made by this Prospectus shall be deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents. Any statement contained herein, or in any document all or a
portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the
Registration Statement and this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration
Statement or this Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral
request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents
incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents).
Written requests should be directed to the Office of the Secretary, First Empire
State Corporation, One M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York 14240. Telephone requests
may be directed to (716) 842-5445.
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE CAPITAL
SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN
THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY
TIME.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
misrepresentations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection
with the offer made by this Prospectus and, if given or made, such information
or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized. Neither
the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder and thereunder shall
under any circumstances create an implication that there has been no change in
the affairs of the Company or the Issuer Trust since the date hereof. This
Prospectus does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in any
jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which
the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to
anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
3
SUMMARY
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
AS USED HEREIN, (I) THE "JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE" MEANS THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, BETWEEN
THE COMPANY AND BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE (THE "DEBENTURE TRUSTEE"),
PURSUANT TO WHICH THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES ARE ISSUED, (II) THE "TRUST
AGREEMENT" MEANS THE AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE ISSUER
TRUST, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AMONG THE COMPANY, AS
DEPOSITOR, BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS PROPERTY TRUSTEE (THE "PROPERTY TRUSTEE")
AND BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE), AS DELAWARE TRUSTEE (THE "DELAWARE TRUSTEE")
(COLLECTIVELY, THE "ISSUER TRUSTEES") AND (III) THE "GUARANTEE" MEANS THE
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE CAPITAL SECURITIES, AS AMENDED AND
SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
AS GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
The Company is a New York corporation with its principal office in Buffalo,
New York. The Company is registered as a bank holding company under the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "Bank Holding Company Act"), and
engages directly and through its banking and nonbanking subsidiaries in
providing a wide range of commercial banking, retail banking, trust and
investment services to customers. As of September 30, 1996, the Company had
consolidated total assets of $12.8 billion, total deposits of $10.6 billion and
total stockholders' equity of $878 million. The Company's banking subsidiaries
are Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company ("M&T Bank"), The East New York
Savings Bank ("East New York") and M&T Bank, National Association ("M&T Bank,
N.A.," and, together with M&T Bank and East New York, the "Banks"). The Company
currently is in the process of merging M&T Bank and East New York, and it is
anticipated that the merger will be completed during the first half of 1997. At
September 30, 1996, M&T Bank represented 85% of the consolidated total assets of
the Company and, after giving effect to the merger of M&T Bank and East New
York, would represent 97% of the consolidated total assets of the Company. See
"First Empire State Corporation--General."
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
The Issuer Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law
pursuant to the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of
State on January , 1997. The Issuer Trust will be governed by an Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement among the Company, as Depositor, Bankers Trust
(Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and Bankers Trust Company, as Property Trustee.
The Issuer Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling
the Trust Securities, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of the Trust
Securities to acquire the Junior Subordinated Debentures and (iii) engaging in
only those other activities necessary, convenient or incidental thereto (such as
registering the transfer of the Trust Securities). Accordingly, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of the Issuer Trust, and
payments under the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole source of
revenue of the Issuer Trust.
4
THE OFFERING
Securities Offered................ $5,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount of % Capital
Securities (Liquidation Amount $25.00 per Capital
Security).
Offering Price.................... $ per Capital Security (Liquidation Amount $25.00),
plus accumulated Distributions, if any, from
, 1997.
Distribution Dates................ , , , and of each year,
commencing , 1997.
Extension Periods................. Distributions on Capital Securities may be deferred for
the duration of any Extension Period selected by the
Company with respect to the payment of interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures. No Extension Period will
exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods or extend beyond
the Stated Maturity. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures--Option to Extend Interest
Payment Period" and "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences--Interest Income and Original Issue
Discount."
Ranking........................... The Capital Securities will rank pari passu, and
payments thereon will be made pro rata, with the Common
Securities except as described under "Description of
Capital Securities-- Subordination of Common
Securities." The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
unsecured and subordinate and junior in right of payment
to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Junior
Subordinated Indenture to all Senior Indebtedness (as
defined herein). See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures." The Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Company and will rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to the extent and in the
manner set forth in the Guarantee to all Senior
Indebtedness. As of December 31, 1996, there was no
Senior Indebtedness of the Company outstanding. See
"Description of Guarantee."
Redemption........................ The Trust Securities are subject to mandatory redemption
(i) in whole, but not in part, at the Stated Maturity
upon repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
(ii) in whole, but not in part, contemporaneously with
the optional redemption at any time by the Company of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon the occurrence
and continuation of a Tax Event, Investment Company
Event or Capital Treatment Event and (iii) in whole or
in part, at any time on or after , 2002,
contemporaneously with the optional redemption by the
Company of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in whole
or in part, in each case at the applicable Redemption
Price. See "Description of Capital
Securities--Redemption."
Ratings........................... The Capital Securities are expected to be rated " "
by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. and " " by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. A security rating is
not a
5
recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may
be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the
assigning rating organization.
ERISA Considerations.............. Prospective purchasers must carefully consider the
restrictions on purchase set forth under "Certain ERISA
Considerations."
Absence of Market for the
Capital Securities............ The Capital Securities will be a new issue of securities
for which there currently is no market. Although the
Underwriters have informed the Issuer Trust and the
Company that they each currently intend to make a market
in the Capital Securities, the Underwriters are not
obligated to do so, and any such market making may be
discontinued at any time without notice. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance as to the development or
liquidity of any market for the Capital Securities. See
"Plan of Distribution."
Use of Proceeds................... All the proceeds to the Issuer Trust from the sale of
the Capital Securities will be invested by the Issuer
Trust in the Junior Subordinated Debentures. All the net
proceeds to be received by the Company from the sale of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be used for
general corporate purposes. See "Use of Proceeds." The
Trust Securities will qualify as Tier 1 or core capital
of the Company under the risk-based capital guidelines
of the Federal Reserve.
For additional information regarding the Capital Securities, see
"Description of Capital Securities," "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures," "Description of Guarantee," "Relationship Among the Capital
Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee" and "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences."
RISK FACTORS
Prospective investors should carefully consider the matters set forth under
"Risk Factors," beginning on page 7.
6
RISK FACTORS
PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND SHOULD PARTICULARLY
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING MATTERS. CERTAIN STATEMENTS IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE ARE FORWARD-LOOKING AND ARE
IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF FORWARD-LOOKING WORDS OR PHRASES SUCH AS "INTENDED,"
"WILL BE POSITIONED," "EXPECTS," IS OR ARE "EXPECTED," "ANTICIPATES," AND
"ANTICIPATED." THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON THE COMPANY'S
CURRENT EXPECTATIONS. TO THE EXTENT ANY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS CONSTITUTES A "FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENT" AS DEFINED IN SECTION 27A(I)(1) OF THE SECURITIES ACT, THE RISK
FACTORS SET FORTH BELOW ARE CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS IDENTIFYING IMPORTANT FACTORS
THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN THE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT.
RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GUARANTEE AND THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee issued by the Company for
the benefit of the holders of Capital Securities and under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
Senior Indebtedness. At September 30, 1996, the Company had no Senior
Indebtedness. None of the Junior Subordinated Indenture, the Guarantee or the
Trust Agreement places any limitation on the amount of secured or unsecured
debt, including Senior Indebtedness, that may be incurred by the Company. See
"Description of Guarantee--Status of the Guarantee" and "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures--Subordination."
The ability of the Issuer Trust to pay amounts due on the Capital Securities
is solely dependent upon the Company's making payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures as and when required.
STATUS OF THE COMPANY AS A BANK HOLDING COMPANY
The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Banks and its
other subsidiaries, although the principal source of the Company's cash revenues
is dividends from the Banks. The right of the Company to participate in the
assets of any subsidiary upon the latter's liquidation, reorganization or
otherwise (and thus the ability of the holders of Capital Securities to benefit
indirectly from any such distribution) will be subject to the claims of the
subsidiaries' creditors, which will take priority except to the extent that the
Company may itself be a creditor with a recognized claim. As of September 30,
1996, the Company's subsidiaries had indebtedness and other liabilities of
approximately $11.9 billion.
Payment of dividends by the Company's banking subsidiaries is restricted by
various legal and regulatory limitations. At December 31, 1996, approximately
$136,810,000 was available for payment of dividends to the Company from banking
subsidiaries without prior regulatory approval.
The Banks are also subject to restrictions under federal law which limit the
transfer of funds by any of the Banks to the Company and its nonbanking
subsidiaries, whether in the form of loans, extensions of credit, investments,
asset purchases or otherwise. Such transfers by any Bank to the Company or any
of the Company's nonbanking subsidiaries are limited in amount to 10% of such
Bank's capital and surplus and, with respect to the Company and all such
nonbanking subsidiaries, to an aggregate of 20% of such Bank's capital and
surplus. Furthermore, such loans and extensions of credit are required to be
secured in specified amounts.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD; TAX CONSEQUENCES
So long as no Event of Default (as defined in the Junior Subordinated
Indenture) has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (a "Debenture Event of Default"), the Company has the
right under the Junior Subordinated Indenture to defer the payment of interest
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to time for a
period not exceeding 20
7
consecutive quarterly periods with respect to each Extension Period, provided
that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Debenture Events of Default." As a consequence of any such deferral,
quarterly Distributions on the Capital Securities by the Issuer Trust will be
deferred during any such Extension Period. Distributions to which holders of the
Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate additional Distributions thereon
during any Extension Period at the rate of % per annum, compounded quarterly
from the relevant payment date for such Distributions, computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual days elapsed in a partial
month in such period. Additional Distributions payable for each full
Distribution period will be computed by dividing the rate per annum by two. The
term "Distribution" as used herein shall include any such additional
Distributions. During any such Extension Period, the Company may not (i) declare
or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (ii)
make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in
all respects with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
(other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of
capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit
plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more
employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend
reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the
issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's
capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any
class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the
Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock,
(c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or
the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks PARI PASSU with or junior to
such stock). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company
may further defer the payment of interest, provided that no Extension Period may
exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension Period
and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest
thereon at the annual rate of %, compounded quarterly, to the extent
permitted by applicable law), the Company may elect to begin a new Extension
Period subject to the above conditions. No interest shall be due and payable
during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof. The Company must give the
Issuer Trustees notice of its election of such Extension Period at least one
Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on the
Capital Securities would have been payable but for the election to begin such
Extension Period and (ii) the date the Property Trustee is required to give
notice to holders of the Capital Securities of the record date or the date such
Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior
to such record date. The Property Trustee will give notice of the Company's
election to begin a new Extension Period to the holders of the Capital
Securities. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on the number of
times that the Company may elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Description
of Capital Securities--Distributions" and "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period."
Should an Extension Period occur, a holder of Capital Securities will
continue to accrue income (in the form of original issue discount) in respect of
its PRO RATA share of the Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Issuer
Trust for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, a holder of
Capital Securities will include such income in gross income for United States
federal income tax purposes in
8
advance of the receipt of cash, and will not receive the cash related to such
income from the Issuer Trust if the holder disposes of the Capital Securities
prior to the record date for the payment of Distributions. See "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences--Interest Income and Original Issue Discount" and
"--Sales of Capital Securities."
The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. However, should the Company elect to exercise such
right in the future, the market price of the Capital Securities is likely to be
affected. A holder that disposes of its Capital Securities during an Extension
Period, therefore, might not receive the same return on its investment as a
holder that continues to hold its Capital Securities. In addition, as a result
of the existence of the Company's right to defer interest payments, the market
price of the Capital Securities (which represent preferred undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust) may be more volatile than the
market prices of other securities on which original issue discount accrues that
are not subject to such deferrals.
TAX EVENT, INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT OR CAPITAL TREATMENT EVENT REDEMPTION
Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event, Investment
Company Event or Capital Treatment Event, the Company has the right to redeem
the Junior Subordinated Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any time within
90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Investment Company Event or
Capital Treatment Event and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of the Capital
Securities. Any such redemption shall be at a price equal to liquidation amount
of the Capital Securities, together with accumulated Distributions to but
excluding the date fixed for redemption. The ability of the Company to exercise
its rights to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to the stated
maturity may be subject to prior regulatory approval by the Federal Reserve, if
then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures-- Redemption" and
"Description of Capital Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."
A "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Issuer Trust of an opinion of counsel
to the Company experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of
any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date
of issuance of the Capital Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that (i) the Issuer Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of such
opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable
by the Company on the Junior Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days
of the delivery of such opinion will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole
or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes or (iii) the Issuer
Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of the opinion, subject to
more than a DE MINIMIS amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental
charges.
See "--Possible Tax Law Changes Affecting the Capital Securities" for a
discussion of certain legislative proposals that, if adopted, could give rise to
a Tax Event, which may permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Capital
Securities prior to , 2002.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Issuer Trust of an
opinion of counsel to the Company experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a
written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental
agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
the Issuer Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Investment
9
Company Act"), which change or prospective change becomes effective or would
become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of
the Capital Securities.
A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Company that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any rules or
regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision
thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or administrative
pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws
or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or such pronouncement,
action or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of the Capital
Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Company will not
be entitled to treat an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of
the risk-based capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in
effect and applicable to the Company.
EXCHANGE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES FOR JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The holders of all the outstanding Common Securities have the right at any
time to terminate the Issuer Trust and, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, cause the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Capital
Securities and Common Securities in liquidation of the Issuer Trust. The ability
of the Company to terminate the Issuer Trust may be subject to prior regulatory
approval of the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable Federal
Reserve capital guidelines or policies. See "Description of Capital
Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."
Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations and
assuming, as expected, that the Issuer Trust will not be taxable as a
corporation, a distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon a
liquidation of the Issuer Trust will not be a taxable event to holders of the
Capital Securities. However, if a Tax Event were to occur that would cause the
Issuer Trust to be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to
income received or accrued on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, a distribution
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures by the Issuer Trust would be a taxable
event to the Issuer Trust and the holders of the Capital Securities. See
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Distribution of Junior Subordinated
Debentures to Securityholders."
RIGHTS UNDER THE GUARANTEE
Bankers Trust Company will act as the trustee under the Guarantee (the
"Guarantee Trustee") and will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders
of the Capital Securities. Bankers Trust Company will also act as Debenture
Trustee for the Junior Subordinated Debentures and as Property Trustee under the
Trust Agreement. Bankers Trust (Delaware) will act as Delaware Trustee under the
Trust Agreement. The Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Capital
Securities the following payments, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the
Issuer Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid
on the Capital Securities, to the extent that the Issuer Trust has funds on hand
available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any
Capital Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the Issuer Trust
has funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary termination, winding up or liquidation of the Issuer Trust (unless
the Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the Capital
Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment, to the extent that
the Issuer Trust has funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (b) the
amount of assets of the Issuer Trust remaining available for distribution to
holders of the Capital Securities on liquidation of the Issuer Trust. The
Guarantee is subordinated as described under "--Ranking of Subordinated
Obligations Under the Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Debentures" and
"Description of Guarantee--Status of the Guarantee." The holders of not less
than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
10
proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of the
Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee. Any holder of the Capital Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce its rights
under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Issuer Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity.
If the Company were to default on its obligation to pay amounts payable
under the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Issuer Trust may lack funds for
the payment of Distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Capital
Securities or otherwise, and, in such event, holders of the Capital Securities
would not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for payment of such amounts.
Instead, if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such
event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay any amounts payable
in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures on the payment date on which
such payment is due and payable, then a holder of Capital Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company for enforcement of
payment to such holder of any amounts payable in respect of such Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder (a "Direct Action").
In connection with such Direct Action, the Company will have a right of set-off
under the Junior Subordinated Indenture to the extent of any payment made by the
Company to such holder of Capital Securities in the Direct Action. Except as
described herein, holders of Capital Securities will not be able to exercise
directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or assert directly any other rights in respect of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures--
Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Capital Securities," "--Debenture
Events of Default" and "Description of Guarantee." The Trust Agreement provides
that each holder of Capital Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the
provisions of the Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Indenture.
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
Holders of Capital Securities will have limited voting rights relating
generally to the modification of the Capital Securities and the Guarantee and
the exercise of the Issuer Trust's rights as holder of Junior Subordinated
Debentures. Holders of Capital Securities will not be entitled to appoint,
remove or replace the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee except upon the
occurrence of certain events specified in the Trust Agreement and described
herein. The Property Trustee and the holders of all the Common Securities may,
subject to certain conditions, amend the Trust Agreement without the consent of
holders of Capital Securities to cure any ambiguity or make other provisions not
inconsistent with the Trust Agreement or to ensure that the Issuer Trust (i)
will not be taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes, or (ii) will not be required to register as an "investment company"
under the Investment Company Act. See "Description of Capital Securities--Voting
Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement" and "--Removal of Issuer Trustees;
Appointment of Successors."
MARKET PRICES
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for Capital Securities, or
the market prices for Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in
exchange for Capital Securities if a liquidation of the Issuer Trust occurs.
Accordingly, the Capital Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures that a
holder of Capital Securities may receive on liquidation of the Issuer Trust may
trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Capital
Securities offered hereby. Because holders of Capital Securities may receive
Junior Subordinated Debentures on termination of the Issuer Trust, prospective
purchasers of Capital Securities are also making an investment decision with
regard to the Junior Subordinated Debentures and should carefully review all the
information regarding the Junior Subordinated Debentures contained herein. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures."
11
ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET
There is no existing market for the Capital Securities and there can be no
assurance as to the liquidity of any markets that may develop for the Capital
Securities, the ability of the holders to sell their Capital Securities or at
what price holders of the Capital Securities will be able to sell their Capital
Securities. Future trading prices of the Capital Securities will depend on many
factors including, among other things, prevailing interest rates, the Company's
operating results, and the market for similar securities. The Underwriters have
informed the Issuer Trust and the Company that the Underwriters intend to make a
market in the Capital Securities offered hereby; however, the Underwriters are
not obligated to do so and any such market making activity will be subject to
the limits imposed by applicable law and may be discontinued at any time without
notice. Therefore, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for
the Capital Securities will develop. If a trading market for the Capital
Securities does develop, the Capital Securities may trade at a discount from
their initial offering price depending upon prevailing interest rates, the
market for similar securities, the performance of the Company and other factors.
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES AFFECTING THE CAPITAL SECURITIES
On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Revenue
Reconciliation Bill"), the revenue portion of President Clinton's budget
proposal, was released. If enacted, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill would have
generally denied interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a
corporation that has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown
as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the
instrument is issued to a related party (other than a corporation), where the
holder or some other related party issues a related instrument that is not shown
as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. If the provision
were to apply to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Company would be unable
to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. On March 29, 1996, the
Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a
joint statement to the effect that it was their intention that the effective
date of the President's legislative proposals, if adopted, would be no earlier
than the date of appropriate Congressional action. It is possible that similar
legislative proposals may be offered by the Clinton Administration and
considered by Congress beginning in 1997. Under current law, the Company will be
able to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. There can be no
assurance, however, that future legislative proposals or final legislation will
not affect the ability of the Company to deduct interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which may
permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Capital Securities before
, 2002. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures--Redemption"
and "Description of Capital Securities--Redemption." See also "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences--Possible Tax Law Changes."
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
GENERAL
The Company is a New York corporation incorporated in 1969 and is registered
as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act. As of September
30, 1996, the Company had consolidated total assets of $12.8 billion, total
deposits of $10.6 billion and total stockholders' equity of $878 million. The
Company's banking subsidiaries are M&T Bank, East New York and M&T Bank, N.A.
The Company currently is in the process of merging M&T Bank and East New York,
and it is anticipated that the merger will be completed during the first half of
1997. Based upon September 30, 1996 data, M&T Bank currently represents 85% of
the consolidated total assets of the Company and, after giving effect to the
merger of M&T Bank and East New York, would represent 97% of the consolidated
total assets of the Company.
As of September 30, 1996, M&T Bank had 156 banking offices throughout the
State of New York, including 127 offices throughout Western New York State and
New York's Southern Tier, 26 offices in the
12
Hudson Valley region of New York State, plus offices in New York City, Albany,
Syracuse and Nassau, The Bahamas. As of June 30, 1995, the most recent date for
which comparative deposit data has been published by the FDIC, M&T Bank held
approximately 30% of total deposits of commercial banks and thrift institutions
in the Buffalo Banking Market. As of September 30, 1996, East New York had 14
banking offices in the New York metropolitan area. M&T Bank, N.A. conducts its
operations out of a single office in Oakfield, New York.
The Banks offer a wide range of commercial banking, retail banking, trust
and investment services to their customers. M&T Mortgage Corporation, a
subsidiary of M&T Bank, conducts residential mortgage origination operations in
New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.
Another subsidiary of M&T Bank, M&T Securities, Inc., is a registered broker
dealer and provides general securities brokerage services, including mutual fund
and annuity sales. M&T Bank, N.A. currently offers consumer banking products,
primarily credit cards, home equity loans and lines of credit, and markets
certificates of deposits nationwide.
The Company maintains its principal executive offices at One M&T Plaza,
Buffalo, New York 14240, telephone (716) 842-5445.
NEITHER THE CAPITAL SECURITIES NOR THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES ARE
OBLIGATIONS OF OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK.
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following unaudited table presents the consolidated ratio of earnings to
fixed charges of the Company. The consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
charges has been computed by dividing income before income taxes by fixed
charges. Fixed charges represent all interest expense (ratios are presented both
excluding and including interest on deposits), amortization of notes and
debentures expense and the portion of net rental expense which is deemed to be
equivalent to interest on debt. Interest expense (other than on deposits)
includes interest on notes and debentures, federal funds purchased and
securities sold under agreements to repurchase, mortgages, and other funds
borrowed.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings to Fixed Charges:
Excluding Interest on Deposits.......................... 4.19x 3.22x 3.30x 3.53x 4.80x
Including Interest on Deposits.......................... 1.53 1.50 1.69 1.63 1.50
Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and
Preferred Stock Dividends:
Excluding Interest on Deposits.......................... 4.15 3.14 3.21 3.40 4.50
Including Interest on Deposits.......................... 1.53 1.49 1.68 1.63 1.49
13
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA AND OTHER INFORMATION
Presented below is selected unaudited consolidated financial information for
the Company for the periods specified. The consolidated financial information is
not necessarily indicative of the results for any future period and is qualified
in its entirety by the detailed information available in the Company's reports
as described under "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference."
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1995 1994 1993 1992
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT:
Interest income............................ $ 741,465 $ 686,473 $ 928,154 $ 747,346 $ 740,629 $ 756,477
Interest expense........................... 347,065 325,004 441,730 279,206 269,873 323,598
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net interest income........................ 394,400 361,469 486,424 468,140 470,756 432,879
Provision possible for credit losses....... 31,850 28,325 40,350 60,536 79,958 84,989
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net interest income after provision........ 362,550 333,144 446,074 407,604 390,798 347,890
Noninterest income......................... 122,607 104,688 149,538 123,739 110,544 126,226
Noninterest expense........................ 301,896 277,395 374,439 336,862 327,819 311,338
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Income before income taxes................. 183,261 160,437 221,173 194,481 173,523 162,778
Applicable income taxes.................... 72,578 66,188 90,137 77,186 71,531 64,841
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net income................................. $ 110,683 $ 94,249 $ 131,036 $ 117,295 $ 101,992 $ 97,937
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Dividends declared on preferred stock........ $ 900 $ 2,700 $ 3,600 $ 3,600 $ 3,600 $ 3,600
CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCES:
Total assets............................... $ 12,394,931 $ 11,345,436 $ 11,484,754 $ 10,025,421 $ 10,390,030 $ 9,553,875
Loans, net of unearned discount............ 9,975,271 8,679,731 8,857,222 7,427,021 6,982,289 6,571,259
Deposits................................... 10,009,534 8,885,383 9,020,992 7,365,879 7,591,473 7,695,328
Long-term debt............................. 190,397 129,191 146,019 77,297 75,639 7,086
Common stockholder's equity................ 840,974 728,263 742,520 683,202 630,449 542,569
Stockholders' equity....................... 853,821 768,263 782,520 723,202 670,449 582,569
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS:
Return on average assets(1)................ 1.19% 1.11% 1.14% 1.17% 0.98% 1.03%
Return on average common stockholders'
equity(1)................................ 17.44 16.81 17.16 16.64 15.61 17.39
Return on average total stockholders'
equity(1)................................ 17.32 16.40 16.75 16.22 15.21 16.81
Average total stockholders' equity to
average total assets..................... 6.89 6.77 6.81 7.21 6.45 6.10
Period end capital to risk adjusted assets:
Tier 1................................. 8.36 8.49 8.53 8.91 9.33 8.58
Total.................................. 11.32 11.64 11.62 11.07 11.58 10.87
Period end leverage ratio.................. 6.88 6.68 6.91 7.31 6.63 6.06
Net interest margin (taxable equivalent
basis)(1)................................ 4.44 4.46 4.43 4.89 4.76 4.79
Net charge-offs to average loans and leases
net of unearned discount(1).............. 0.39 0.27 0.24 0.22 0.51 0.70
Period end nonperforming assets to period
end loans, net of unearned discount and
other real estate(2)..................... 1.00 0.92 1.05 1.06 1.30 1.86
Period end allowance to period end loans,
net of unearned discount................. 2.59 2.81 2.75 2.96 2.70 2.17
Period end allowance to period end
nonperforming loans(2)................... 280.35 339.88 281.89 313.84 238.14 133.54
1991
-----------
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT:
Interest income............................ $ 769,397
Interest expense........................... 440,215
-----------
Net interest income........................ 329,182
Provision possible for credit losses....... 63,412
-----------
Net interest income after provision........ 265,770
Noninterest income......................... 77,686
Noninterest expense........................ 228,661
-----------
Income before income taxes................. 114,795
Applicable income taxes.................... 47,601
-----------
Net income................................. $ 67,194
-----------
-----------
Dividends declared on preferred stock........ $ 2,860
CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCES:
Total assets............................... $ 8,345,323
Loans, net of unearned discount............ 5,874,983
Deposits................................... 7,047,292
Long-term debt............................. 7,052
Common stockholder's equity................ 465,668
Stockholders' equity....................... 497,668
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS:
Return on average assets(1)................ 0.81%
Return on average common stockholders'
equity(1)................................ 13.82
Return on average total stockholders'
equity(1)................................ 13.50
Average total stockholders' equity to
average total assets..................... 5.96
Period end capital to risk adjusted assets:
Tier 1................................. 8.44
Total.................................. 9.69
Period end leverage ratio.................. 6.04
Net interest margin (taxable equivalent
basis)(1)................................ 4.22
Net charge-offs to average loans and leases
net of unearned discount(1).............. 0.75
Period end nonperforming assets to period
end loans, net of unearned discount and
other real estate(2)..................... 1.65
Period end allowance to period end loans,
net of unearned discount................. 1.66
Period end allowance to period end
nonperforming loans(2)................... 111.79
- ------------------------
(1) Ratios for the nine-month periods are annualized.
(2) Nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets include loans past due 90 days
or more but still accruing.
14
RECENT FINANCIAL RESULTS
Net income for 1996 totaled $151.1 million, up 15% from $131.0 million in
1995.
Taxable-equivalent net interest income rose to $535.5 million in 1996 from
$491.1 million in 1995. Average loans outstanding totaled $10.1 billion in 1996,
a 14% increase from $8.9 billion in 1995. The Company's net interest margin, or
taxable-equivalent net interest income expressed as a percentage of average
earning assets, was 4.45% in 1996, compared with 4.43% in 1995.
The provision for possible credit losses was $43.3 million in 1996, compared
with $40.4 million in 1995. Net charge-offs for the year were $35.2 million or
.35% of average loans compared with $21.3 million or .24% in 1995. As a result,
the allowance for possible credit losses was $270.5 million or 2.52% of loans
outstanding at December 31, 1996 compared with $262.3 million or 2.75% at the
prior year-end. Nonaccrual loans totaled $58.2 million or .54% of loans
outstanding at the recent year-end, compared with $75.2 million or .79% a year
earlier. Loans past due ninety days or more and accruing interest totaled $39.7
million at December 31, 1996, up from $17.8 million a year earlier. The increase
in such past due loans resulted mainly from the inclusion at December 31, 1996
of $16.3 million of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans serviced by
the Company and repurchased during 1996 from the Government National Mortgage
Association. These loans are covered by guarantees of government agencies. As a
result, total nonperforming loans were $97.9 million at December 31, 1996,
compared with $93.1 million at December 31, 1995. The ratio of the allowance to
nonperforming loans was 276% and 282% at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. Assets taken in foreclosure of defaulted loans were $8.5 million
and $7.3 million at the end of 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Exclusive of the effects of securities transactions, other income rose 17%
to $170.3 million in 1996 from $145.1 million in 1995. Higher revenues
associated with mortgage banking and credit card activities contributed to this
increase. Other expense was $409.0 million in 1996, up 9% from $374.4 million in
1995. Expenses associated with expansion of businesses providing mortgage
banking services, indirect automobile loans, credit cards and the sale of mutual
funds and annuities contributed to this increase. Included in other expense for
1996 is a $7.0 million charge for a special assessment by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation to recapitalize the Savings Association Insurance Fund.
The rates of return on average total assets and average common stockholders'
equity in 1996 were 1.21% and 17.60%, respectively, compared with 1.14% and
17.16% in 1995. Excluding securities transactions, the rates of return on assets
and common stockholders' equity in 1995 were 1.12% and 16.81%, respectively.
At December 31, 1996, the Company had total assets of $12.9 billion,
compared with $12.0 billion a year earlier. Loans and leases, net of unearned
discount, were $10.7 billion at the end of 1996, up from $9.6 billion at
December 31, 1995. Deposits were $10.5 billion and $9.5 billion at December 31,
1996 and 1995, respectively. Total stockholders' equity was $905.7 million or
7.00% of total assets at year-end 1996, compared with $846.3 million or 7.08% a
year earlier.
15
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
The Issuer Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law
pursuant to the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of
State on January , 1997. The Issuer Trust will be governed by an Amended
and Restated Trust Agreement among the Company, as Depositor, Bankers Trust
(Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and Bankers Trust Company, as Property Trustee.
Two individuals will be selected by the holders of the Common Securities to act
as administrators with respect to the Issuer Trust (the "Administrators"). The
Company, while holder of the Common Securities, intends to select two
individuals who are employees or officers of or affiliated with the Company to
serve as the Administrators. See "Description of Capital
Securities--Miscellaneous." The Issuer Trust exists for the exclusive purposes
of (i) issuing and selling the Trust Securities, (ii) using the proceeds from
the sale of the Trust Securities to acquire the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, convenient or
incidental thereto (such as registering the transfer of the Trust Securities).
Accordingly, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of the
Issuer Trust, and payments under the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the
sole source of revenue of the Issuer Trust.
All the Common Securities will initially be owned by the Company. The Common
Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata,
with the Capital Securities, except that upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of a Debenture Event of Default arising as a result of any failure
by the Company to pay any amounts in respect of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures when due, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to
payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption or
otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Capital
Securities. See "Description of Capital Securities--Subordination of Common
Securities." The Company will acquire Common Securities in an aggregate
liquidation amount equal to 3% of the total capital of the Issuer Trust. The
Issuer Trust has a term of 31 years, but may terminate earlier as provided in
the Trust Agreement. The address of the Delaware Trustee is Bankers Trust
(Delaware), 1001 Jefferson Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, telephone number
(302) 576-3301. The address of the Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee and
the Debenture Trustee is Bankers Trust Company, Four Albany Street, 4th Floor,
New York, New York 10006, telephone number (212) 250-2500.
USE OF PROCEEDS
All the proceeds to the Issuer Trust from the sale of the Capital Securities
will be invested by the Issuer Trust in the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The
Junior Subordinated Debentures will qualify as Tier 1 or core capital with
respect to the Company under the risk-based capital guidelines established by
the Federal Reserve. All the net proceeds to be received by the Company from the
sale of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be used for general corporate
purposes, which may include the repayment of indebtedness, repurchase of
outstanding common stock of the Company, investments in or extensions of credit
to its subsidiaries and the financing of possible acquisitions. Pending such
use, the net proceeds may be temporarily invested. The precise amounts and
timing of the application of proceeds will depend upon the funding requirements
of the Company and its subsidiaries and the availability of other funds. In view
of anticipated funding requirements, the Company may from time to time engage in
additional financings of a character and in amounts to be determined.
16
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the unaudited consolidated capitalization of
the Company as of September 30, 1996 and as adjusted to give effect to the
consummation of the offering of the Capital Securities. The following data
should be read in conjunction with the Company's reports filed with the
Commission under the Exchange Act. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference."
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
--------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Long-term debt........................................................................
Subordinated notes of M&T Bank
8 1/8% due 2002................................................................... $ 75,000 $ 75,000
7% due 2005....................................................................... 100,000 100,000
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.................................... 12,530 12,530
Other............................................................................... 675 675
------------ ------------
188,205 188,205
------------ ------------
Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company's Junior Subordinated
Debentures(1)....................................................................... 5,000
Stockholders Equity
Common stock, $5 par; 15,000,000 shares authorized,
8,097,472 shares issued........................................................... 40,487 40,487
Surplus............................................................................. 95,110 95,110
Undivided profits................................................................... 901,337 901,337
Net unrealized losses on investment securities available-for-sale................... (8,099) (8,099)
Treasury stock, at cost--1,376,289 shares........................................... (151,178) (151,178)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity...................................................... 877,657 877,657
------------ ------------
Total capitalization.......................................................... $ 1,065,862 $ 1,070,862
------------ ------------
Risk-based capital ratios:
Tier 1 capital to risk-adjusted assets(2)........................................... 8.36%%
Regulatory minimum.................................................................. 4.00 4.00
Total capital to risk-adjusted assets(2)............................................ 11.32
Regulatory minimum.................................................................. 8.00 8.00
Leverage ratio...................................................................... 6.88
Regulatory minimum.................................................................. 3.00 3.00
- ------------------------
(1) As described herein, the sole assets of the Trust will be $
principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company to
the Trust. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will bear interest at a fixed
rate of % and will mature on , 2027. The Company will own all
of the Common Securities of the Trust.
(2) Assumes net proceeds of the offering of the Capital Securities are invested
in assets with a 100% risk weighting under the risk-based capital rules of
the Federal Reserve.
17
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
For financial reporting purposes, the Issuer Trust will be treated as a
subsidiary of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of the Issuer Trust
will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The
Capital Securities will be included in the consolidated balance sheets of the
Company. For financial reporting purposes, Distributions on the Capital
Securities will be recorded in the consolidated statements of income of the
Company.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement for the Issuer Trust, the
Issuer Trustees on behalf of the Issuer Trust will issue the Capital Securities
and the Common Securities. The Capital Securities will represent preferred
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust and the holders
thereof will be entitled to a preference in certain circumstances with respect
to Distributions and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation over the
Common Securities, as well as other benefits as described in the Trust
Agreement. This summary of certain provisions of the Capital Securities and the
Trust Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified
in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Trust Agreement,
including the definitions therein of certain terms. Wherever particular defined
terms of the Trust Agreement are referred to herein, such defined terms are
incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the form of the Trust Agreement is
available upon request from the Issuer Trustees.
GENERAL
The Capital Securities will be limited to $5,000,000 aggregate Liquidation
Amount outstanding. The Capital Securities will rank PARI PASSU, and payments
will be made thereon pro rata, with the Common Securities except as described
under "--Subordination of Common Securities." The Junior Subordinated Debentures
will be registered in the name of the Issuer Trust and held by the Property
Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities and
Common Securities. The Guarantee will be a guarantee on a subordinated basis
with respect to the Capital Securities but will not guarantee payment of
Distributions or amounts payable on redemption or liquidation of such Capital
Securities when the Issuer Trust does not have funds on hand available to make
such payments. See "Description of Guarantee."
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Capital Securities represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Issuer Trust, and Distributions on each Capital Security will
be payable at the annual rate of % of the stated Liquidation Amount of
$25.00, payable quarterly in arrears on the day of , , ,
and of each year (each a "Distribution Date"), to the holders of the
Capital Securities at the close of business on the day of , ,
and (whether or not a Business Day (as defined below)) next
preceding the relevant Distribution Date. Distributions on the Capital
Securities will be cumulative. Distributions will accumulate from ,
1997. The first Distribution Date for the Capital Securities will be August 1,
1997. The amount of Distributions payable for any period less than a full
Distribution period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months and the actual days elapsed in a partial month in such period.
Distributions payable for each full Distribution period will be computed by
dividing the rate per annum by four. If any date on which Distributions are
payable on the Capital Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
Distributions payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that
is a Business Day (without any additional Distributions or other payment in
respect of any such delay), with the same force and effect as if made on the
date such payment was originally payable.
So long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company has the right under the Junior Subordinated Indenture to defer the
payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated
18
Debentures at any time or from time to time for a period not exceeding 20
consecutive quarterly periods with respect to each Extension Period, provided
that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any such deferral, quarterly
Distributions on the Capital Securities by the Issuer Trust will be deferred
during any such Extension Period. Distributions to which holders of the Capital
Securities are entitled will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at the
rate of % per annum, compounded quarterly from the relevant payment date for
such Distributions, computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months and the actual days elapsed in a partial month in such period. Additional
Distributions payable for each full Distribution period will be computed by
dividing the rate per annum by four. The term "Distributions" as used herein
shall include any such additional Distributions. During any such Extension
Period, the Company may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions
on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of the Company's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in
interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) repurchases,
redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in
connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of an exchange or conversion
of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a
subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital
stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or
series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests
in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,
(d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights
plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's
rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e)
any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the
dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or
other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or
ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior to the termination of any
such Extension Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest,
provided that no Extension Period may exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods or
extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Upon
the termination of any such Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then
due, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period. No interest shall be
due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof. The
Company must give the Issuer Trustees notice of its election of such Extension
Period at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the date the
Distributions on the Capital Securities would have been payable but for the
election to begin such Extension Period and (ii) the date the Property Trustee
is required to give notice to holders of the Capital Securities of the record
date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than
one Business Day prior to such record date. The Property Trustee will give
notice of the Company's election to begin a new Extension Period to the holders
of the Capital Securities. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on
the number of times that the Company may elect to begin an Extension Period. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures--Option To Extend Interest
Payment Period" and "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Interest Income
and Original Issue Discount."
The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
The revenue of the Issuer Trust available for distribution to holders of the
Capital Securities will be limited to payments under the Junior Subordinated
Debentures in which the Issuer Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance
and sale of the Capital Securities. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures." If the Company does not make payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Issuer
19
Trust may not have funds available to pay Distributions or other amounts payable
on the Capital Securities. The payment of Distributions and other amounts
payable on the Capital Securities (if and to the extent the Issuer Trust has
funds legally available for and cash sufficient to make such payments) is
guaranteed by the Company on a limited basis as set forth herein under
"Description of Guarantee."
REDEMPTION
Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, whether at maturity or upon earlier redemption as
provided in the Junior Subordinated Indenture, the proceeds from such repayment
or redemption shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount
(as defined below) of the Capital Securities, upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days' notice, at a redemption price (the "Redemption Price") equal to
the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Capital Securities plus accumulated but
unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Date")
and the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the Company upon the
concurrent redemption of such Junior Subordinated Debentures. See "Description
of Junior Subordinated Debentures--Redemption." If less than all the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date, then
the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be allocated to the
redemption pro rata of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities. The
amount of premium, if any, paid by the Company upon the redemption of all or any
part of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be repaid or redeemed on a
Redemption Date shall be allocated to the redemption PRO RATA of the Capital
Securities and the Common Securities.
The Company has the right to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures (i)
on or after , 2002, in whole at any time or in part from time to
time, or (ii) in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days following
the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event, Investment Company
Event or Capital Treatment Event (each as defined below), in each case subject
to possible regulatory approval. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination." A redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures would cause a
mandatory redemption of a Like Amount of the Capital Securities and Common
Securities at the Redemption Price.
"Business Day" means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a day on
which banking institutions in the City of New York or the City of Buffalo, New
York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed, or
(c) a day on which the Property Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or the
Corporate Trust Office of the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities,
Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount (as defined below) equal to that
portion of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures to be
contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Junior Subordinated Indenture,
allocated to the Common Securities and to the Capital Securities based upon the
relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes and (ii) with respect to a
distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of Trust Securities in
connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities of the holder to whom such Junior Subordinated
Debentures are distributed.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Issuer Trust of an opinion of counsel
to the Company experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of
any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date
of issuance of the Capital Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that (i) the Issuer Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of such
opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with
20
respect to income received or accrued on the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
(ii) interest payable by the Company on the Junior Subordinated Debentures is
not, or within 90 days of the delivery of such opinion, will not be, deductible
by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax
purposes or (iii) the Issuer Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery
of such opinion, subject to more than a DE MINIMIS amount of other taxes, duties
or other governmental charges.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Issuer Trust of an
opinion of counsel to the Company experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a
written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental
agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
the Issuer Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or
prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may
be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Capital Securities.
"Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the Company
that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including
any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any rules or regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or
therein, or as a result of any official or administrative pronouncement or
action or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations,
which amendment or change is effective or such pronouncement, action or decision
is announced on or after the date of issuance of the Capital Securities, there
is more than an insubstantial risk that the Company will not be entitled to
treat an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities as
"Tier 1 Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the risk-based
capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and
applicable to the Company.
PAYMENT OF ADDITIONAL SUMS. If a Tax Event described in clause (i) or (iii)
of the definition of Tax Event above has occurred and is continuing and the
Issuer Trust is the holder of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
Company will pay Additional Sums (as defined below), if any, on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
"Additional Sums" means the additional amounts as may be necessary in order
that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by the Issuer Trust on the
outstanding Capital Securities and Common Securities of the Issuer Trust will
not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other
governmental charges to which the Issuer Trust has become subject as a result of
a Tax Event.
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
Capital Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the
Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of the Capital
Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each
Redemption Date only to the extent that the Issuer Trust has funds on hand
available for the payment of such Redemption Price. See also "--Subordination of
Common Securities."
If the Issuer Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of the Capital
Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, to
the extent funds are available, in the case of Capital Securities held in
book-entry form, the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably with DTC funds
sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give DTC irrevocable
instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the holders of the
Capital Securities. With respect to Capital Securities not held in book-entry
form, the Property Trustee, to the extent funds are available, will irrevocably
deposit with the paying agent for the Capital Securities funds sufficient to pay
the applicable Redemption Price and will give such paying agent irrevocable
instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof
upon surrender of their certificates evidencing the Capital Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the
Redemption Date for any Capital Securities called for
21
redemption shall be payable to the holders of the Capital Securities on the
relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of
redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the
date of such deposit all rights of the holders of such Capital Securities so
called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of such
Capital Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest on such
Redemption Price, and such Capital Securities will cease to be outstanding. If
any date fixed for redemption of Capital Securities is not a Business Day, then
payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day which is a Business Day (without any interest or other payment in
respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next
calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Capital
Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid
either by the Issuer Trust or by the Company pursuant to the Guarantee as
described under "Description of Guarantee," Distributions on such Capital
Securities will continue to accumulate at the then applicable rate, from the
Redemption Date originally established by the Issuer Trust for such Capital
Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the
actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of
calculating the Redemption Price.
Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
federal securities laws), the Company or its affiliates may at any time and from
time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open
market or by private agreement, and may resell such securities.
If less than all the Capital Securities and Common Securities are to be
redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such
Capital Securities and Common Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated pro
rata to the Capital Securities and the Common Securities based upon the relative
Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The particular Capital Securities to be
redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata basis not more than 60 days prior to
the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the outstanding Capital
Securities not previously called for redemption, or if the Capital Securities
are then held in the form of a Global Capital Security (as defined below), in
accordance with DTC's customary procedures, provided, in each case, that each
holder of any Capital Securities has at least 100 Capital Securities remaining
after the redemption. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the securities
registrar for the Trust Securities in writing of the Capital Securities selected
for redemption and, in the case of any Capital Securities selected for partial
redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of
the Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions
relating to the redemption of Capital Securities shall relate, in the case of
any Capital Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion
of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Capital Securities which has been or is
to be redeemed.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the Redemption Date to each registered holder of Capital
Securities to be redeemed at its address appearing on the securities register
for the Trust Securities. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the
Redemption Price on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, on and after the
Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or portions thereof (and, unless payment of the Redemption Price in
respect of the Capital Securities is withheld or refused and not paid either by
the Issuer Trust or the Company pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions will
cease to accumulate on the Capital Securities or portions thereof) called for
redemption.
SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, the Capital
Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata based on
the Liquidation Amount of such Capital Securities and Common Securities.
However, if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date a Debenture Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing as a result of any failure by the Company
to pay any amounts in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures when due, no
payment of any Distribution on,
22
or Redemption Price of, any of the Common Securities, and no other payment on
account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of such Common
Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and
unpaid Distributions on all the outstanding Capital Securities for all
Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment
of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all the
outstanding Capital Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made
or provided for, and all funds available to the Property Trustee shall first be
applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or Redemption
Price of, the Capital Securities then due and payable.
In the case of any Event of Default (as defined below) resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default, the holders of the Common Securities will be deemed
to have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under
the Trust Agreement until the effects of all such Events of Default with respect
to such Capital Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. See
"--Events of Default; Notice" and "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Debenture Events of Default." Until all such Events of Default under
the Trust Agreement with respect to the Capital Securities have been so cured,
waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will act solely on behalf
of the holders of the Capital Securities and not on behalf of the holders of the
Common Securities, and only the holders of the Capital Securities will have the
right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION
The amount payable on the Capital Securities in the event of any liquidation
of the Issuer Trust is $25 per Capital Security plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions, subject to certain exceptions, which may be in the form of a
distribution of such amount in Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The holders of all the outstanding Common Securities have the right at any
time to terminate the Issuer Trust and, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, cause the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Capital
Securities and Common Securities in liquidation of the Issuer Trust.
The Federal Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines currently provide that
redemptions of permanent equity or other capital instruments before stated
maturity could have a significant impact on a bank holding company's overall
capital structure and that any organization considering such a redemption should
consult with the Federal Reserve before redeeming any equity or capital
instrument prior to maturity if such redemption could have a material effect on
the level or composition of the organization's capital base (unless the equity
or capital instrument were redeemed with the proceeds of, or replaced by, a like
amount of a similar or higher quality capital instrument and the Federal Reserve
considers the organization's capital position to be fully adequate after the
redemption).
In the event the Company, while a holder of Common Securities, terminates
the Issuer Trust prior to the stated maturity of the Capital Securities and the
termination of the Issuer Trust is deemed to constitute the redemption of
capital instruments by the Federal Reserve under its risk-based capital
guidelines or policies, the termination of the Issuer Trust by the Company may
be subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve. Moreover, any changes
in applicable law or changes in the Federal Reserve's risk-based capital
guidelines or policies could impose a requirement on the Company that it obtain
the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to terminate the Issuer Trust.
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Issuer Trust will automatically
terminate upon expiration of its term or, if earlier, will terminate on the
first to occur of: (i) certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation
of the Company or the holder of the Common Securities, (ii) the distribution of
a Like Amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the Trust
Securities, if the holders of Common Securities have given written direction to
the Property Trustee to terminate the Issuer Trust (which direction, subject to
the foregoing restrictions, is optional and wholly within the discretion of the
holders of Common Securities), (iii) the repayment of all the Capital Securities
in connection with the redemption of
23
all the Trust Securities as described under "--Redemption" and (iv) the entry of
an order for the dissolution of the Issuer Trust by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
If termination of the Issuer Trust occurs as described in clause (i), (ii)
or (iv) above, the Issuer Trust will be liquidated by the Property Trustee as
expeditiously as the Property Trustee determines to be possible by distributing,
after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided
by applicable law, to the holders of such Trust Securities a Like Amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless such distribution is not practical, in
which event such holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Issuer Trust available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, an
amount equal to, in the case of holders of Capital Securities, the aggregate of
the Liquidation Amount plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the
date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such
Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Issuer Trust has
insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation
Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Issuer Trust on its
Capital Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The holders of the Common
Securities will be entitled to receive distributions upon any such liquidation
pro rata with the holders of the Capital Securities, except that if a Debenture
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as a result of any failure by
the Company to pay any amounts in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
when due, the Capital Securities shall have a priority over the Common
Securities. See "--Subordination of Common Securities."
After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of Junior Subordinated
Debentures (i) the Capital Securities will no longer be deemed to be
outstanding, (ii) DTC or its nominee, as the registered holder of Capital
Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates
representing the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be delivered upon such
distribution with respect to Capital Securities held by DTC or its nominee and
(iii) any certificates representing the Capital Securities not held by DTC or
its nominee will be deemed to represent the Junior Subordinated Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the stated Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the
accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities until such
certificates are presented to the security registrar for the Trust Securities
for transfer or reissuance.
If the Company does not redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to
maturity and the Issuer Trust is not liquidated and the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are not distributed to holders of the Capital Securities, the Capital
Securities will remain outstanding until the repayment of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the distribution of the Liquidation Distribution to
the holders of the Capital Securities.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Capital Securities
or the Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange for
Capital Securities if a termination and liquidation of the Issuer Trust were to
occur. Accordingly, the Capital Securities that an investor may purchase, or the
Junior Subordinated Debentures that the investor may receive on dissolution and
liquidation of the Issuer Trust, may trade at a discount to the price that the
investor paid to purchase the Capital Securities offered hereby.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under the
Trust Agreement (an "Event of Default") with respect to the Capital Securities
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it is 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):
(i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default (see "Description of
Junior Subordinated Debentures--Debenture Events of Default"); or
24
(ii) default by the Issuer Trust in the payment of any Distribution when
it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of
30 days; or
(iii) default by the Issuer Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price
of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(iv) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of
any covenant or warranty of the Issuer Trustees in the Trust Agreement
(other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or
the breach of which is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above), and
continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there
has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer Trustees and
the Company by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount
of the outstanding Capital Securities, a written notice specifying such
default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such
notice is a "Notice of Default" under the Trust Agreement; or
(v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
respect to the Property Trustee if a successor Property Trustee has not been
appointed within 90 days thereof.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee will transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of Trust Securities and the
Administrators, unless such Event of Default has been cured or waived. The
Company, as Depositor, and the Administrators are required to file annually with
the Property Trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance
with all the conditions and covenants applicable to them under the Trust
Agreement.
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as a result
of any failure by the Company to pay any amounts in respect of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures when due, the Capital Securities will have a preference
over the Common Securities with respect to payments of any amounts in respect of
the Capital Securities as described above. See "--Subordination of Common
Securities," "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination" and "Description of
Junior Subordinated Debentures--Debenture Events of Default."
REMOVAL OF ISSUER TRUSTEES; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSORS
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
outstanding Capital Securities may remove an Issuer Trustee for cause or, if a
Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, with or without
cause. If an Issuer Trustee is removed by the holders of the outstanding Capital
Securities, the successor may be appointed by the holders of at least 25% in
Liquidation Amount of Capital Securities. If an Issuer Trustee resigns, such
Trustee will appoint its successor. If an Issuer Trustee fails to appoint a
successor, the holders of at least 25% in Liquidation Amount of the outstanding
Capital Securities may appoint a successor. If a successor has not been
appointed by the holders, any holder of Capital Securities or Common Securities
or the other Issuer Trustee may petition a court in the State of Delaware to
appoint a successor. Any Delaware Trustee must meet the applicable requirements
of Delaware law. Any Property Trustee must be a national or state-chartered
bank, and at the time of appointment have securities rated in one of the three
highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization and have capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. No
resignation or removal of an Issuer Trustee and no appointment of a successor
trustee shall be effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor
trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement.
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MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
Any entity into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be
merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Issuer
Trustee is a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all the
corporate trust business of such Issuer Trustee, will be the successor of such
Issuer Trustee under the Trust Agreement, provided such entity is otherwise
qualified and eligible.
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE ISSUER TRUST
The Issuer Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to, any entity, except as described below or as
otherwise set forth in the Trust Agreement. The Issuer Trust may, at the request
of the holders of the Common Securities and with the consent of the holders of
at least a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital
Securities, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State, so long as (i) such
successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer
Trust with respect to the Capital Securities or (b) substitutes for the Capital
Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Capital
Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities have
the same priority as the Capital Securities with respect to distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) a trustee of such
successor entity, possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee,
is appointed to hold the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (iii) such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
cause the Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be
downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (iv)
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
holders of the Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect, (v) such successor entity has a purpose substantially
identical to that of the Issuer Trust, (vi) prior to such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Issuer Trust has
received an opinion from independent counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of the Capital Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect and (b) following such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither
the Issuer Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act, and (vii) the Company or
any permitted successor or assignee owns all the common securities of such
successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under
the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer Trust may not, except with the consent
of holders of 100% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities,
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any
other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Issuer Trust or the successor
entity to be taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes.
VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT
Except as provided below and under "--Removal of Issuer Trustees;
Appointment of Successors" and "Description of Guarantee--Amendments and
Assignment" and as otherwise required by law and the Trust Agreement, the
holders of the Capital Securities will have no voting rights.
The Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the holders of a
majority of the Common Securities and the Property Trustee, without the consent
of the holders of the Capital Securities, (i) to cure
26
any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in the Trust Agreement that
may be inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions
with respect to matters or questions arising under the Trust Agreement, provided
that any such amendment does not adversely affect in any material respect the
interests of any holder of Trust Securities, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add
to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to such extent as may be necessary to
ensure that the Issuer Trust will not be taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes at any time that any Trust Securities are
outstanding or to ensure that the Issuer Trust will not be required to register
as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act, and any amendments
of the Trust Agreement will become effective when notice of such amendment is
given to the holders of Trust Securities. The Trust Agreement may be amended by
the holders of a majority of the Common Securities and the Property Trustee with
(i) the consent of holders representing not less than a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital Securities and (ii) receipt by the
Issuer Trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment or
the exercise of any power granted to the Issuer Trustees in accordance with such
amendment will not affect the Issuer Trust's not being taxable as a corporation
for United States federal income tax purposes or the Issuer Trust's exemption
from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act, except
that, without the consent of each holder of Trust Securities affected thereby,
the Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any
Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of
any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a
specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
So long as any Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the Issuer Trust,
the Property Trustee will not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or
execute any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable
under Section 513 of the Junior Subordinated Indenture, (iii) exercise any right
to rescind or annul a declaration that the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall
be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination
of the Junior Subordinated Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
where such consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior
approval of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount
of the outstanding Capital Securities, except that, if a consent under the
Junior Subordinated Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Junior
Subordinated Debentures affected thereby, no such consent will be given by the
Property Trustee without the prior consent of each holder of the Capital
Securities. The Property Trustee may not revoke any action previously authorized
or approved by a vote of the holders of the Capital Securities except by
subsequent vote of the holders of the Capital Securities. The Property Trustee
will notify each holder of Capital Securities of any notice of default with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. In addition to obtaining the
foregoing approvals of the holders of the Capital Securities, before taking any
of the foregoing actions, the Property Trustee will obtain an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that the Issuer Trust will not be
taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes on
account of such action.
Any required approval of holders of Capital Securities may be given at a
meeting of holders of Capital Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant
to written consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at
which holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon
which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be given to
each registered holder of Capital Securities in the manner set forth in the
Trust Agreement.
No vote or consent of the holders of Capital Securities will be required to
redeem and cancel Capital Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement.
Notwithstanding that holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital
Securities that are owned by the Company, the Issuer
27
Trustees or any affiliate of the Company or any Issuer Trustees, will, for
purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
EXPENSES AND TAXES
In the Indenture, the Company, as borrower, has agreed to pay all debts and
other obligations (other than with respect to the Capital Securities) and all
costs and expenses of the Issuer Trust (including costs and expenses relating to
the organization of the Issuer Trust, the fees and expenses of the Trustees and
the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Issuer Trust) and to pay
any and all taxes and all costs and expenses with respect thereto (other than
United States withholding taxes) to which the Issuer Trust might become subject.
The foregoing obligations of the Company under the Indenture are for the benefit
of, and shall be enforceable by, any person to whom any such debts, obligations,
costs, expenses and taxes are owed (a "Creditor") whether or not such Creditor
has received notice thereof. Any such Creditor may enforce such obligations of
the Company directly against the Company, and the Company has irrevocably waived
any right or remedy to require that any such Creditor take any action against
the Issuer Trust or any other person before proceeding against the Company. The
Company has also agreed in the Indenture to execute such additional agreements
as may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to the foregoing.
BOOK ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM
The Capital Securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully
registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC
and registered in the name of DTC's nominee. Unless and until it is exchangeable
in whole or in part for the Capital Securities in definitive form, a global
security may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or
by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any such
nominee to a successor of such Depository or a nominee of such successor.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to
persons that have accounts with DTC or its nominee ("Participants") or persons
that may hold interests through Participants. The Company expects that, upon the
issuance of a global security, DTC will credit, on its book-entry registration
and transfer system, the Participants' accounts with their respective principal
amounts of the Capital Securities represented by such global security. Ownership
of beneficial interests in such global security will be shown on, and the
transfer of such ownership interests will be effected only through, records
maintained by DTC (with respect to interests of Participants) and on the records
of Participants (with respect to interests of Persons held through
Participants). Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation form DTC
of their purchase, but are expected to receive written confirmations from the
Participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction.
Transfers of ownership interests will be accomplished by entries on the books of
Participants acting on behalf of the beneficial owners.
So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global
security, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole
owner or holder of the Capital Securities represented by such global security
for all purposes under the Junior Subordinated Indenture. Except as provided
below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled
to receive physical delivery of the Capital Securities in definitive form and
will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in
such a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such person is
not a Participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such
person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture. The Company understands that, under DTC's existing
practices, in the event that the Company requests any action of holders, or an
owner of a beneficial interest in such a global security desires to take any
action which a holder is entitled to take under the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, DTC would authorize the Participants holding the relevant beneficial
interests to take such action, and such Participants would authorize beneficial
owners owning through such Participants to take
28
such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners
owning through them. Redemption notices will also be sent to DTC. If less than
all of the Capital Securities are being redeemed, the Company understands that
it is DTC's existing practice to determine by lot the amount of the interest of
each Participant to be redeemed.
Distributions on the Capital Securities registered in the name of DTC or its
nominee will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the
registered owner of the global security representing such Capital Securities.
None of the Company, the Trustees, any Paying Agent or any other agent of the
Company or the Trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect
of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the global security for such Capital Securities or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests. Disbursements of Distributions to Participants shall be the
responsibility of DTC. DTC's practice is to credit Participants' accounts on a
payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records
unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on payable
date. Payments by Participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for
the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and
will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the Company, the
Trustees, the Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company, subject to any
statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with
respect to the Capital Securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to the
Company or the Trustee. If DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling to
continue as such, or if it is unable to continue or ceases to be a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depository is not
appointed by the Company within ninety days after receiving such notice or
becoming aware that the Depository is no longer so registered, the Company will
issue the Capital Securities in definitive form upon registration of transfer
of, or in exchange for, such global security. In addition, the Company may at
any time and in its sole discretion determine not to have the Capital Securities
represented by one or more global securities and, in such event, will issue
Capital Securities in definitive form in exchange for all of the global
securities representing such Capital Securities.
DTC has advised the Company and the Issuer Trust as follows: DTC is a
limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered
pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created
to hold securities for its Participants and to facilitate the clearance and
settlement of securities transactions between Participants through electronic
book entry changes to accounts of its Participants, thereby eliminating the need
for physical movement of certificates. Participants include securities brokers
and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include
certain other organizations such as the Underwriters. Certain of such
Participants (or their representatives), together with other entities, own DTC.
Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies that clear through, or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY
Payments in respect of the Capital Securities will be made to DTC, which
will credit the relevant accounts at DTC on the applicable Distribution Dates
or, if the Capital Securities are not held by DTC, such payments will be made by
check mailed to the address of the holder entitled thereto as such address
appears on the securities register for the Trust Securities. The paying agent
(the "Paying Agent") will initially be the Property Trustee and any co-paying
agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the Administrators. The
Paying Agent will be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written
notice to the Property Trustee and the Administrators. If the Property Trustee
is no longer the Paying
29
Agent, the Property Trustee will appoint a successor (which must be a bank or
trust company reasonably acceptable to the Administrators) to act as Paying
Agent.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
The Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the
Capital Securities.
Registration of transfers of Capital Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust, but upon payment of any tax or other
governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or
exchange. The Issuer Trust will not be required to register or cause to be
registered the transfer of the Capital Securities after the Capital Securities
have been called for redemption.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
The Property Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an
Event of Default, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set
forth in the Trust Agreement and, after such Event of Default, must exercise the
same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Property
Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the
Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Capital Securities unless it is
offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that
might be incurred thereby.
For information concerning the relationships between Bankers Trust Company,
the Property Trustee, and the Company, see "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee."
MISCELLANEOUS
The Administrators and the Property Trustee are authorized and directed to
conduct the affairs of and to operate the Issuer Trust in such a way that the
Issuer Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act or taxable as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Company for United States
federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Property Trustee and the
holders of Common Securities are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent
with applicable law, the certificate of trust of the Issuer Trust or the Trust
Agreement, that the Property Trustee and the holders of Common Securities
determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as
long as such action does not materially adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Capital Securities.
Holders of the Capital Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
The Issuer Trust may not borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge
any of its assets.
GOVERNING LAW
The Trust Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware.
30
DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be issued under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture, under which Bankers Trust Company is acting as Debenture
Trustee. This summary of certain terms and provisions of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures and the Junior Subordinated Indenture does not purport to be complete
and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the
provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture, including the definitions
therein of certain terms. Whenever particular defined terms of the Junior
Subordinated Indenture (as amended or supplemented from time to time) are
referred to herein, such defined terms are incorporated herein by reference. A
copy of the form of Junior Subordinated Indenture is available from the
Debenture Trustee upon request.
GENERAL
Concurrently with the issuance of the Capital Securities, the Issuer Trust
will invest the proceeds thereof, together with the consideration paid by the
Company for the Common Securities, in the Junior Subordinated Debentures issued
by the Company. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will bear interest, accruing
from , 1997, at the annual rate of % of the principal amount
thereof, payable quarterly in arrears on the day of , ,
and of each year (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing
, 1997, to the person in whose name each Junior Subordinated Debenture is
registered at the close of business on the day of , , or
(whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
It is anticipated that, until the liquidation, if any, of the Issuer Trust, each
Junior Subordinated Debenture will be registered in the name of the Issuer Trust
and held by the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the
Trust Securities. The amount of interest payable for any period less than a full
interest period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months and the actual days elapsed in a partial month in such period. The amount
of interest payable for any full interest period will be computed by dividing
the rate per annum by four. If any date on which interest is payable on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of the
interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a
Business Day (without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay), with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was
originally payable. Accrued interest that is not paid on the applicable Interest
Payment Date will bear additional interest on the amount thereof (to the extent
permitted by law) at the rate per annum of %, compounded quarterly and
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual
days elapsed in a partial month in such period. The amount of additional
interest payable for any full interest period will be computed by dividing the
rate per annum by four. The term "interest" as used herein includes quarterly
interest payments, interest on quarterly interest payments not paid on the
applicable Interest Payment Date and Additional Sums (as defined below), as
applicable.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on , 2027.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and will rank junior
and be subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to a sinking
fund and will not be eligible as collateral for any loan made by the Company.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of
other secured or unsecured debt by the Company, including Senior Indebtedness,
whether under the Junior Subordinated Indenture or any existing or other
indenture that the Company may enter into in the future or otherwise. See
"--Subordination."
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
So long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company has the right at any time during the term of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to defer the payment of interest at any time or from time to time for
a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly periods with respect to each
31
Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. At the end of such Extension
Period, the Company must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
interest thereon at the annual rate of %, compounded quarterly and computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual days
elapsed in a partial month in such period, to the extent permitted by applicable
law). The amount of additional interest payable for any full interest period
will be computed by dividing the rate per annum by two. During an Extension
Period, interest will continue to accrue and holders of Junior Subordinated
Debentures (or holders of Capital Securities while outstanding) will be required
to accrue interest income for United States federal income tax purposes. See
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Interest Income and Original Issue
Discount."
During any such Extension Period, the Company may not (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (ii)
make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in
all respects with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
(other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of
capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit
plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more
employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend
reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the
issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's
capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any
class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the
Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock,
(c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or
the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholders rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company
may further defer the payment of interest, provided that no Extension Period may
exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may elect to begin a
new Extension Period subject to the above conditions. No interest shall be due
and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof. The Company
must give the Issuer Trustees notice of its election of such Extension Period at
least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on
the Capital Securities would have been payable but for the election to begin
such Extension Period and (ii) the date the Property Trustee is required to give
notice to holders of the Capital Securities of the record date or the date such
Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior
to such record date. The Property Trustee will give notice of the Company's
election to begin a new Extension Period to the holders of the Capital
Securities. There is no limitation on the number of times that the Company may
elect to begin an Extension Period.
REDEMPTION
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at the
option of the Company (i) on or after , 2002, in whole at any time
or in part from time to time, or (ii) in whole, but not in part, at any time
within 90 days following the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax
Event, Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event (each as defined
under "Description of Capital
32
Securities--Redemption"), in each case at the redemption price described below.
The proceeds of any such redemption will be used by the Issuer Trust to redeem
the Capital Securities.
The Federal Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines, which are subject to
change, currently provide that redemptions of permanent equity or other capital
instruments before stated maturity could have a significant impact on a bank
holding company's overall capital structure and that any organization
considering such a redemption should consult with the Federal Reserve before
redeeming any equity or capital instrument prior to maturity if such redemption
could have a material effect on the level or composition of the organization's
capital base (unless the equity or capital instrument were redeemed with the
proceeds of, or replaced by, a like amount of a similar or higher quality
capital instrument and the Federal Reserve considers the organization's capital
position to be fully adequate after the redemption).
The redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures by the Company prior to
their Stated Maturity would constitute the redemption of capital instruments
under the Federal Reserve's current risk-based capital guidelines and may be
subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve. The redemption of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures also could be subject to the additional prior
approval of the Federal Reserve under its current risk-based capital guidelines.
The redemption price for Junior Subordinated Debentures is the outstanding
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures plus accrued interest
(including any Additional Interest or any Additional Sums) thereon to but
excluding the date fixed for redemption.
ADDITIONAL SUMS
The Company has covenanted in the Junior Subordinated Indenture that, if and
for so long as (i) the Issuer Trust is the holder of all Junior Subordinated
Debentures and (ii) the Issuer Trust is required to pay any additional taxes,
duties or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company
will pay as additional sums on the Junior Subordinated Debentures such amounts
as may be required so that the Distributions payable by the Issuer Trust will
not be reduced as a result of any such additional taxes, duties or other
governmental charges. See "Description of Capital Securities--Redemption."
REGISTRATION, DENOMINATION AND TRANSFER
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will initially be registered in the name
of the Issuer Trust. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed to
holders of Capital Securities, it is anticipated that the depositary
arrangements for the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be substantially
identical to those in effect for the Capital Securities. See "Description of
Capital Securities--Book Entry, Delivery and Form."
Although DTC has agreed to the procedures described above, it is under no
obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such
procedures may be discontinued at any time. If DTC is at any time unwilling or
unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by
the Company within 90 days of receipt of notice from DTC to such effect, the
Company will cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be issued in definitive
form.
Payments on Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by a global security
will be made to Cede & Co., the nominee for DTC, as the registered holder of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, as described under "Description of the Capital
Securities--Book Entry, Delivery and Form." If Junior Subordinated Debentures
are issued in certificated form, principal and interest will be payable, the
transfer of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be registrable, and Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be exchangeable for Junior Subordinated Debentures
of other authorized denominations of a like aggregate principal amount, at the
corporate trust office of the Debenture Trustee in New York, New York or at the
offices of any Paying Agent or transfer agent appointed by the Company, provided
that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check
mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto.
33
However, a holder of $1 million or more in aggregate principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Debentures may receive payments of interest (other than interest
payable at the Stated Maturity) by wire transfer of immediately available funds
upon written request to the Debenture Trustee not later than 15 calendar days
prior to the date on which the interest is payable.
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be exchangeable for other Junior
Subordinated Debentures of like tenor, of any authorized denominations, and of a
like aggregate principal amount.
Junior Subordinated Debentures may be presented for exchange as provided
above, and may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of
transfer endorsed thereon, or a satisfactory written instrument of transfer,
duly executed), at the office of the securities registrar appointed under the
Junior Subordinated Debenture or at the office of any transfer agent designated
by the Company for such purpose without service charge and upon payment of any
taxes and other governmental charges as described in the Junior Subordinated
Indenture. The Company will appoint the Debenture Trustee as securities
registrar under the Junior Subordinated Indenture. The Company may at any time
designate additional transfer agents with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
In the event of any redemption, neither the Company nor the Debenture
Trustee shall be required to
(i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Junior Subordinated Debentures
during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of
selection for redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed
and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice
of redemption or (ii) transfer or exchange any Junior Subordinated Debentures so
selected for redemption, except, in the case of any Junior Subordinated
Debentures being redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.
Any monies deposited with the Debenture Trustee or any paying agent, or then
held by the Company in trust, for the payment of the principal of (and premium,
if any) or interest on any Junior Subordinated Debenture and remaining unclaimed
for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become
due and payable shall, at the request of the Company, be repaid to the Company
and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Debenture shall thereafter look, as a
general unsecured creditor, only to the Company for payment thereof.
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS; CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has covenanted that it will not (i) declare or pay any dividends
or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of
principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or
junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the
Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees,
officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment
or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period or other event referred to below, (b) as a
result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's
capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any
class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the
Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock,
(c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or
the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights
34
is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari
passu with or junior to such stock), if at such time (i) there has occurred any
event (a) of which the Company has actual knowledge that with the giving of
notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute a Debenture Event of
Default and (b) that the Company has not taken reasonable steps to cure, (ii) if
the Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the Issuer Trust, the Company is
in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Guarantee or
(iii) the Company has given notice of its election of an Extension Period as
provided in the Junior Subordinated Indenture and has not rescinded such notice,
or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, is continuing.
The Company has covenanted in the Junior Subordinated Indenture (i) to
continue to hold, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Common Securities,
provided that certain successors that are permitted pursuant to the Junior
Subordinated Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of the Common
Securities, (ii) as holder of the Common Securities, not to voluntarily
terminate, windup or liquidate the Issuer Trust, other than (a) in connection
with a distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the
Capital Securities in liquidation of the Issuer Trust or (b) in connection with
certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the Trust
Agreement and (iii) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and
provisions of the Trust Agreement, to cause the Issuer Trust to continue not to
be taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.
MODIFICATION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
From time to time, the Company and the Debenture Trustee may, without the
consent of any of the holders of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures,
amend, waive or supplement the provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture
to: (1) evidence succession of another corporation or association to the Company
and the assumption by such person of the obligations of the Company under the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, (2) add further covenants, restrictions or
conditions for the protection of holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
(3) cure ambiguities or correct the Junior Subordinated Debentures in the case
of defects or inconsistencies in the provisions thereof, so long as any such
cure or correction does not adversely affect the interest of the holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures in any material respect, (4) change the terms of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures to facilitate the issuance of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in certificated or other definitive form, (5) evidence
or provide for the appointment of a successor Debenture Trustee, or (6) qualify,
or maintain the qualification of, the Junior Subordinated Indentures under the
Trust Indenture Act. The Junior Subordinated Indenture contains provisions
permitting the Company and the Debenture Trustee, with the consent of the
holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, to modify the Junior Subordinated Indenture in a manner
affecting the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
except that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture so affected, (i) change the Stated
Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, or reduce the principal amount
thereof, the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption
thereof, or change the place of payment where, or the currency in which, any
such amount is payable or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement
of any Junior Subordinated Debenture or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal
amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the holders of which are required to
consent to any such modification of the Junior Subordinated Indenture.
Furthermore, so long as any of the Capital Securities remain outstanding, no
such modification may be made that adversely affects the holders of such Capital
Securities in any material respect, and no termination of the Junior
Subordinated Indenture may occur, and no waiver of any Debenture Event of
Default or compliance with any covenant under the Junior Subordinated Indenture
may be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at least a
majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital
Securities unless and until the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the
Junior Subordinated Debentures and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon have
been paid in full and certain other conditions are satisfied.
35
DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The Junior Subordinated Indenture provides that any one or more of the
following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
that has occurred and is continuing constitutes an "Event of Default" with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures:
(i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures when due (subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of
an Extension Period); or
(ii) failure to pay any principal of or premium, if any, on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures when due whether at maturity, upon redemption, by
declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or
(iii) failure to observe or perform in any material respect certain other
covenants contained in the Junior Subordinated Indenture for 90 days after
written notice to the Company from the Debenture Trustee or the holders of
at least 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the outstanding
Junior Subordinated Debentures; or
(iv) the Company consents to the appointment of a receiver or other
similar official in any liquidation, insolvency or similar proceeding with
respect to the Company or all or substantially all its property.
For purposes of the Trust Agreement and this Offering Circular, each such
Event of Default under the Junior Subordinated Debenture is referred to as a
"Debenture Event of Default." As described in "Description of Capital
Securities--Events of Default; Notice," the occurrence of a Debenture Event of
Default will also constitute an Event of Default in respect of the Trust
Securities.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Debenture Trustee. The Debenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures may
declare the principal due and payable immediately upon a Debenture Event of
Default, and, should the Debenture Trustee or such holders of Junior
Subordinated Debentures fail to make such declaration, the holders of at least
25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital Securities shall
have such right. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures may annul such declaration and waive
the default if all defaults (other than the non-payment of the principal of
Junior Subordinated Debentures which has become due solely by such acceleration)
have been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest
and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the
Debenture Trustee. Should the holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures fail to
annul such declaration and waive such default, the holders of a majority in
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital Securities shall have
such right.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby may, on behalf of
the holders of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures, waive any past default,
except a default in the payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest
(unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has
been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default in respect of a covenant
or provision which under the Junior Subordinated Indenture cannot be modified or
amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Debenture affected thereby. See "--Modification of Junior
Subordinated Indenture." The Company is required to file annually with the
Debenture Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Company is in
compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the
Junior Subordinated Indenture.
If a Debenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Property
Trustee will have the right to declare the principal of and the interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, and any other amounts
36
payable under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, to be forthwith due and payable
and to enforce its other rights as a creditor with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such
event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay any amounts payable
in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures on the date such amounts are
otherwise payable, a registered holder of Capital Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Company for enforcement of payment to such
holder of an amount equal to the amount payable in respect of Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities held by such holder (a "Direct
Action"). The Company may not amend the Junior Subordinated Indenture to remove
the foregoing right to bring a Direct Action without the prior written consent
of the holders of all the Capital Securities. The Company will have the right
under the Junior Subordinated Indenture to set-off any payment made to such
holder of Capital Securities by the Company in connection with a Direct Action.
The holders of the Capital Securities would not be able to exercise directly
any remedies available to the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
except under the circumstances described in the preceding paragraph. See
"Description of Capital Securities--Events of Default; Notice."
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
The Junior Subordinated Indenture provides that the Company may not
consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and no Person
may consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless (i) if
the Company consolidates with or merges into another Person or conveys or
transfers its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person,
the successor Person is organized under the laws of the United States or any
state or the District of Columbia, and such successor Person expressly assumes
the Company's obligations in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures; (ii)
immediately after giving effect thereto, no Debenture Event of Default, and no
event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a Debenture
Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing; and (iii) certain other
conditions as prescribed in the Junior Subordinated Indenture are satisfied.
The provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture do not afford holders of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged
or other transaction involving the Company that may adversely affect holders of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
The Junior Subordinated Indenture provides that when, among other things,
all Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture
Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due
and payable at the Stated Maturity within one year, and the Company deposits or
causes to be deposited with the Debenture Trustee funds, in trust, for the
purpose and in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture
Trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and interest
to the date of the deposit or to the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, then
the Junior Subordinated Indenture will cease to be of further effect (except as
to the Company's obligations to pay all other sums due pursuant to the Junior
Subordinated Indenture and to provide the officers' certificates and opinions of
counsel described therein), and the Company will be deemed to have satisfied and
discharged the Junior Subordinated Indenture.
37
SUBORDINATION
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinate and junior in right
of payment, to the extent set forth in the Junior Subordinated Indenture, to all
Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company. If the Company defaults
in the payment of any principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, or any
other amount payable on any Senior Indebtedness when the same becomes due and
payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for redemption or by declaration
of acceleration or otherwise, then, unless and until such default has been cured
or waived or has ceased to exist or all Senior Indebtedness has been paid, no
direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by setoff or
otherwise) may be made or agreed to be made on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, or in respect of any redemption, repayment, retirement, purchase or
other acquisition of any of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
As used herein, "Senior Indebtedness" means, whether recourse is to all or a
portion of the assets of the Company and whether or not contingent, (i) every
obligation of the Company for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of the
Company evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of the Company with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of the Company; (iv) every obligation of the Company issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property services (but excluding trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business); (v) every capital lease obligation of the Company; (vi) every
obligation of the Company for claims (as defined in Section 101(4) of the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended) in respect of derivative products
such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts and
similar arrangements; and (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in
clauses (i) through (vi) of another person and all dividends of another person
the payment of which, in either case, the Company has guaranteed or is
responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise; provided
that "Senior Indebtedness" shall not include (i) any obligations which, by their
terms, are expressly stated to rank PARI PASSU in right of payment with, or to
not be superior in right of payment to, the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii)
any Senior Indebtedness of the Company which when incurred and without respect
to any election under Section 1111(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of
1978, as amended, was without recourse to the Company, (iii) any Indebtedness of
the Company to any of its subsidiaries, (iv) Indebtedness to any employee of the
Company, or (v) any indebtedness in respect of debt securities issued to any
trust, or a trustee of such trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with
the Company that is a financing entity of the Company in connection with the
issuance of such financing entity of securities that are similar to the Capital
Securities.
In the event of (i) certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation
of the Company or the holder of the Common Securities, (ii) any proceeding for
the liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, voluntary or
involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
(iii) any assignment by the Company for the benefit of creditors or (iv) any
other marshalling of the assets of the Company, all Senior Indebtedness
(including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such
proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution,
whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made on account of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures. In such event, any payment or distribution on
account of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether in cash, securities or
other property, that would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be
payable or deliverable in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance
with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior
Indebtedness (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of
any such proceedings) has been paid in full.
In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing
with respect to Senior Indebtedness, the holders of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking
on a parity with the Junior Subordinated Debentures, will be entitled to be paid
from the remaining assets of the Company the amounts at the time due and owing
on the Junior
38
Subordinated Debentures and such other obligations before any payment or other
distribution, whether in
cash, property or otherwise, will be made on account of any capital stock or
obligations of the Company ranking junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and such other obligations. If any payment or distribution on account of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any character or any security, whether in
cash, securities or other property is received by any holder of any Junior
Subordinated Debentures in contravention of any of the terms hereof and before
all the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, such payment or distribution
or security will be received in trust for the benefit of, and must be paid over
or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness at the
time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such
holders for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining
unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full. By
reason of such subordination, in the event of the insolvency of the Company,
holders of Senior Indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures may receive less, ratably, than the other
creditors of the Company. Such subordination will not prevent the occurrence of
any Event of Default in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture places no limitation on the amount of
additional Senior Indebtedness that may be incurred by the Company. The Company
expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior
Indebtedness.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE
The Debenture Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of a
default by the Company in performance of its obligations under the Junior
Subordinated Debenture, is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers
vested in it by the Junior Subordinated Indenture at the request of any holder
of Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such
holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred
thereby. The Debenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds
or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of its duties
if the Debenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate
indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
Bankers Trust Company, the Debenture Trustee, may serve from time to time as
trustee under other indentures or trust agreements with the Company or its
subsidiaries relating to other issues of their securities. In addition, the
Company and certain of its affiliates may have other banking relationships with
Bankers Trust Company and its affiliates.
GOVERNING LAW
The Junior Subordinated Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Debentures
will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York.
39
DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEE
The Guarantee will be executed and delivered by the Company concurrently
with the issuance of Capital Securities by the Issuer Trust for the benefit of
the holders from time to time of the Capital Securities. Bankers Trust Company
will act as Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee. This summary of certain
provisions of the Guarantee does not purport to be complete and is subject to,
and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the
Guarantee, including the definitions therein of certain terms. A copy of the
form of Guarantee is available upon request from the Guarantee Trustee. The
Guarantee Trustee will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
Capital Securities.
GENERAL
The Company will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated basis,
to the extent set forth herein, the Guarantee Payments (as defined below) to the
holders of the Capital Securities, as and when due, regardless of any defense,
right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer Trust may have or assert other
than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the Capital
Securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust (the
"Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the Guarantee: (i) any accumulated and
unpaid Distributions required to be paid on such Capital Securities, to the
extent that the Issuer Trust has funds on hand available therefor at such time,
(ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any Capital Securities called for
redemption, to the extent that the Issuer Trust has funds on hand available
therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination,
winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer Trust (unless the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are distributed to holders of the Capital Securities), the lesser of
(a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the date of payment, to the extent that the Issuer Trust has
funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of
the Issuer Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of the Capital
Securities on liquidation of the Issuer Trust. The Company's obligation to make
a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts
by the Company to the holders of the Capital Securities or by causing the Issuer
Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.
The Guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a subordinated basis of
the Issuer Trust's obligations under the Capital Securities, but will apply only
to the extent that the Issuer Trust has funds sufficient to make such payments,
and is not a guarantee of collection.
If the Company does not make payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
held by the Issuer Trust, the Issuer Trust will not be able to pay any amounts
payable in respect of the Capital Securities and will not have funds legally
available therefor. The Guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company. See "--Status of the
Guarantee." The Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other
secured or unsecured debt of the Company, including Senior Indebtedness, whether
under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, any other indenture that the Company
may enter into in the future or otherwise.
The Company has, through the Guarantee, the Trust Agreement, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Junior Subordinated Indenture, taken together,
fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all the Issuer Trust's
obligations under the Capital Securities. No single document standing alone or
operating in conjunction with fewer than all the other documents constitutes
such guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents that has
the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the
Issuer Trust's obligations in respect of the Capital Securities. See
"Relationship Among the Capital Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the Guarantee."
40
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEE
The Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Company and
will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness
of the Company in the same manner as the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection
(i.e., the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Guarantor to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). The
Guarantee will be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the holders
of the Capital Securities. The Guarantee will not be discharged except by
payment of the Guarantee Payments in full to the extent not paid by the Issuer
Trust or distribution to the holders of the Capital Securities of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the Capital Securities (in which case no vote will be
required), the Guarantee may not be amended without the prior approval of the
holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
outstanding Capital Securities. The manner of obtaining any such approval will
be as set forth under "Description of the Capital Securities--Voting Rights;
Amendment of Trust Agreement." All guarantees and agreements contained in the
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of
the Capital Securities then outstanding.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under the Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Company to perform any of its payment or other obligations thereunder, or to
perform any non-payment obligation if such non-payment default remains
unremedied for 30 days. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital Securities have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of the Guarantee or to direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the
Guarantee.
Any registered holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer Trust, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity.
The Company, as guarantor, is required to file annually with the Guarantee
Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Company is in compliance with all
the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Guarantee.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantee Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of a
default by the Company in performance of the Guarantee, undertakes to perform
only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Guarantee and, after the
occurrence of an event of default with respect to the Guarantee, must exercise
the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in
the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Guarantee
Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the
Guarantee at the request of any holder of the Capital Securities unless it is
offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that
might be incurred thereby.
For information concerning the relationship between Bankers Trust Company,
the Guarantee Trustee, and the Company, see "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures--Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee."
41
TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEE
The Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon full
payment of the Redemption Price of the Capital Securities, upon full payment of
the amounts payable with respect to the Capital Securities upon liquidation of
the Issuer Trust or upon distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
holders of the Capital Securities. The Guarantee will continue to be effective
or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of the
Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital
Securities or the Guarantee.
GOVERNING LAW
The Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.
42
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE CAPITAL SECURITIES, THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AND THE GUARANTEE
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Capital Securities
(to the extent the Issuer Trust has funds available for such payment) are
irrevocably guaranteed by the Company as and to the extent set forth under
"Description of Guarantee." Taken together, the Company's obligations under the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Junior Subordinated Indenture, the Trust
Agreement and the Guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and
unconditional guarantee of payments of Distributions and other amounts due on
the Capital Securities. No single document standing alone or operating in
conjunction with fewer than all the other documents constitutes such guarantee.
It is only the combined operation of these documents that has the effect of
providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Issuer Trust's
obligations in respect of the Capital Securities. If and to the extent that the
Company does not make payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Issuer
Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay Distributions or other amounts due
on the Capital Securities. The Guarantee does not cover payment of amounts
payable with respect to the Capital Securities when the Issuer Trust does not
have sufficient funds to pay such amounts. In such event, the remedy of a holder
of the Capital Securities is to institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Company for enforcement of payment of the Company's obligations under Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities held by such holder.
The obligations of the Company under the Junior Subordinated Debentures and
the Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness.
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
As long as payments are made when due on the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
such payments will be sufficient to cover Distributions and other payments
distributable on the Capital Securities, primarily because (i) the aggregate
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be equal to the sum
of the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities and Common
Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will match the Distribution rate, Distribution
Dates and other payment dates for the Capital Securities; (iii) the Company will
pay for all and any costs, expenses and liabilities of the Issuer Trust except
the Issuer Trust's obligations to holders of the Trust Securities; and (iv) the
Trust Agreement further provides that the Issuer Trust will not engage in any
activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of the Issuer Trust.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, the Company has the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise
required to make thereunder against and to the extent the Company has
theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such payment making, a
payment under the Guarantee.
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
A holder of any Capital Security may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust
or any other person or entity. See "Description of Guarantee."
A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness of the Company
would not constitute a default or Event of Default in respect of the Capital
Securities. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of,
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the subordination provisions of the Junior
Subordinated Indenture provide that no payments may be made in respect of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures until such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in
full or any payment default thereunder has been cured or waived. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures--Subordination."
43
LIMITED PURPOSE OF ISSUER TRUST
The Capital Securities represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Issuer Trust, and the Issuer Trust exists for the sole purpose
of issuing its Capital Securities and Common Securities and investing the
proceeds thereof in Junior Subordinated Debentures. A principal difference
between the rights of a holder of a Capital Security and a holder of a Junior
Subordinated Debenture is that a holder of a Junior Subordinated Debenture is
entitled to receive from the Company payments on Junior Subordinated Debentures
held, while a holder of Capital Securities is entitled to receive Distributions
or other amounts distributable with respect to the Capital Securities from the
Issuer Trust (or from the Company under the Guarantee) only if and to the extent
the Issuer Trust has funds available for the payment of such Distributions.
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of
the Issuer Trust, other than any such termination, winding-up or liquidation
involving the distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer Trust as required by
applicable law, the holders of the Capital Securities will be entitled to
receive, out of assets held by the Issuer Trust, the Liquidation Distribution in
cash. See "Description of Capital Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination." Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the
Company, the Issuer Trust, as registered holder of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, would be a subordinated creditor of the Company, subordinated and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness as set forth in the Junior
Subordinated Indenture, but entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts
payable with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures before any
stockholders of the Company receive payments or distributions. Since the Company
is the guarantor under the Guarantee and has agreed under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of the
Issuer Trust (other than the Issuer Trust's obligations to the holders of the
Trust Securities), the positions of a holder of the Capital Securities and a
holder of such Junior Subordinated Debentures relative to other creditors and to
stockholders of the Company in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the
Company are expected to be substantially the same.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Capital Securities.
This summary only addresses the tax consequences to a person that acquires
Capital Securities on their original issue at their original offering price and
that is, except as noted below, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the
United States, (ii) a corporation or partnership organized in or under the laws
of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (iii)
an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal
income tax regardless of source (a "United States Person"). This summary does
not address all tax consequences that may be applicable to a United States
Person that is a beneficial owner of Capital Securities, nor does it address the
tax consequences to, except as noted below, (i) persons that are not United
States Persons, (ii) persons that may be subject to special treatment under
United States federal income tax law, such as banks, insurance companies, thrift
institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts,
tax-exempt organizations and dealers in securities or currencies, (iii) persons
that will hold Capital Securities as part of a position in a "straddle" or as
part of a "hedging," "conversion" or other integrated investment transaction for
United States federal income tax purposes, (iv) persons whose functional
currency is not the United States dollar or (v) persons that do not hold Capital
Securities as capital assets.
The statements of law or legal conclusions set forth in this summary
constitute the opinion of Arnold & Porter, in its capacity as special tax
counsel to the Company and the Issuer Trust. This summary is based upon the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury regulations,
44
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rulings and pronouncements and judicial
decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change at any time. Such
changes may be applied retroactively in a manner that could cause the tax
consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below,
possibly adversely affecting a beneficial owner of Capital Securities. In
particular, legislation has been proposed that could adversely affect the
Company's ability to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
which may in turn permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Capital
Securities. See "--Possible Tax Law Changes." The authorities on which this
summary is based are subject to various interpretations, and it is therefore
possible that the United States federal income tax treatment of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of Capital Securities may differ from the treatment
described below.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS IN
LIGHT OF THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AS TO THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF CAPITAL SECURITIES,
AS WELL AS THE EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AND THE ISSUER TRUST
Under current law and assuming compliance with the terms of the Trust
Agreement, the Issuer Trust will not be taxable as a corporation but will
instead be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes. As a result, each beneficial owner of Capital Securities (a
"Securityholder") will be required to include in its gross income its pro rata
share of the interest income, including original issue discount ("OID"), paid or
accrued with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures whether or not cash
is actually distributed to the Securityholders. See "--Interest Income and
Original Issue Discount." The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be classified
as indebtedness of the Company for United States federal income tax purposes.
INTEREST INCOME AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
Under recently issued Treasury regulations applicable to debt instruments
issued on or after August 13, 1996 (the "Regulations"), a "remote" contingency
that stated interest will not be timely paid will be ignored in determining
whether a debt instrument is issued with OID. The Company believes that the
likelihood of its exercising its option to defer payments of interest is remote.
Based on the foregoing, the Company believes that the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will not be considered to be issued with OID at the time of their
original issuance and, accordingly, a Securityholder should include in gross
income such Securityholder's allocable share of interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in accordance with such Securityholder's method of tax
accounting.
Under the Regulations, if the Company exercised its option to defer any
payment of interest, the Junior Subordinated Debentures would at that time be
treated as issued with OID, and all stated interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures would thereafter be treated as OID as long as the Junior Subordinated
Debentures remained outstanding. In such event, all of a Securityholder's
taxable interest income with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures would
be accounted for as OID on an economic accrual basis regardless of such
Securityholder's method of tax accounting, and actual distributions of stated
interest would not be reported as taxable income. Consequently, a Securityholder
would be required to include in gross income OID even though the Company would
not make any actual cash payments during an Extension Period.
The Regulations have not been addressed in any rulings or other
interpretations by the IRS, and it is possible that the IRS could take a
position contrary to the interpretation herein.
Because income on the Capital Securities will constitute interest or OID,
corporate Securityholders will not be entitled to a dividends-received deduction
with respect to any income recognized with respect to the Capital Securities.
45
Subsequent uses of the term "interest" in this summary include income in the
form of OID.
DISTRIBUTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES TO SECURITYHOLDERS
Under current law, a distribution by the Issuer Trust of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures as described under the caption "Description of Capital
Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination" will be non-taxable and
will result in the Securityholder receiving directly its pro rata share of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures previously held indirectly through the Issuer
Trust, with a holding period and aggregate tax basis equal to the holding period
and aggregate tax basis such Securityholder had in its Capital Securities before
such distribution. If, however, the liquidation of the Issuer Trust were to
occur because the Issuer Trust is subject to United States federal income tax
with respect to income accrued or received on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to
Securityholders by the Issuer Trust would be a taxable event to the Issuer Trust
and each Securityholder, and the Securityholder would recognize gain or loss as
if the Securityholder had exchanged its Capital Securities for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures it received upon the liquidation of the Issuer Trust. A
Securityholder will accrue interest in respect of Junior Subordinated Debentures
received from the Issuer Trust in the manner described above under "--Interest
Income and Original Issue Discount."
Under certain circumstances described herein (see "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures--Redemption"), the Junior Subordinated Debentures may be
redeemed by the Company for cash and the proceeds of such redemption distributed
by the Issuer Trust to holders in redemption of their Capital Securities. Under
current law, such a redemption would, for United States federal income tax
purposes, constitute a taxable disposition of the redeemed Capital Securities,
and a holder would recognize gain or loss as if it sold such redeemed Capital
Securities for cash. See "--Sales of Capital Securities."
SALES OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
A Securityholder that sells Capital Securities will recognize gain or loss
equal to the difference between its adjusted tax basis in the Capital Securities
and the amount realized on the sale of such Capital Securities. Assuming that
the Company does not exercise its option to defer payment of interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, and the Capital Securities are not considered
issued with OID, a Securityholder's adjusted tax basis in the Capital Securities
generally will be its initial purchase price. If the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are deemed to be issued with OID as a result of the Company's
deferral of any interest payment, or otherwise, a Securityholder's tax basis in
the Capital Securities generally will be its initial purchase price, increased
by OID previously includible in such Securityholder's gross income to the date
of disposition and decreased by distributions or other payments received on the
Capital Securities since and including the date of commencement of the first
Extension Period. Such gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss
(except to the extent of any accrued interest with respect to such
Securityholder's pro rata share of the Junior Subordinated Debentures required
to be included in income) and generally will be a long-term capital gain or loss
if the Capital Securities have been held for more than one year.
Should the Company exercise its option to defer any payment of interest on
the Junior Subordinate Debentures, the Capital Securities may trade at a price
that does not accurately reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest with
respect to the underlying Junior Subordinated Debentures. In the event of such a
deferral, a Securityholder that disposes of its Capital Securities between
record dates for payments of distributions thereon will be required to include
in income as ordinary income accrued but unpaid interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to the date of disposition as OID, but may not receive
the cash related thereto. However, such Securityholder will add such amount to
its adjusted tax basis in the Capital Securities. To the extent the selling
price is less than the Securityholder's adjusted tax basis, such Securityholder
will recognize a capital loss. Subject to certain limited exceptions, capital
losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for United States federal
income tax purposes.
46
BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX AND INFORMATION REPORTING
The amount of interest income paid or accrued on the Capital Securities held
of record by United States Persons (other than corporations and other exempt
Securityholders) will be reported to the IRS. "Backup" withholding at a rate of
31% will apply to payments of interest to non-exempt United States Persons
unless the Securityholder furnishes its taxpayer identification number in the
manner prescribed in applicable Treasury regulations, certifies that such number
is correct, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding and
meets certain other conditions.
Payment of the proceeds from the disposition of Capital Securities to or
through the United States office of a broker is subject to information reporting
and backup withholding unless the Securityholder establishes an exemption from
information reporting and backup withholding.
Any amounts withheld from a Securityholder under the backup withholding
rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such Securityholder's
United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
It is anticipated that income on the Capital Securities will be reported to
Securityholders on Form 1099 and mailed to Securityholders by January 31
following each calendar year.
These backup withholding tax and information reporting rules currently are
under review by the United States Treasury Department and proposed Treasury
regulations issued on April 15, 1996 would modify certain of such rules
generally with respect to payments made after December 31, 1997. Accordingly,
the application of such rules to the Capital Securities could be changed.
UNITED STATES ALIEN SECURITYHOLDERS
For purposes of this discussion, a "United States Alien Securityholder" is
any corporation, individual, partnership, estate or trust that for United States
federal income tax purposes is a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien
individual, a foreign partnership or a nonresident fiduciary of a foreign estate
or trust.
Under current United States federal income tax law: (i) payments by the
Trust or any of its paying agents to any holder of Capital Securities that is a
United States Alien Securityholder will not be subject to United States federal
withholding tax, provided that (a) the beneficial owner of the Capital
Securities does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote,
(b) the beneficial owner of the Capital Securities is not a controlled foreign
corporation that is related to the Company through stock ownership, and (c)
either (A) the beneficial owner of the Capital Securities certifies to the
Trust, or its agent, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States
Securityholder and provides its name and address, or (B) a securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers'
securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a "Financial
Institution") and holds the Capital Securities certifies to the Trust or its
agent under penalties of perjury that such statement has been received from the
beneficial owner by it or by a Financial Institution between it and the
beneficial owner and furnishes the Trust or its agent with a copy thereof; and
(ii) a United States Alien Securityholder of Capital Securities will not be
subject to United States federal withholding tax on any gain realized upon the
sale or other disposition of Capital Securities.
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill, the revenue portion of
President Clinton's budget proposal, was released. If enacted, the Revenue
Reconciliation Bill would have generally denied interest deductions for interest
on an instrument issued by a corporation that has a maximum term of more than 20
years and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the
issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other than a
corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a related
instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated
balance sheet. For purposes of determining the weighted average maturity or the
term of an instrument,
47
any right to extend would be treated as exercised. The above-described
provisions of the Revenue Reconciliation Bill were proposed to be effective
generally for instruments issued on or after December 7, 1995. If the proposed
provision were to apply to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Company would
be unable to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. On March 29,
1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees
issued a joint statement to the effect that it was their intention that the
effective date of the President's legislative proposals, if adopted, will be no
earlier than the date of appropriate Congressional action. It is possible that
similar legislative proposals may be offered by the Clinton Administration and
considered by Congress beginning in 1997. Under current law, the Company will be
able to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. There can be no
assurance, however, that future legislative proposals or final legislation will
not affect the ability of the Company to deduct interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which may
permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Capital Securities, as described
more fully in this Offering Circular under "Description of Capital
Securities--Redemption."
CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Before authorizing an investment in the Capital Securities, fiduciaries of
pension, profit sharing and other employee benefit plans subject to ERISA
("Plans") should consider, among other matters, (a) ERISA's fiduciary standards,
(b) whether such investment in the Capital Securities by the Plan satisfies the
prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA, taking into account the
overall investment policy of the Plan and the composition of the Plan's
portfolio, (c) whether such fiduciaries have authority to make such investment
in the Capital Securities under the applicable Plan investment policies and
governing instruments, and (d) rules under ERISA and the Code that prohibit Plan
fiduciaries from causing a Plan to engage in a "prohibited transaction."
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit Plans, as well as
individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans subject to Section 4975 of the
Code (also "Plans"), from, among other things, engaging in certain transactions
involving "plan assets" with persons who are "parties in interest" under ERISA
or "disqualified persons" under Section 4975 of the Code ("Parties in Interest")
with respect to such Plan. A violation of these "prohibited transaction" rules
may result in imposition of an excise tax or other liabilities and adverse
consequences under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons,
unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory or
administrative exemption. Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as
defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section
3(33) of ERISA) and foreign plans (as described in Section 4(b)(5) of ERISA) are
not subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
Under a regulation (the "Plan Assets Regulation") issued by the U.S.
Department of Labor (the "DOL"), the assets of the Issuer Trust would be deemed
to be "plan assets" of a Plan for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code
if "plan assets" of the Plan were used to acquire an equity interest in the
Issuer Trust and no exception were applicable under the Plan Assets Regulation.
An "equity interest" is defined under the Plan Assets Regulation as any interest
in an entity other than an instrument which is treated as indebtedness under
applicable local law and which has no substantial equity features and
specifically includes a beneficial interest in a trust.
Pursuant to an exception contained in the Plan Assets Regulation, the assets
of the Issuer Trust will not be deemed to be "plan assets" of investing Plans
if, immediately after the most recent acquisition of any equity interest in the
Issuer Trust, less than 25% of the value of each class of equity interests in
the Issuer Trust is held by Plans, other employee benefit plans not subject to
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (such as governmental, church and foreign
plans), and entities holding assets deemed to be "plan assets" of any Plan
(collectively, "Benefit Plan Investors"). No monitoring or other measures will
be taken with respect to limiting the value of the Capital Securities held by
Benefit Plan Investors to less than 25% of the total value of such Capital
Securities at the completion of the [initial offering] or thereafter. Thus, the
conditions of the exception may not be satisfied. All the Common Securities will
be purchased and initially held by the Company.
48
Under another exception contained in the Plan Assets Regulation, if the
Capital Securities were to qualify as "publicly offered securities," the assets
of the Issuer Trust would not be deemed to be "plan assets." The Capital
Securities would qualify as "publicly offered securities" if, in addition to
being offered pursuant to an effective registration statement, they are also
subsequently registered under the Exchange Act, are "widely held," and are
"freely transferable." Under the Plan Assets Regulation, a class of securities
is "widely held" only if it is a class of securities owned by 100 or more
investors independent of the issuer and each other at the time of the offering.
It is not expected that, the Capital Securities will be "widely held." In
addition, the Company does not intend to register the Capital Securities under
the Exchange Act.
If none of the exceptions set forth in the Plan Assets Regulation apply to
the purchase of Capital Securities offered hereby, an investing Plan's assets
may be considered to include an undivided interest in the Junior Subordinated
Debentures held by the Issuer Trust and the Trustees, the Company and other
persons, in providing services with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, may be considered fiduciaries to such Plan and subject to the
fiduciary responsibility provision of Title I of ERISA. In addition, certain
transactions involving the Issuer Trust and/or the Capital Securities could be
deemed to constitute direct or indirect prohibited transactions under ERISA and
Section 4975 of the Code with respect to a Plan. For example, if the Company is
a Party in Interest with respect to an investing Plan (either directly or by
reason of its ownership of the Banks or other subsidiaries), extensions of
credit between the Company and the Issuer Trust (as represented by the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee) would likely be prohibited by Section
406(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and Section 4975(c)(1)(B) of the Code. For example, if the
Company is a Party in Interest with respect to an investing Plan, extensions of
credit between the Company and the Issuer Trust (as represented by the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee) would likely be prohibited by Section
406(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and Section 4975(c)(1)(B) of the Code, unless exemptive
relief were available under an applicable administrative exemption (see below).
The DOL has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions ("PTCEs")
that may provide exemptive relief if required for direct or indirect prohibited
transactions that may arise from the purchase or holding of the Capital
Securities, if the Capital Securities are acquired directly or indirectly from a
Party in Interest, and/or if assets of the Issuer Trust were deemed to be "plan
assets" of Plans investing in the Issuer Trust as described above. Those class
exemptions are PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset
managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company
general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank
collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving
insurance company separate accounts), and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions
determined by independent qualified asset managers).
Because the Capital Securities may be deemed to be equity interests in the
Issuer Trust for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, the Capital
Securities may not be purchased or held by any Plan, any entity whose underlying
assets include "plan assets" by reason of any Plan's investment in the entity (a
"Plan Asset Entity") or any person investing "plan assets" of any Plan, unless
such purchase or holding is covered by the exemptive relief provided by PTCE
96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable exemption. Any
purchaser or holder of the Capital Securities or any interest therein will be
deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding thereof that either (a)
it is not a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity and is not purchasing such securities on
behalf of or with "plan assets" of any Plan or (b) the purchase and holding of
the Capital Securities is covered by the exemptive relief provided by PTCE
96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable exemption. If a
purchaser or holder of the Capital Securities that is a Plan or a Plan Asset
Entity elects to rely on an exemption other than PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1
or 84-14, the Company and the Issuer Trust may require a satisfactory opinion of
counsel or other evidence with respect to the availability of such exemption for
such purchase and holding.
49
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed
upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly
important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the Capital
Securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any Plan consult with their
counsel regarding the potential consequences if the assets of the Issuer Trust
were deemed to be "plan assets" and the availability of exemptive relief under
PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or any other applicable exemption.
Government plans, as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA, are not subject to
ERISA, and are also not subject to the prohibited transaction provisions under
Section 4975 of the Code. However, state laws or regulations governing the
investment and management of the assets of such plans may contain fiduciary and
prohibited transaction requirements similar to those under ERISA and the Code
discussed above. Accordingly, fiduciaries of governmental plans, in consultation
with their advisors, should consider the impact of their respective state
pension laws on investments in the Capital Securities, and the considerations
discussed above, to the extent applicable.
SUPERVISION, REGULATION AND OTHER MATTERS
The following information is not intended to be an exhaustive description of
the statutes and regulations applicable to the Company. The discussion is
qualified in its entirety by reference to all particular statutory or regulatory
provisions. Additional information regarding supervision and regulation is
included in the documents incorporated herein by reference. See "Incorporation
of Certain Documents by Reference."
The business of the Company is influenced by prevailing economic conditions
and governmental policies, both foreign and domestic. The actions and policy
directives of the Federal Reserve determine to a significant degree the cost and
the availability of funds obtained from money market sources for lending and
investing. The Federal Reserve's policies and regulations also influence,
directly and indirectly, the rates of interest paid by commercial banks on their
time and savings deposits. The nature and impact on the Company of future
changes in economic conditions and monetary and fiscal policies, both foreign
and domestic, are not predictable.
The Company is subject to supervision and examination by federal bank
regulatory authorities. The Company's primary bank regulatory authority is the
Federal Reserve.
The federal bank regulatory authorities have each adopted risk-based capital
guidelines to which the Company is subject. These guidelines are based on an
international agreement developed by the Basle Committee on Banking Regulations
and Supervisory Practices, which consists of representatives of central banks
and supervisory authorities in 12 countries including the United States of
America. The guidelines establish a systematic analytical framework that makes
regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles
among banking organizations, takes off-balance sheet exposures into explicit
account in assessing capital adequacy and minimizes disincentives to holding
liquid, low-risk assets. Risk-based assets are determined by allocating assets
and specified off-balance sheet commitments and exposures into four weighted
categories, with higher levels of capital being required for the categories
perceived as representing greater risk.
Each of the Company's subsidiary banks are required to maintain a minimum
total risk-based ratio of 8%, of which half (4%) must be "Tier 1" capital. In
addition, the federal bank regulators established leverage ratio (Tier 1 capital
to total adjusted average assets) guidelines providing for a minimum leverage
ratio of 3% for banks meeting certain specified criteria, including excellent
asset quality, high liquidity, low interest rate exposure and the highest
regulatory rating. Institutions not meeting these criteria are expected to
maintain a ratio which exceeds the 3% minimum by at least 100 to 200 basis
points. The federal bank regulatory authorities may, however, set higher capital
requirements when a bank's particular circumstances warrant. Bank holding
companies are expected to serve as a source of strength to their subsidiary
banks under the Federal Reserve's regulations and policies.
50
Effective January 17, 1995, the federal bank regulatory agencies, including
the Federal Reserve, amended their respective agency risked-based capital
standards to include concentration of credit risk and the risks of
non-traditional activities. Those agencies, including the Federal Reserve, also
issued a joint policy statement, effective June 26, 1996, that provides guidance
on sound practices for interest rate risk management. The policy describes
critical factors affecting the agencies' evaluation of a bank's interest rate
risk when making a determination of capital adequacy.
The federal banking agencies possess broad powers to take corrective action
as deemed appropriate for an insured depository institution and its holding
companies. The extent of these powers depends upon whether the institution in
question is considered "well capitalized," "adequately capitalized,"
"undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized" or "critically
undercapitalized." Generally, as an institution is deemed to be less well
capitalized, the scope and severity of the agencies' powers increase. The
agencies' corrective powers can include, among other things, requiring an
insured financial institution to adopt a capital restoration plan which cannot
be approved unless guaranteed by the institution's parent holding company;
placing limits on asset growth and restrictions on activities; placing
restrictions on transactions with affiliates; restricting the interest rates the
institution may pay on deposits; prohibiting the institution from accepting
deposits from correspondent banks; prohibiting the payment of principal or
interest on subordinated debt; prohibiting the holding company from making
capital distributions without prior regulatory approval; and, ultimately,
appointing a receiver for the institution. Business activities may also be
influenced by an institution's capital classification. For instance, only a
"well capitalized" depository
institution may accept brokered deposits without prior regulatory approval and
only an "adequately capitalized" depository institution may accept brokered
deposits with prior regulatory approval. At September 30,1996, the Company, on a
consolidated basis, exceeded the required capital ratios for classification as a
"well capitalized" bank holding company.
The deposits of the Company's subsidiary banks are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") and are subject to FDIC insurance
assessments. The amount of FDIC assessments paid by individual insured
depository institutions is based on their relative risk as measured by
regulatory capital ratios and certain other factors. During 1995, the FDIC's
Board of Directors significantly reduced premium rates assessed for deposits
insured by the Bank Insurance Fund (the "BIF"), resulting in the Company not
currently being assessed a premium on its BIF-insured deposits. With respect to
deposits insured by the Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF"), on
September 30, 1996, President Clinton signed into law legislation that mandated
a one-time assessment on SAIF-insured deposits to recapitalize the SAIF. As a
result, for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, the Company recorded a pre-tax
charge of $7.0 million for this SAIF assessment. The legislation also mandates
reductions in deposit premium rates on SAIF-insured deposits.
Under federal law, a financial institution insured by the FDIC under common
ownership with a failed institution can be required to indemnify the FDIC for
its losses resulting from the insolvency of the failed institution, even if such
indemnification causes the affiliated institution also to become insolvent. As a
result, the Company could, under certain circumstances, be obligated for the
liabilities of its affiliates that are FDIC-insured institutions. In addition,
if any insured depository institution becomes insolvent and the FDIC is
appointed its conservator or receiver, the FDIC may disaffirm or repudiate any
contract or lease to which such institution is a party, the performance of which
is determined to be burdensome and the disaffirmance or repudiation of which is
determined to promote the orderly administration of the institution's affairs.
If Federal law were construed to permit the FDIC to apply these provisions to
debt obligations of an insured depository institution, the result could be that
such obligations would be prepaid without premium. Federal law also accords the
claims of a receiver of an insured depository institution for administrative
expenses and the claims of holders of deposit liabilities of such an institution
priority over the claims of general unsecured creditors of such an institution
in the event of a liquidation or other resolution of such institution.
51
The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, currently permits
adequately capitalized and adequately managed bank holding companies from any
state to acquire banks and bank holding companies located in any other state,
subject to certain conditions. Effective June 1, 1997, the Company will have the
ability, subject to certain restrictions, including state opt-out provisions, to
consolidate with other banking subsidiaries of the Company or to acquire by
acquisition or merger branches outside of its home state. States may
affirmatively opt-in earlier, which New York (among other states) has done.
Competition may increase as banks branch across state lines and enter new
markets.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
dated , 1997 (the "Underwriting Agreement") among the Company, the
Issuer Trust, and each of (the "Underwriters"), the Issuer Trust has
agreed to sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters have agreed to
purchase, severally but not jointly, the Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities set forth opposite their names below:
LIQUIDATION AMOUNT
OF CAPITAL
UNDERWRITERS: SECURITIES:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
Morgan Stanley & Company Incorporated.................................... $
Merrill Lynch & Co.......................................................
Keefe, Bruyette..........................................................
Total.............................................................. $ 5,000,000
Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, in the event
of a default by an Underwriter, in certain circumstances, the purchase
commitments of non-defaulting Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting
Agreement may be terminated.
The initial purchase price for the Capital Securities will be the initial
offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus (the "Capital
Securities Offering Price"). The Underwriters propose to offer the Capital
Securities at the Capital Securities Offering Price, and all or part to certain
dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $. per
Capital Security. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a
concession not inexcess of $. per Capital Securities to certain other dealers.
After the Capital Securities are released for sale, the Capital Securities
Offering Price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the
Underwriters.
In view of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the Capital
Securities will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by
the Company, the Underwriting Agreement provides that the Company will pay as
compensation for the Underwriters' arranging the investment therein of such
proceeds an amount of $ per Capital Security (or $ in the aggregate)
for the accounts of the Underwriters.
The Capital Securities are a new issue of securities with no established
trading market. The Company and the Issuer Trust have been advised by the
Underwriters that they intend to make a market in the Capital Securities.
However, the Underwriters are not obligated to do so and such market making may
be interrupted or discontinued at any time without notice at the sole discretion
of any Underwriter. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the development
or liquidity of any market for the Capital Securities.
The Company and the Issuer Trust have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
and certain other persons against, or contribute to payments that the
Underwriters may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates have provided from time to
time, and expect to provide in the future, investment or commercial banking
services to the Company and its affiliates, for which such
52
Underwriters or their affiliates have received or will receive customary fees
and commissions. See "Use of Proceeds."
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Capital
Securities, the enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the creation of the
Issuer Trust will be passed upon by Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, special
Delaware counsel to the Company and the Issuer Trust. The validity of the
Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be passed upon for the
Company by Arnold & Porter, special counsel to the Company, and Richard A.
Lammert, Esquire, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company, and for the Underwriters by Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Mr. Lammert is an
officer and employee of the Company.
EXPERTS
The audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, are
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (and elsewhere in the Registration
Statement) in reliance upon the report of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
accountants, given upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
Documents incorporated herein by reference in the future will include
financial statements, related schedules (if required) and auditors' reports,
which financial statements and schedules will have been audited to the extent
and for the periods set forth in such reports by the firm or firms rendering
such reports, and, to the extent so audited and consent to incorporation by
reference is given, will be incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon
such reports given upon the authority of such firms as experts in accounting and
auditing.
53
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The following expenses will be incurred in connection with the issuance and
distribution of the Securities being registered, other than underwriting
discounts and commissions.
To be borne by the Company:
Registration Fee.................................................... $ 1,516
Legal Services...................................................... *
Printing and Engraving.............................................. *
Accounting Fees..................................................... *
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses.......................................... *
Miscellaneous....................................................... *
---------
Total...........................................................
- ------------------------
* To be provided by amendment.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Sections 722-725 of the New York Business Corporation Law permit the
indemnification of any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action
or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, other than an action brought by or in
the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director or officer of the corporation or was serving in any capacity for
another enterprise at the request of the corporation, against judgments, fines,
amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred as a result of such action or proceeding,
provided such person acted in good faith and for a purpose he or she reasonably
believed to be in, or in the case of service for another enterprise, not opposed
to, the best interests of the corporation.
With respect to a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, such
person may be indemnified against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable
expenses (including attorneys' fees) if he or she acted in good faith and for a
purpose he or she reasonably believed to be in, or in the case of service for
another enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation. The
statute provides, however, that no indemnification is allowed with respect to a
threatened action, pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or
as to any person who is adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to
the extent that the court, upon application, determines that such person is
entitled to indemnification under the circumstances.
The Bylaws of the Company provide that directors and officers shall be
indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by the New York Business Corporation
Law or any other applicable law; provided, however, that a director or officer
shall be indemnified with respect to any action or proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by any such director or officer only if such action or proceeding (or
part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors.
The Company has purchased insurance insuring officers and directors of the
Company against certain liabilities incurred in their capacities as such to
insure the Company against payments which it is obligated to make to such
persons under the foregoing indemnification provisions. Such liabilities could
include liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
II-1
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index on page II-4 of this Registration
Statement are filed herewith, will be filed by amendment, or are incorporated
herein by reference to other filings.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
1. That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933 as amended (the "Securities Act"), each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
2. That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h)
under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
3. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the provisions set forth in Item 15 hereof, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("Commission") such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceedings) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered and the Commission remains of
the same opinion, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
II-2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Buffalo, New York, on this 17th day of January, 1997.
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
BY /S/ MICHAEL P. PINTO
-----------------------------------------
Michael P. Pinto
Senior Vice President and Controller
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on January 17, 1997:
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------ --------------------------- -------------------
Chairman of the Board, January 17, 1997
*ROBERT C. WILMERS President and Chief
- ------------------------------ Executive Officer
Robert C. Wilmers (Principal Executive
Officer)
Senior Vice President and January 17, 1997
/s/ MICHAEL P. PINTO Controller (Principal
- ------------------------------ Financial and Accounting
Michael P. Pinto Officer)
*BRENT D. BAIRD Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
Brent D. Baird
*JOHN H. BENISCH Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
John H. Benisch
*C. ANGELA BONTEMPO Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
C. Angela Bontempo
*ROBERT T. BRADY Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
Robert T. Brady
*PATRICK J. CALLAN Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
Patrick Callan
II-3
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------ --------------------------- -------------------
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
James A. Carrigg
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
Barber B. Conable, Jr.
*RICHARD E. GARMAN Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
Richard E. Garman
*JAMES V. GLYNN Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
James V. Glynn
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
Roy M. Goodman
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
Patrick W.E. Hodgson
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
Samuel T. Hubbard
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
Lambros J. Lambros
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
Wilfred J. Larson
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
Jorge G. Pereira
Director January , 1997
- ------------------------------
Raymond D. Stevens, Jr.
*HERBERT L. WASHINGTON Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
Herbert L. Washington
II-4
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------ --------------------------- -------------------
*JOHN L. WEHLE, JR. Director January 17, 1997
- ------------------------------
John L. Wehle, Jr.
/s/ GARY S. PAUL
------------------------------
Gary S. Paul
By (Attorney-in-Fact)
II-5
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Trust has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Buffalo, State of New
York on January 17, 1997.
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
By FIRST EMPIRE STATE
CORPORATION,
as Depositor
By /s/ GARY S. PAUL
------------------------------
Gary S. Paul
(Attorney-in-Fact)
II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement, filed herewith.
4.1 Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture, filed herewith.
4.2 Form of Trust Agreement, filed herewith.
4.3 Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, filed herewith.
4.4 Form of Guarantee, filed herewith.
5.1 Opinion of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, to be filed by amendment.
5.2 Opinion of Richard A. Lammert, to be filed by amendment.
8.1 Tax opinion of Arnold & Porter, to be filed by amendment.
12.1 Statements re computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges, filed herewith.
23.1 Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, filed herewith.
23.2 Consent of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, to be filed by amendment.
23.3 Consent of Richard A. Lammert, to be filed by amendment.
23.4 Consent of Arnold & Porter, to be filed by amendment.
24.1 Powers of Attorney of certain directors and officers of First Empire State
Corporation, filed herewith.
25.1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Bankers
Trust
Company, as trustee under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, the Amended and Restated
Trust
Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement relating to First Empire Capital Trust I, to be
filed by
amendment.
25.2 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Bankers
Trust (Delaware), as trustee under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement relating
to First Empire Capital Trust I, to be filed by amendment.
Exhibit 1.1
DRAFT as of 1/16/97
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
5,000,000
_____% Capital Securities
(Liquidation Amount $25 per Capital Security)
by
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
January __, 1997
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
First Empire Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), a statutory business trust
organized under the Business Trust Act (the "Delaware Act") of the State of
Delaware (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Business Code, 12 Del. C.
Section 3801 et seq.), and First Empire State Corporation, a New York
corporation (the "Corporation"), as depositor of the Trust and as guarantor,
propose, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein to issue and sell %
Capital Securities with an aggregate liquidation amount equal to $5,000,000 (the
"Capital Securities") to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Merrill Lynch & Co.,
and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters"), for whom
you (the "Representative") are acting as representative.
The Capital Securities and Common Securities (as defined herein) are to
be issued pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated
as of January __, 1997 (the "Trust Agreement"), among First Empire State
Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Corporation" and, together with the
Trust, the "Offerors"), as depositor, and Bankers Trust Company ("Trust
Company"), a New York banking corporation, as property trustee ("Property
Trustee") and Bankers Trust (Delaware) ("Trust Delaware"), a Delaware banking
corporation, as Delaware trustee ("Delaware Trustee") and the holders from time
to time of undivided interests in the assets of the Trust. The Capital
Securities will be guaranteed by the Corporation on a subordinated basis and
subject to certain limitations with respect to distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption or otherwise (the "Guarantee") pursuant to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Agreement dated as of January __, 1997 (the
"Guarantee Agreement"), between the Corporation and the Trust Company, as
Trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"). The assets of the Trust will consist of ____%
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, due February 1, 2027 (the
"Subordinated Debentures") of the Corporation which will be issued under an
indenture dated as of January __, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between the
Corporation and the Trust Company, as Trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"). Under
certain circumstances, the Subordinated Debentures will be distributable to the
holders of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
The Corporation and the Trust have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No.
___-_____) and a related preliminary prospectus for the registration of the
Capital Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "Securities Act
Regulations"). The Corporation and the Trust have prepared and filed such
amendments thereto, if any, and such amended preliminary prospectuses, if any,
as may have been required to the date hereof, and will file such additional
amendments thereto and such amended prospectuses as may hereafter be required.
The registration statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act
by the Commission. The registration statement as amended at the time it became
effective (including the Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference
therein pursuant the section therein entitled "Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference" and all information deemed to be a part of the
registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b)
of the Securities Act Regulations) is hereinafter called the "Registration
Statement," except that, if the Company files a post-effective amendment to such
registration statement which becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as
defined below), "Registration Statement" shall refer to such registration
statement as so amended. Each prospectus included in the registration statement,
or amendments thereof, before it became effective under the Securities Act and
any prospectus filed with the Commission by the Company with the consent of the
Underwriters pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Securities Act Regulations
(including the documents incorporated by reference therein) is hereinafter
called the "Preliminary Prospectus." The term "Prospectus" means the final
prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein), as first
filed with the Commission pursuant to paragraph (1) or (4) of Rule 424(b) of the
Securities Act Regulations. The Commission has not issued any order preventing
or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus. The Corporation hereby
agrees with the Underwriters as follows:
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1. Representation and Warranties. Each of the Offerors represents and
warrants to the Underwriters that as of the date hereof and on the Closing Date
(as hereinafter defined).
(a) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any
further amendments or supplements thereto will, when they become effective or
are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conform, in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), with respect to the documents
incorporated by reference, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"Trust Indenture Act"), and the applicable rules and regulations under said
acts; the Trust Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, and the Indenture conform
with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act, and the applicable rules and
regulations thereunder; the Registration Statement did not, and any amendment
thereto will not, in each case as of the applicable effective date, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements made, not misleading; and the Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto will not, as of the applicable filing date and
at the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in
this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the
Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to the Trust or the Corporation by or on behalf of
any Underwriter in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus.
(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
pursuant the section therein entitled "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference," at the time they were filed with the Commission, complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities
Act Regulations, and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) Neither the Corporation nor the Trust is an open-end investment
company, unit investment trust or face-amount certificate company that is, or is
required to be, registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), nor is either a closed-end
investment company required to be registered but not registered thereunder.
- 3 -
(d) Each report filed by the Corporation with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Exchange Act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, and incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, compiled when filed with the SEC as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable
rules and regulations thereunder.
(e) The Trust and the Company meet the requirements for the use of
Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
(f) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending
the use of the Prospectus, nor instituted proceedings for that purpose.
2. Offering. The Representative has advised the Corporation that the
Underwriters will make an offering of the Capital Securities purchased by such
Underwriters hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration
Statement as soon as practicable after this Agreement is entered into, as in the
Representative's sole judgment is advisable. The entire proceeds from the sale
of the Capital Securities will be combined with the entire proceeds from the
sale by the Trust to the Corporation of the Trust's common securities (the
"Common Securities"), and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent
amount of the Subordinated Debentures.
3. Purchase and Delivery; Commission. The Trust hereby agrees to sell to
the Underwriters and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, upon the basis
of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the
conditions hereinafter stated, agrees to purchase from the Trust the aggregate
liquidation amount of Capital Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's
name on Schedule I hereto.
As compensation to the Underwriters for their commitments hereunder, and
in view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Capital Securities will
be issued by the Trust to purchase the Subordinated Debentures of the
Corporation, the Corporation hereby agrees to pay at the Time of Delivery (as
defined below) to the Representative, for the accounts of the several
Underwriters, an amount equal to $_____ per Preferred Security for the Capital
Securities to be delivered at the Time of Delivery.
Except as set forth in the next paragraph, the Capital Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will be represented by one or more
definitive global Capital Securities in book entry form which will be deposited
by or on behalf of the Trust with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its
designated custodian. The Trust will deliver the Capital Securities to the
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Representative, for the account of each Underwriter, against payment by or on
behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by certified or
official bank check or checks or fedwire, payable to the order of the Trust in
Federal (same day) funds, by causing DTC to credit the Capital Securities to the
account of the Representative at DTC. The Trust will cause the certificates
representing the Securities to be made available to the Representative for
checking at least 24 hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) at
the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the "Designated Office"). The
time and date of such delivery and payment shall be at the offices of Cravath,
Swaine & Moore, Worldwide Plaza, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10019, at
10:00 a.m, New York time, on January __, 1997 (the "Closing Date") or such other
time and date as the Representative, the Corporation and the Trust may agree
upon in writing. Such time and date are herein called the "Time of Delivery".
Such Capital Securities, if any, as the Representative may request upon at
least 48 hours' prior notice to the Trust (such request to include the
authorized denominations and the names in which they are to be registered),
shall be delivered in definitive certificated form, by and on behalf of the
Trust to the Representative for the account of certain of the Underwriters,
against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price
therefor by fedwire, payable to the order of the Trust in Federal (same day)
funds. The Trust will cause the certificates representing the Capital Securities
to be made available for checking and packaging at least 24 hours prior to the
Time of Delivery at the office of Trust Company, 4 Albany Street, New York, New
York 10006.
4. Conditions to Closing. The several obligations of the Underwriters to
purchase and pay for the Capital Securities will be subject to the following
conditions:
(a) The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission
in accordance with Section 4(a); and at the Closing Date, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof
shall have been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings therefor
initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any request of the Commission for
inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus shall have been complied with and there shall not have come to the
attention of the Underwriters any facts that would cause the Underwriters to
believe that the Prospectus, at the time it was required to be delivered to a
purchaser of the Capital Securities, contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances existing at such time, not
misleading.
- 5 -
(b) The Underwriters shall have received, on the Closing Date, a
certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, a Vice Chairman
of the Board or any Executive or Senior Vice President and the principal
financial or accounting officer of the Corporation, dated the Closing Date, to
the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the
Registration Statement and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Corporation in
this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and
as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the
Closing Date and the Corporation has complied in all material
respects with all the agreements and satisfied in all material
respects all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
at or prior to the Closing Date; and
(ii) since the date of the most recent financial statements
included in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any supplement
thereto), there has been no material adverse change in the condition
(financial or other), earnings, business or properties of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not
arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except
as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement
(exclusive of any supplement thereto).
(c) Subsequent to the date hereof or, if earlier, the dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any
amendment thereof), there shall not have been any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business or properties of
the Corporation and its subsidiaries the effect of which is, in the judgment of
the Underwriters, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the delivery of the Capital
Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any
amendment thereof).
(d) The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the
Closing Date, of Arnold & Porter, substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
In rendering such opinion, counsel may state that they are passing only on
matters of New York and United States Federal law. In rendering such opinion,
counsel may rely upon an opinion or opinions, each dated the Closing Date, of
other counsel retained by them or the Corporation as to laws of any jurisdiction
other than the United States or the State of New York, provided that (A) such
reliance is expressly authorized by each opinion so relied upon and a copy of
each such opinion is
- 6 -
delivered to the Underwriters, and (B) counsel shall state in their opinion that
they and the Underwriters are justified in relying thereon. Insofar as such
opinions involve factual matters, such counsel may rely, to the extent such
counsel deems proper, upon certificates of officers of the Corporation, its
subsidiaries and the Trust and certificates of public officials.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of Richard A. Lammert, General Counsel to the Corporation, substantially
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that he is passing only
on matters of New York and United States Federal law. Insofar as such opinions
involve factual matters, such counsel may rely, to the extent such counsel deems
proper, upon certificates of officers of the Corporation, its subsidiaries and
the Trust and certificates of public officials.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of White & Case, counsel to the Trust Company and Trust Delaware,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(g) The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel to the Underwriters as to such matters
as the Underwriters shall reasonably request.
In rendering such opinion, counsel may rely upon an opinion or opinions,
each dated the Closing Date, of other counsel retained by them or the
Corporation as to laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or the
State of New York, provided that (A) such reliance is expressly authorized by
each opinion so relied upon and a copy of each such opinion is delivered to the
Underwriters, and (B) counsel shall state in their opinion that they believe
that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying thereon. Insofar as such
opinions involve factual matters, such counsel may rely, to the extent such
counsel deems proper, upon certificates of officers of the Corporation, its
subsidiaries and the Trust and certificates of public officials.
(h) The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell , special Delaware counsel to the
Corporation and the Trust, substantially to the effect and in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit D.
(i) The Capital Securities shall have received a rating from each of
Moody's Investor Service, Inc. and Standard &
- 7 -
Poor's Rating Services, each such rating to be not less than the rating set
forth in the Registration Statement.
(j) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
letter, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
them, from Price Waterhouse LLP independent public accountants, containing
statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accounts "comfort
letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain
financial information, including the financial information contained or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement as identified by you.
(k) Prior to the Closing Date, the Corporation shall have furnished
to the Underwriters such further information, certificates and documents as the
Underwriters may reasonably request in connection with the offering of the
Capital Securities.
(l) No downgrading in the rating accorded the Capital Securities or
any other debt securities of the Corporation by any "nationally recognized
statistical rating organization" (as that term is defined by the SEC for the
purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act) shall have occurred, or any
public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review
their ratings of the Capital Securities or any other debt securities of the
Corporation (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible
upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating), and
if, in any such case, the effect thereof in the reasonable judgment of the
Underwriters makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase
of the Capital Securities.
5. Covenants of the Offerors. In further consideration of the agreements of
the Underwriters herein contained, the Offerors covenant as follows:
(a) The Trust and the Corporation will prepare the Prospectus in a
form approved by the Underwriters and will file such Prospectus with the
Commission pursuant to subparagraph (1) or (4) of Rule 424(b) not later than the
Commission's close of business on the second business day following the
execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Trust will notify the Underwriters
immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto (including any post-effective
amendment), and of the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) of
the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the
Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, and (iv) of the
issuance by the
- 8 -
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the
securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Trust and the Corporation
will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order or
of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification and, if any such order is
issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(b) The Trust and the Corporation will deliver to the Underwriters one
manually executed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of
each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by
reference therein and documents incorporated by reference into the Prospectus),
such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (including documents incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus but without exhibits) as such Underwriters may
reasonably request and copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and
any amended or supplemented Prospectus.
(c) The Trust and the Corporation will furnish to the Underwriters,
from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented, if applicable) as they may reasonably request for the
purposes contemplated by the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations.
(d) The Trust and the Corporation will deliver to the Underwriters notice
of their intention to prepare or file any amendment to the Registration
Statement relating to the Capital Securities (including any post-effective
amendment) or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (other than
documents deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus) which the
Trust and the Corporation propose for use by the Underwriters in connection with
the offering of the Capital Securities and which differs from the prospectus on
file at the Commission at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective,
whether or not such revised prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations), will furnish the Underwriters and
counsel for the Underwriters with copies of any such amendment or supplement a
reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may
be, and will not file any such amendment or supplement or use any such
prospectus to which the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters shall
reasonably object.
- 9 -
(e) If, during such period after the Closing Date and prior to the
date on which the distribution of Capital Securities by the Underwriters is
completed, any event shall occur as a result of which it is necessary, in the
opinion of the Offerors' counsel, to amend or supplement the Prospectus (as then
amended or supplemented) in order to ensure that the Prospectus does not contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, or it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, forthwith to prepare and furnish,
at the Corporation's own expense, to the Underwriters, either amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so
amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law, as
the case may be.
(f) The Trust and the Corporation, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, will file
promptly all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act subsequent to the time the Registration
Statement becomes effective.
(g) To endeavor to qualify the Capital Securities for offer and sale
under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Underwriter
shall reasonably request and to pay all reasonable expenses (including
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with such
qualification and the printing of any memoranda concerning the aforesaid
qualification; provided, however, that neither Offeror shall be required to
qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now qualified or to
take any action which would subject it to general or unlimited service of
process in any jurisdiction where they are not now subject.
(h) During the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to
and including the Closing Date, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of (other than in an offering made exclusively outside the
United States) any securities of the Corporation or the Trust substantially
similar to the Capital Securities or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for the Capital Securities without the prior written consent of the
Underwriters.
(i) During the period when the Capital Securities are outstanding,
the Corporation will not be or become an open-end investment company, unit
investment trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be
registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.
- 10 -
(j) Neither the Corporation nor the Trust shall enter into any
contractual agreement with respect to the distribution of the Capital Securities
except for the arrangements with the Underwriters.
(k) The Corporation will make generally available to its security
holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than
15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earnings
statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of
at least 12 consecutive months beginning on the first day of the first full
fiscal quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which
earnings statement shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Securities Act Regulations and will advise
you in writing when such statement has been so made available. If such fiscal
quarter is the last fiscal quarter of the Trust's fiscal year, such earnings
statement shall be made available not later than 90 days after the close of the
period covered thereby and in all other cases shall be made available not later
than 45 days after the close of the period covered thereby.
(l) For a period of five years (but not beyond any such date on
which no Securities shall be outstanding) after the Closing Date, the Trust and
the Corporation will furnish to the Underwriters copies of all reports and
communications delivered to the Trust's shareholders or to holders of the
Capital Securities and will also furnish copies of all reports (excluding
exhibits) filed with the Commission on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K, and all other
reports and information furnished to its shareholders generally, not later than
the time such reports are first furnished to its shareholders generally.
6. Expenses. The Corporation covenants and agrees with the Underwriters
that the Corporation will, whether or not any sale of the Capital Securities is
consummated, pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) costs of preparation and
printing (including reasonable word processing and duplication costs) of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements
thereto, (ii) all expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Corporation and the Trust) payable pursuant to Section 5 of the
Agreement, (iii) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation, issuance and delivery of the Capital Securities, (iv) the fees and
disbursements of the Corporation's accountants, (v) all costs and expenses
incurred in the preparation and the printing (including word processing and
duplication costs) of the Capital Securities, the Indenture, the Guarantee
Agreement, the Trust Agreement and all other documents relating to the issuance,
purchase and initial resale of the Capital Securities, (vi) all other costs and
expenses incident to the performance by the
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Corporation of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically
provided in this Section. The Underwriters shall be responsible for all of their
own expenses, including the fees of the Underwriters' counsel, any taxes on
resales of the Capital Securities by the Underwriters and the costs of assigning
a rating or ratings to the Capital Securities.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) Each of the Corporation and the
Trust jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls each such Underwriter within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by
any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement
or omission based upon information furnished in writing to the Corporation by
the Underwriters expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the
foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting
any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Capital Securities, or
any person controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Registration Statement
(as then amended or supplemented if the Corporation shall have furnished any
amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such
Underwriter to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
of the Capital Securities to such persons, and if the Registration Statement (as
so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such
loss, claim, damage or liability. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition
to any liability that the Corporation or Trust may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Corporation, the Trust, any authorized representative of
the Corporation or the Trust and any person controlling the Corporation, to the
same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Corporation and the Trust to the
Underwriters, but only with reference to information furnished in writing by
such Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement and any
amendments or supplements thereto. The Corporation and the Trust each
acknowledge that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover
page of
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the Prospectus and the last paragraph on page 5, the second and fifth paragraphs
under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus constitute the only
information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters for use in
the Registration Statement, and the Representative, confirms that such
statements are correct. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any
liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be threatened or instituted involving any person in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this
Section 7, such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the
person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in
writing (but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party other than
under this Section 7) and the indemnifying, party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the
indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and pay the reasonable fees
and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the
indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
shall have mutually agreed to retention of such counsel or (ii) the named
parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and the representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one
separate firm for all such indemnified parties. In the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, such separate firm
shall be designated in writing by the Representative. In the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 8, such separate firm
shall be designated in writing by the Corporation. The indemnifying party shall
not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the
plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from
and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under paragraphs (a) or (b) hereof or
insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred
to therein, then
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each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Corporation and the
Trust on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the
Capital Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative
fault of the Corporation and the Trust on the one hand and of the Underwriters
on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Corporation and
the Trust on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with
the offering of such Capital Securities shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds (before deducting expenses) from the
offering of such Capital Securities received by the Corporation bear to the
total discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter in respect thereof.
The relative fault of the Corporation and the Trust on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Corporation and the Trust or by the Underwriters and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statements or omissions.
(e) The Corporation, the Trust and the Underwriters agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does
not take account of the considerations referred to in paragraph (d) of this
Section 7. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) of this
Section 7 shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any reasonable legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 and the representations and warranties of the Corporation, the Trust
and the Underwriters in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force
and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any
investigation made by or on behalf of a Underwriter or any person controlling
such Underwriter, or by or on behalf of
- 14 -
the Trust or the Corporation, its directors or officers, any authorized
representative of the Corporation or the Trust or any person controlling the
Corporation or the Trust, and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the
Capital Securities.
8. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the
absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice to the Corporation, if
prior to the Closing Date (i) trading in securities generally on the New York
Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or materially limited, (ii) a general
moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been declared
by either Federal or New York State authorities, or (iii) there shall have
occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other calamity or
crisis the effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such
as to make it, in the reasonable judgment of the Representative, impracticable
to market the Capital Securities or to enforce contracts for the resale of
Capital Securities.
9. Pro Rata Purchase in Certain Events. If on the Closing Date any one or
more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Capital Securities
that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder and the aggregate liquidation
amount of Capital Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the
aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities to be purchased on such date,
the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions which the
aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities set forth opposite their
names in Schedule 1 to this Agreement bears to the aggregate liquidation amount
of Capital Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as the Representative may specify, to
purchase the Capital Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If on the Closing Date
any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Capital
Securities and the aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities with
respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate
liquidation amount of Capital Securities to be purchased on such date, and
arrangements satisfactory to the Representative and the Corporation for the
purchase of such Capital Securities are not made within 36 hours after such
default, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate without liability on the part
of any non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Corporation or the Trust. In any
such case either the Representative or the Corporation shall have the right to
postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order
that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement or in any other
documents or arrangements
- 15 -
may be effected. An action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
10. Reimbursement upon Termination in Certain Circumstances. If this
Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters or any of them, because of any
failure or refusal on the part of the Corporation to comply in any material
respect with the terms or to fulfill in any material respect any of the
conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Corporation shall be
unable to perform in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement,
the Corporation shall reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so
terminated the Agreement, with respect to themselves, severally, for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in
connection with the offering of the Capital Securities.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
12. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
- 16 -
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the
Trust, the Corporation and the several Underwriters by having an authorized
officer sign a copy of this Agreement in the space set forth below and by
returning the signed copy to us.
Very truly yours,
[_________________]
As representative of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule 1 hereto
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
Incorporated
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted:
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
By: FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
on behalf of First Empire Capital Trust I
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
- 17 -
SCHEDULE 1
Underwriter Amount
- ----------- ------
Total $5,000,000
==========
- 18 -
EXHIBIT A
The opinion of special counsel to the Corporation to be delivered pursuant to
Section 4(c) of the Underwriting Agreement shall be substantially to the effect
that:
1. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Corporation.
2. The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Corporation, and is a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation,
enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally,
general equity principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
3. The Guarantee Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Corporation and is a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation
enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally,
general equity principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
4. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Corporation and is a valid and binding agreement of the Corporation, enforceable
against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally,
general equity principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
5. The Subordinated Debentures have been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Corporation and when duly authenticated in accordance with the Indenture
and delivered and paid for in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, will
be valid and binding obligations of the Corporation, entitled to the benefits of
the Indenture and enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with their
terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, moratorium,
fraudulent
- 19 -
conveyance or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally,
general equity principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
6. The Trust is not an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an
"investment company," as such terms are defined in Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
7. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement under the captions
"Description of Capital Securities," "Description of Guarantee" and
"Relationship among the Capital Securities," the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the Guarantee," insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the
laws and documents referred to therein, fairly summarize the matters described
therein.
10. The Registration Statement was declared effective under the Securities Act
as of the date and time specified in such opinion and, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge and information, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and no
proceedings therefor have been initiated or threatened by the Commission.
9. The statements of law or legal conclusions and opinions set forth in the
Registration Statement under the caption "Certain United States Federal Income
Tax Consequences," subject to the assumptions and conditions described therein,
constitute our
opinion.
- 20 -
EXHIBIT B
The opinion of counsel to be delivered by the Corporation pursuant to Section
4(d) of the Underwriting Agreement shall be substantially to the effect that:
1. The Corporation is a corporation validly organized and presently subsisting
under the laws of the State of New York, with requisite corporate power and
authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement, except for such power and authority the absence of which
would not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation, and is duly
registered as bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956,
as amended.
2. No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental
agency, authority, or body is required for the consummation by the Corporation
of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, except those
that have been obtained; it being understood that he expresses no opinion as to
the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction.
3. The issuance and sale of the Capital Securities and the Subordinated
Debentures and the execution, delivery and performance by the Corporation and
the Trust of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreement
and the Trust Agreement will not violate the Articles of Incorporation or
by-laws of the Corporation, as amended to date, or any material agreement or
other instrument known to him to which the Corporation or the Trust is a party
or any material order or regulation known to him to be applicable to the
Corporation or the Trust of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency,
governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Corporation.
Such counsel shall further state that nothing has come to him attention that has
caused him to believe that the Registration Statement (except for the financial
statements and schedules and other financial or statistical data contained or
incorporated therein, as to which he need express no belief), including the
documents incorporated by reference therein, as of the date of the Registration
Statement, contained, and as of the date of such opinion, contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
- 21 -
EXHIBIT C
The opinion of counsel to the Trust Company and Trust Delaware to be delivered
pursuant to Section 4(f) of the Underwriting Agreement shall be substantially to
the effect that:
1. The Trust Company is duly incorporated and is validly existing in good
standing as a banking corporation with trust powers under the laws of the State
of New York.
2. Trust Delaware is duly incorporated and is validly existing in good standing
as a banking corporation with trust powers under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
3. The Indenture Trustee has the requisite power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under the Indenture, and has taken all
necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance
by it of the Indenture.
4. The Guarantee Trustee has the requisite power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under the Guarantee Agreement, and has taken
all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance by it of the Guarantee Agreement.
5. The Property Trustee has the requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver the Trust Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize the execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement.
6. The Delaware Trustee has the requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver the Trust Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize the execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement.
7. Each of the Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Indenture Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively, and
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Indenture Trustee and
the Guarantee Trustee, respectively, enforceable against the Indenture Trustee
and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively in accordance with its respective terms,
except that certain payment obligations may be enforceable solely against the
assets of the Trust and except that such enforcement may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, fraudulent
conveyance and transfer or other similar laws applicable to Delaware banking
corporations affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and by
general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of
materiality, reasonableness, good
- 22 -
faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law).
8. The Subordinated Debentures delivered on the date hereof have been duly
authenticated by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture.
- 23 -
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF OPINION OF MORRIS, NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL,
SPECIAL DELAWARE COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY AND
THE TRUST TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 7(e)
1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a
business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act, 12 Del. C. ss. 3801 et
seq. (the "Delaware Act"), with the business trust power and authority to own
property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement
and to enter into and perform its obligations under each of the Underwriting
Agreement, the Capital Securities, the Common Securities and the Trust
Agreement.
2. The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the Trust Agreement and,
when issued and delivered by the Trust to the Company in accordance with the
terms of the Trust Agreement against payment therefor in accordance with the
terms of the Registration Statement and as described in the Registration
Statement, will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Trust
Agreement) fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the trust. Under the Delaware Act and the Trust Agreement, the
issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar
rights. We note that the Holders of Common Securities will be subject to the
withholding provisions of Section 10.4 of the Trust Agreement, as set forth in
the Trust Agreement and will be liable for the debts and obligations of the
Trust to the extent provided in Section 9.1(b) of the Trust Agreement.
3. The Capital Securities have been duly authorized by the Trust Agreement and,
when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement,
against payment of the consideration as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement,
the Capital Securities will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the
Trust Agreement) fully and non-assessable undivided beneficial interest in the
assets of the Trust. The Holders of the Capital Securities will be entitled to
the benefits of the Trust Agreement (subject to the limitations set forth in
Paragraph 5 below) and will be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability as extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law; provided that we express
no opinion as to any Holder of a Capital Security that is, was, or becomes a
named Trustee of the Trust. We note that the Holders of Capital Securities will
be subject to withholding provisions of Section of the Trust Agreement and will
be required to make
- 24 -
payment or provide indemnity or security as set forth in the Trust Agreement.
4. All necessary trust action has been taken to duly authorize the execution and
delivery by the Trust of the Underwriting Agreement.
5. The Trust Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company
and the Regular Trustees, enforceable against the Company and the Regular
Trustees in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement
thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, liquidation,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and remedies, (ii)
general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered and applied in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) considerations of public policy and
the effect of applicable law relating to fiduciary duties.
6. The issuance and sale by the Trust of the Securities, the purchase by the
Trust of the Subordinated Debentures, the execution, delivery and performance by
the Trust of the Underwriting Agreement, the consummation by the Trust of the
transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and the compliance by
the Trust with its obligations thereunder will not violate (i) any of the
provisions of the Certificate of Trust or the Trust Agreement or (ii) any
applicable Delaware law or administrative regulation.
7. Assuming that the Trust derives no income from or connected with services
provided within the State of Delaware and has no assets, activities (other than
having a Delaware Trustee as required by the Delaware Act and the filing of
documents with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware) or employees in
the State of Delaware, no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent,
license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Delaware court or
Delaware governmental authority or agency (other than as may be required under
the securities or blue sky laws of the State of Delaware as to which we express
no opinion) is necessary or required in connection with the due authorization,
execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement or the offering, issuance,
sale or delivery of the Capital Securities.
- 25 -
Exhibit 4.1
Draft of January 15, 1997
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
THIS JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, dated as of January ___, 1997, between
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION, a New York corporation (the "Company"), having
its principal office at One M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York 14240, and BANKERS
TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee, having its principal office at Four Albany Street,
4th Floor, New York, New York 10006 (the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
junior subordinated debt securities in series (hereinafter called the
"Securities") of substantially the tenor hereinafter provided, including
Securities issued to evidence loans made to the Company from the proceeds from
the issuance from time to time by one or more business trusts (each an "Issuer
Trust") of undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of such Issuer
Trusts (the "Capital Securities") and common undivided interests in the assets
of such Issuer Trusts (the "Common Securities" and, collectively with the
Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities"), and to provide the terms and
conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and
delivered; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of
the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any
series thereof, and intending to be legally bound hereby, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided
or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them
in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein;
(3) The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be
followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(4) All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as
in effect at the time of computation;
(5) Whenever the context may require, any gender shall be deemed to
include the other;
(6) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article"
or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this
Indenture; and
(7) The words "hereby", "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words
of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular
Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act" when used with respect to any Holder has the meaning specified in
Section 1.4.
"Additional Interest" means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on any
interest on the Securities of any series the payment of which has not been made
on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the rate per
annum specified or determined as specified in such Security.
"Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 10.6.
- 2 -
"Additional Taxes" means any additional taxes, duties and other
governmental charges to which an Issuer Trust has become subject from time to
time as a result of a Tax Event.
"Administrator" means, in respect of any Issuer Trust, each Person
appointed in accordance with the related Trust Agreement, solely in such
Person's capacity as Administrator of such Issuer Trust and not in such Person's
individual capacity, or any successor Administrator appointed as therein
provided.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Agent Member" means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or transaction
involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and
procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security, in each case to the
extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant
to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of
one or more series.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph
of this instrument until a successor entity shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean
such successor entity.
"Company Request" and "Company Order" mean, respectively, the written
request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board
of Directors, its Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its President or a
Vice President, and by its Cashier or an Assistant Cashier, its Controller or an
Assistant Controller, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to
the Trustee.
- 3 -
"Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Company or the
Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Company (or any other
committee of the board of directors of the Company performing similar functions)
or, for purposes of this Indenture, a committee designated by the board of
directors of the Company (or such committee), comprised of two or more members
of the board of directors of the Company or officers of the Company, or both.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary
or any Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board
of Directors, or such committee of the Board of Directors or officers of the
Company to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been
delegated, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification,
and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day" means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a
day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, or the City of
Buffalo, New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain
closed, or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or,
with respect to the Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer Trust,
the "Corporate Trust Office" (as defined in the related Trust Agreement) of the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee under the related Trust Agreement, is
closed for business.
"Capital Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Indenture.
"Capital Treatment Event" means, in respect of any Issuer Trust, the
reasonable determination by the Company that, as a result of the occurrence of
any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or
administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
such pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of the
issuance of the Capital Securities of such Issuer Trust, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that the Company will not be entitled to treat an amount
equal to the Liquidation Amount (as such term is defined in the related Trust
Agreement) of such Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the then
equivalent thereof) for purposes of the risk-based capital adequacy guidelines
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as then in effect and
applicable to the Company.
- 4 -
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties on such date.
"Common Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Indenture.
"Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $5.00 per share, of the
Company.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee at
which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
"Delaware Trustee" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the Person
identified as the "Delaware Trustee" in the related Trust Agreement, solely in
its capacity as Delaware Trustee of such Issuer Trust under such Trust Agreement
and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor Delaware trustee appointed as therein provided.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable
or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the
Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with
respect to such series (or any successor thereto).
"Discount Security" means any security that provides for an amount less
than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of
acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.
"Dollar" or "$" means the currency of the United States of America that,
as at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and private
debts.
The term "entity" includes a bank, corporation, association, company,
limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.
- 5 -
"Event of Default," unless otherwise specified in the supplemental
indenture creating a series of Securities, has the meaning specified in Article
V.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.
"Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.12.
"Global Security" means a Security in the form prescribed in Section 2.4
evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, issued to the Depositary or
its nominee for such series, and registered in the name of such Depositary or
its nominee.
"Guarantee" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the Guarantee
Agreement executed by the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital
Securities issued by such Issuer Trust as modified, amended or supplemented from
time to time.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Securities Register.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from
time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall
include the terms of each particular series of Securities established as
contemplated by Section 3.1.
"Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institutional accredited
investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D
under the Securities Act.
"Interest Payment Date" means, as to each series of Securities, the Stated
Maturity of an installment of interest on such Securities.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by an Issuer Trust of an
Opinion of Counsel (as defined in the relevant Trust Agreement) experienced in
such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in
law or regulation or a written change (including any announced prospective
change) in interpretation or application of law or
- 6 -
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that such Issuer Trust is or
will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered
under the Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change becomes
effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of
the issuance of the Capital Securities of such Issuer Trust.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any
statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" has the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Indenture.
"Maturity" when used with respect to any Security means 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 5.1(3).
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the
Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by
the Cashier or an Assistant Cashier, the Controller or an Assistant Controller,
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the
Trustee; provided, however, that the Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to
the provisions of Section 10.4 hereof shall comply with the provisions of
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for or an employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.
"Original Issue Date" means the date of issuance specified as such in each
Security.
"Other Securities" means Securities transferred, upon exchange or
otherwise, to holders of "Other Capital Securities" as defined in the related
Trust Agreement.
"Outstanding" means, when used in reference to any Securities, as of the
date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture, except:
- 7 -
(i) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Securities for whose payment money in the necessary amount has been
theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the
Holders of such Securities; and
(iii) Securities in substitution for or in lieu of which other Securities
have been authenticated and delivered or that have been paid pursuant to Section
3.6, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such
Securities are held by Holders in whose hands such Securities are valid, binding
and legal obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned
by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the
Company or such other obligor (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the
Issuer Trust to which Securities of the applicable series were initially issued)
shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only
Securities that the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee
is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of
the Company or such other obligor (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, such
Issuer Trust). Upon the written request of the Trustee, the Company shall
furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers' Certificate listing and identifying
all Securities, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the
account of the Company, or any other obligor on the Securities or any Affiliate
of the Company or such obligor (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, such
Issuer Trust), and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall
be entitled to accept such Officers' Certificate as conclusive evidence of the
facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein
are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.
"Paying Agent" means the Trustee or any Person authorized by the Company
to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or
- 8 -
interest on, or other amounts in respect of any Securities on behalf of the
Company.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
"Place of Payment" means, with respect to the Securities of any series,
the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on
the Securities of such series are payable pursuant to Section 3.1.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Security. For the purposes of this definition, any security
authenticated and delivered under Section 3.7 in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
"Principal Subsidiary Bank" means (i) any banking subsidiary of the
Company the consolidated assets of which constitute 20% or more of the
consolidated assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, (iii) any
other banking subsidiary designated as a Principal Subsidiary Bank pursuant to a
Board Resolution and set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the
Trustee, and (iv) any banking subsidiary of the Company that owns, directly or
indirectly, any voting securities, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe
for or purchase voting securities, of any Principal Subsidiary Bank under clause
(i), (ii) or (iii), and in the case of clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) their
respective successors (whether by consolidation, merger, conversion, transfer of
substantially all their assets and business or otherwise) so long as any such
successor is a banking subsidiary (in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii) or a
subsidiary (in the case of clause (iv)) of the Company.
"Proceeding" has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.
"Property Trustee" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the Person
identified as the "Property Trustee" in the related Trust Agreement, solely in
its capacity as Property Trustee of such Issuer Trust under such Trust Agreement
and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as therein provided.
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"Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed,
means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture or the
terms of such Security.
"Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed,
means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date with respect to the Securities of a series means, unless otherwise provided
pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of such series, the date that
is the February 1 or August 1 next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether
or not a Business Day).
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Property Trustee
means any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any managing
director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer,
assistant secretary or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also,
with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of such officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.
"Restricted Security" means each Security required pursuant to Section
3.6(c) to bear a Restricted Securities Legend.
"Restricted Securities Certificate" means a certificate substantially in
the form set forth in Annex A.
"Restricted Securities Legend" means a legend substantially in the form of
the legend required in the form of Security set forth in Section 2.2 to be
placed upon a Restricted Security.
"Rights Plan" means any plan of the Company providing for the issuance by
the Company to all holders of its Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share, of
rights entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of any
class or series of capital stock of the Company which rights (i) are deemed to
be transferred with such shares of such Common Stock, (ii) are not exercisable,
and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of such Common Stock,
in each case until the occurrence of a specified event or events.
- 10 -
"Securities" or "Security" means any debt securities or debt security, as
the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as modified, amended or
supplemented from time to time.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 3.6.
"Senior Indebtedness" means, whether recourse is to all or a portion of
the assets of the Company and whether or not contingent, (i) every obligation of
the Company for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of the Company evidenced
by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations
incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;
(iii) every reimbursement obligation of the Company with respect to letters of
credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of the
Company; (iv) every obligation of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred
purchase price of property of services (but excluding trade accounts payable or
accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every
capital lease obligation of the Company; (vi) every obligation of the Company
for claims (as defined in Section 101(4) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of
1978, as amended) in respect of derivative products such as interest and foreign
exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts and similar arrangements; and (vii)
every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another
person and all dividends of another person the payment of which, in either case,
the Company has guaranteed or is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly,
as obligor or otherwise; provided that "Senior Indebtedness" shall not include
(i) any obligations which, by their terms, are expressly stated to rank pari
passu in right of payment with, or to not be superior in right of payment to,
the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) any Senior Indebtedness of the Company
which when incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of
the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, was without recourse to
the Company, (iii) any Senior Indebtedness of the Company to any of its
subsidiaries, (iv) Senior Indebtedness to any employee of the Company, or (v)
any indebtedness in respect of debt securities issued to any trust, or a trustee
of such trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is a
financing entity of the Company in connection with the issuance of such
financing entity of securities that are similar to the Capital Securities.
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"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.8.
"Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Security or any
installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified
pursuant to the terms of such Security as the fixed date on which the principal
of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and
payable, as such date may, in the case of such principal, be shortened or
extended as provided pursuant to the terms of such Security and this Indenture.
"Subsidiary" means an entity more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock
of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more
other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For
purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock that ordinarily has
voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long
as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
"Successor Security" of any particular Security means every Security
issued after, and evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced
by, such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any
Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.7 in exchange for or in
lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to
evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by an Issuer Trust of an Opinion of Counsel
(as defined in the relevant Trust Agreement) experienced in such matters to the
effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced
prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or
as a result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or
judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which
amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced
on or after the date of issuance of the Capital Securities of such Issuer Trust,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) such Issuer Trust is, or will
be within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to United
States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the
corresponding series of Securities issued by the Company to such Issuer Trust,
(ii) interest payable by the Company on such
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corresponding series of Securities is not, or within 90 days of the delivery of
such Opinion of Counsel will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in
part, for United States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) such Issuer Trust
is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel,
subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.
"Trust Agreement" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the trust
agreement or other governing instrument of such Issuer Trust.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph
of this Indenture, solely in its capacity as such and not in its individual
capacity, until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or
include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder and, if at any time there is
more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities of
any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as modified,
amended or supplemented from time to time, except as provided in Section 9.5.
"Trust Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Indenture.
"Vice President," when used with respect to the Company, means any duly
appointed vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "vice president."
SECTION 1.2. Compliance Certificate and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any
action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent
(including covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent),
if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been
complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such
counsel, all such conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with
which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, have been complied with,
except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the
furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this
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Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional
certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition
or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided
pursuant to Section 10.4) shall include:
(1) a statement by each individual signing such certificate or opinion
that such individual 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 of such individual contained
in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of 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 such individual, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 1.3. Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to 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
- 14 -
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 1.4. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided by this Indenture to be given to or taken by Holders
may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially
similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in
writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall
become effective when such instrument or instruments is or are delivered to the
Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of
a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and
the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized
by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing
such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof.
Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his or her authority.
(c) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may
also be provided in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient and in
accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine.
(d) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
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(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of
the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the transfer
thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done
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.
(f) 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 succeeding 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
(as defined below) by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice
of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join
in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of
acceleration referred to in Section 5.2, (iii) any request to institute
- 16 -
proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(2), or (iv) any direction referred to in
Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be
entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or
not such Holders remain Holders after such record date, provided that no such
action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable
Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect) and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company's expense, shall cause
notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party
hereto 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 1.6 on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date
is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section,
the party hereto 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.
(g) 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
- 17 -
duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with
regard to all or any part of such principal amount.
SECTION 1.5. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder, any holder of Capital Securities or the
Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given,
furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust
Office, or
(2) the Company by the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Capital
Securities shall be sufficient for every purpose (except as otherwise provided
in Section 5.1) hereunder if in writing and mailed, first class, postage
prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office
specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address
previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
SECTION 1.6. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities
Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest
date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. If, by reason of the suspension
of or irregularities in regular mail services or for any other reason, it shall
be impossible or impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when said
notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or of
the relevant Securities, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be
satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient 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
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such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but
such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action
taken in reliance upon such waiver.
SECTION 1.7. Conflict with 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 provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control.
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 1.8. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 1.9. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind
its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 1.10. Separability Clause.
If any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 1.11. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall
give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and
assigns, the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities and,
to the extent expressly provided in Sections 5.2, 5.8, 5.9, 5.11, 5.13, 9.1 and
9.2, the holders of Capital Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
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SECTION 1.12. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
SECTION 1.13. Non-Business Days.
If 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 the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and
premium, if any) or other amounts in respect of such Security need not be made
on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no
interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for
the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity, as the case may be, until such next succeeding Business Day) except
that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment
shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day (in each case with the
same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date
or at the Stated Maturity).
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS
SECTION 2.1. Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article, or
in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board
Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with
such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as
are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers
or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon
as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any
securities exchange or 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 3.3 with respect to the authentication and
delivery of such Securities.
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The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be substantially in the
form set forth in this Article.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or
produced by any combination of these methods, if required by any securities
exchange on which the Securities may be listed, on a steel engraved border or
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the
rules of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, all as
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of such securities.
Securities distributed to holders of Global Capital Securities (as defined
in the applicable Trust Agreement) upon the dissolution of an Issuer Trust shall
be distributed in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the
name of a Depositary or its nominee, and deposited with the Securities
Registrar, as custodian for such Depositary, or with such Depositary, for credit
by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of the
Securities represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct).
Securities distributed to holders of Capital Securities other than Global
Capital Securities upon the dissolution of an Issuer Trust shall not be issued
in the form of a Global Security or any other form intended to facilitate
book-entry trading in beneficial interests in such Securities.
SECTION 2.2. Form of Face of Security.
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
[Title of Security]
[If the Security is a Restricted Security, insert -- THE SECURITIES
EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) BY ANY INITIAL INVESTOR THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(I) TO A PERSON WHO THE TRANSFEROR REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
144A, (II) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 903
OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (III) PURSUANT TO AN
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144
THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), OR (B) BY AN INITIAL INVESTOR THAT IS A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT INVESTOR, AS SET
- 21 -
FORTH IN (A) ABOVE AND, IN ADDITION, TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN
A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
AND, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE
STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY
AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. SECURITIES OWNED BY
AN INITIAL INVESTOR THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER MAY NOT BE HELD
IN GLOBAL FORM AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT CERTIFICATION THAT THE
TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE
REFERRED TO BELOW. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE
EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 FOR RESALES OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES.]
No._______________ $________________
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION, a New York corporation (hereinafter called
the "Company", which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to
______________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________
Dollars on __________, [if the Security is a Global Security, then insert, if
applicable--, or such other principal amount represented hereby as may be set
forth in the records of the Securities Registrar hereinafter referred to in
accordance with the Indenture,] [; provided that the Company may (i) shorten the
Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security to a date not earlier than
_____________, and (ii) extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of this
Security at any time on one or more occasions, subject to certain conditions
specified in Section 3.15 of the Indenture, but in no event to a date later than
___________]. The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal
from __________, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest
has been paid or duly provided for, [monthly] [quarterly] [semi-annually] [if
applicable, insert--(subject to deferral as set forth herein)] in arrears on
[insert applicable Interest Payment Dates] of each year, commencing
_____________ at the rate of __% per annum, [if applicable insert--together with
Additional Sums, if any, as provided in Section 10.6 of the Indenture,] until
the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment
[if applicable, insert--; provided that any overdue principal, premium or
Additional Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional
Interest at the rate of __% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such
interest shall be legally enforceable), compounded [monthly] [quarterly]
[semi-annually], from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made
available for
- 22 -
payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The amount of interest
payable for any period less than a full interest period shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual days elapsed in a
partial month in such period. The amount of interest payable for any full
interest period shall be computed by dividing the applicable rate per annum by
[twelve/four/two]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided
for, on any Interest Payment Date will, 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 installment [if applicable, insert--, which shall be the [___________
or ___________] (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next
preceding such Interest Payment Date]. Any such interest not so punctually paid
or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this
Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to
be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities
of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be
paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series
may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as
more fully provided in said Indenture.
[If applicable, insert--So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time during the term of
this Security, from time to time to defer the payment of interest on this
Security for up to ______________ consecutive [monthly] [quarterly]
[semi-annual] interest payment periods with respect to each deferral period
(each an "Extension Period") [if applicable, insert--, during which Extension
Periods the Company shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on
any Interest Payment Date, and] at the end of which the Company shall pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid including Additional Interest, as provided
below; provided, however, that no Extension Period shall extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security [If Stated Maturity can be
shortened or extended, insert--, as then in effect,] and no such Extension
Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date; and provided,
further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not
(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's
capital stock, or (ii) make any payment of
- 23 -
principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or
junior in interest to this Security (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or
other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with
any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for
the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities
convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an
acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period,
(b) as a result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the
Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company)
for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series
of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital
stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with any Rights Plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or
other property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights
pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or
other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of
such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the
dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior
to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further defer
the payment of interest, provided that no Extension Period shall exceed ________
consecutive [monthly] [quarterly] [semi-annual] interest payment periods, extend
beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security or end on a date
other than an Interest Payment Date. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any
Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect
to begin a new Extension Period, subject to the above conditions. No interest
shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof,
but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable
during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent that
the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at the rate of __%
per annum, compounded [monthly] [quarterly] [semi-annually] and calculated as
set forth in the first paragraph of this Security, from the date on which such
amounts would otherwise have been due and payable until paid or made available
for
- 24 -
payment. The Company shall give the Holder of this Security and the Trustee
notice of its election to begin any Extension Period at least one Business Day
prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on this
Security would be payable but for such deferral [if applicable, insert--or so
long as such securities are held by [insert name of applicable Issuer Trust], at
least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on
which Distributions on the Capital Securities of such Issuer Trust would be
payable but for such deferral, and (ii) the date on which the Property Trustee
of such Issuer Trust is required to give notice to holders of such Capital
Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in
any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date.]
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that
purpose in the United States, in such coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts [if applicable, insert--; provided, however that at the option of
the Company payment of interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address
of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Securities
Register, or (ii) if to a Holder of $1,000,000 or more in aggregate principal
amount of this Security, by wire transfer in immediately available funds upon
written request to the Trustee not later than 15 calendar days prior to the date
on which the interest is payable].
The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in
the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payments 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 such actions 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. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, waives all notice
of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the
Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or
hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said
provisions.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further
- 25 -
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 under its corporate seal.
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
________________________________
Secretary or Assistant Secretary
SECTION 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of January ___, 1997
(herein called the "Indenture"), between the Company and Bankers Trust Company,
as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental
thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights,
limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the
Trustee, 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. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if
applicable, insert--, limited in aggregate principal amount to $ _________].
All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture [if
applicable, insert-- or in [insert name of trust
- 26 -
agreement], dated as of __________ (as modified, amended or supplemented from
time to time the "Trust Agreement"), relating to [insert name of Issuer Trust]
[the ("Issuer Trust") among the Company, as Depositor, the Trustees named
therein and the Holders from time to time of the Trust Securities issued
pursuant thereto] shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture [if
applicable, insert--or the Trust Agreement, as the case may be].
[If applicable, insert--The Company has the right to redeem this Security
(i) on or after _________, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or
(ii) in whole (but not in part), at any time within 90 days following the
occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event, Investment Company Event,
or Capital Treatment Event, in each case at the Redemption Price described
below, and subject to possible regulatory approval. The Redemption Price shall
equal 100% of the principal amount hereof being redeemed, together with accrued
interest to but excluding the date fixed for redemption.]
[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 for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of
the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
[If applicable, insert--The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance
at any time [of the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain
restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in
each case] upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in
the Indenture.]
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
Company and the Trustee at any time to enter into a supplemental indenture or
indentures for the purpose of modifying in any manner the rights and obligations
of the Company and of the Holders of the Securities, with the consent of the
Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of each series to be affected by such supplemental indenture. The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting Holders of specified percentages
in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on
behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by
the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults
under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the
Holder of this
- 27 -
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.
[If the Security is not a Discount Security, insert--As provided in and
subject to the provisions of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect
to the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this
series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of this series to
be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to
the Trustee if given by Holders) [if applicable, insert--, provided that, if
upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or such Holders fail to declare the
principal of all the outstanding Securities of this series to be immediately due
and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such
declaration by a notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee]; and upon any
such declaration the principal amount of and the accrued interest (including any
Additional Interest) on all the Securities of this series shall become
immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest
(including any Additional Interest) on such Securities shall remain subordinated
to the extent provided in Article XIII of the Indenture.]
[If the Security is a Discount Security, insert--As provided in and
subject to the provisions of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect
to the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this
series may declare an amount of principal of the Securities of this series to be
due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the
Trustee if given by Holders) [if applicable, insert--, provided that, if upon an
Event of Default, the Trustee or such Holders fail to declare such principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series to be immediately due and
payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such
declaration by a notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee. The principal
amount payable upon such acceleration shall be equal to--insert formula for
determining the amount]. Upon any such declaration, such amount of the principal
of and the accrued
- 28 -
interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of this
series shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of
such principal and interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the
Securities of this series shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in
Article XIII of the Indenture. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so
declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium
and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall
be legally enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in respect of the
payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on this Security
shall terminate.]
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 (including Additional Interest) on this Security at the times, place
and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Securities
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company maintained under Section 10.2 of the Indenture
for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar duly
executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in
writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of like tenor,
of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $________ and any integral multiple of $_________ 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 and 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 may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
- 29 -
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Company and, by its acceptance of this Security or a beneficial
interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial
interest in, this Security agrees that for United States Federal, state and
local tax purposes it is intended that this Security constitute indebtedness.
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
THIS SECURITY IS A DIRECT AND UNSECURED OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY, DOES
NOT EVIDENCE DEPOSITS AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER INSURER OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY. THIS SECURITY WILL BE
SUBORDINATE TO THE CLAIMS OF DEPOSITORS AND GENERAL CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY AND
WILL BE INELIGIBLE AS COLLATERAL TO SECURE A LOAN FROM THE COMPANY.
SECTION 2.4. Additional Provisions Required in Global Security.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, any Global
Security issued hereunder shall, in addition to the provisions contained in
Sections 2.2 and 2.3, bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A
DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS
EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER
THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES
DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A
WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF
THE DEPOSITARY, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE.
- 30 -
SECTION 2.5. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the
following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:_______________ BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:_______________________________
Authorized Officer
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 3.1. Title and Terms.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.3,
set forth or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate, or
established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance
of Securities as a series:
(a) the title of the securities of such series, which shall distinguish
the Securities of the series from all other Securities;
(b) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of such series that may be authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration
of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the
series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.6 and except for any
Securities that, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that the authorized
aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased above such amount by
a Board Resolution to such effect;
- 31 -
(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be
payable, if other than the Person in whose name that security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest;
(d) the Stated Maturity or Maturities on which the principal of the
Securities of such series is payable or the method of determination thereof, and
any dates on which or circumstances under which, the Company shall have the
right to extend or shorten such Stated Maturity or Maturities;
(e) the rate or rates, if any, at which the Securities of such series
shall bear interest, if any, the rate or rates and extent to which Additional
Interest, if any, shall be payable with respect to any Securities of such
series, the date or dates from which any such interest or Additional Interest
shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be
payable, the right, pursuant to Section 3.12 or as otherwise set forth therein,
of the Company to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the Regular
Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or the method
by which any of the foregoing shall be determined;
(f) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest or Additional Interest on the Securities of such series shall be
payable, the place or places where the Securities of such series may be
presented for registration of transfer or exchange, any restrictions that may be
applicable to any such transfer or exchange in addition to or in lieu of those
set forth herein and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon
the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;
(g) the period or periods within or the date or dates on which, if any,
the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the
Securities of such series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of
the Company, and if other than by a Board of Resolution, the manner in which any
election by the Company to redeem such Securities shall be evidenced;
(h) the obligation or the right, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay
or purchase the Securities of such series pursuant to any sinking fund,
amortization or analogous provisions, or at the option of a Holder thereof, and
the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency
or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which and the other terms
and conditions upon which
- 32 -
Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in
part, pursuant to such obligation;
(i) the denominations in which any Securities of such series shall be
issuable;
(j) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies (including any
currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall
be payable, or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and
the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for purposes of the
definition of Outstanding;
(k) the additions, modifications or deletions, if any, in the Events of
Default or covenants of the Company set forth herein with respect to the
Securities of such series;
(l) if, other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof;
(m) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any
Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates
prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the
principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose
thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be
due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall
be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in
any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount
shall be determined);
(n) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or in any
specified part, shall be defeasible and, if other than by a Board Resolution,
the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall
be evidenced;
(o) the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to
the Securities of such series as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the
issuance of the Securities of such series in bearer form, registrable or not
registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;
(p) any index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of
principal of and premium, if any, on the
- 33 -
Securities of such series or the manner in which such amounts will be
determined;
(q) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in
whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case,
the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend
or legends that shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in
lieu of that set forth in Section 2.4 and any circumstances in addition to or in
lieu of those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be
exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of
such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names
of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof;
(r) the appointment of any Paying Agent or agents for the Securities of
such series;
(s) the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of such
series into any other securities or property of the Company, and the additions
or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such
series to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;
(t) if such Securities are to be issued to an Issuer Trust, the form or
forms of the Trust Agreement and Guarantee relating thereto;
(u) if, other than as set forth herein, the relative degree, if any, to
which the Securities or the series shall be senior to or be subordinated to
other series of Securities in right of payment, whether such other series of
Securities are Outstanding or not;
(v) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to
any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the
requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due
and payable pursuant to Section 5.2;
(w) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article X
which applies to Securities of the series; and
(x) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall
not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted
by Section 9.1(6)).
- 34 -
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except
as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or in or
pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth, or determined in the manner
provided, in such Officers' Certificate or in any indenture supplemental 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 Officers'
Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
The securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior
Indebtedness as provided in Article XIII.
SECTION 3.2. Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be in registered form without coupons
and shall be issuable in denominations specified as contemplated by Section
3.1(i).
SECTION 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman
of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice
Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced or impressed thereon and
attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of
any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who
were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not
hold such offices at the date of such Securities. At any time and from time to
time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver
Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for
authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and
delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company
Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of
the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more
Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1, in authenticating such
Securities, and
- 35 -
accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to
such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to
Section 6.1) 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 2.1, that such form
has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms
have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
and
(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any
conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with
their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that
is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and the preceding paragraph,
if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it
shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise required
pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise
required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication
of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to
the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series
to be issued.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
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No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized
officers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence,
and the only evidence, that such security has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have
been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the
Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for
cancellation as provided in Section 3.10, for all purposes of this Indenture
such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.4. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the
Company may execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed,
typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series in lieu
of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may
determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause
definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay.
After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall
be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary
Securities at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose
without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more
temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive securities
of the same series, of any authorized denominations having the same Original
Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms as such temporary
Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in
all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive
Securities of such series.
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SECTION 3.5. Global Securities.
(a) Each Global Security issued under this Indenture shall be registered
in the name of the Depositary designated by the Company for such Global Security
or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or
custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single
Security for all purposes of this Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global
Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no
transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name
of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof unless (i) such Depositary advises the Trustee in writing that such
Depositary is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its
responsibilities as Depositary with respect to such Global Security, and the
Company is unable to locate a qualified successor, (ii) the Company executes and
delivers to the Trustee a Company Order stating that the Company elects to
terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary, or (iii) there shall
have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default.
(c) If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other Securities or
cancelled in whole, it shall be surrendered by or on behalf of the Depositary or
its nominee to the Securities Registrar for exchange or cancellation as provided
in this Article III. If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other
Securities or cancelled in part, or if another Security is to be exchanged in
whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Security, then either
(i) such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as
provided in this Article III or (ii) the principal amount thereof shall be
reduced, subject to Section 3.6(b)(v), or increased by an amount equal to the
portion thereof to be so exchanged or cancelled, or equal to the principal
amount of such other Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest
therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the
records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Trustee, in accordance with
the Applicable Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized
representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such
surrender or adjustment of a Global Security by the Depositary, accompanied by
registration instructions, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 3.6(b) and as
otherwise provided in this Article III, authenticate and deliver any Securities
issuable in exchange for such Global Security (or any portion thereof) in
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accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. The Trustee shall not be
liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely
on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.
(d) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion
thereof, whether pursuant to this Article III, Section 9.6 or 11.6 or otherwise,
shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global
Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than
the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
(e) The Depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of a Global
Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Security for all purposes under
this Indenture and the Securities, and owners of beneficial interests in a
Global Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Procedures.
Accordingly, any such owner's beneficial interest in a Global Security shall be
shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through,
records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or agent. Neither the
Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any
transfers effected by the Depositary.
(f) The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security
shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those
established by law and agreements between such owners and the Depositary and/or
its Agent Members.
SECTION 3.6. Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally; Certain
Transfers and Exchanges; Securities Act Legends.
(a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it
may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and
transfers of Securities. Such register is herein sometimes referred to as the
"Securities Register." The Trustee is hereby appointed "Securities Registrar"
for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein
provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at the offices
or agencies of the Company designated for that purpose, the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the
designated
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transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series of any
authorized denominations of like tenor and aggregate principal amount and
bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture.
At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other
Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations, of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be
required by this Indenture, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at
such office or agency. Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange,
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the
Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be
the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to
the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such
transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if
so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied
by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Securities Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder's
attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or exchange
of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer or exchange of Securities.
Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be required, pursuant to the
provisions of this Section, (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange
any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business
15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Securities of that series
pursuant to Article XI and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing
of the notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any
Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of
any such Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be
redeemed.
(b) Certain Transfers and Exchanges. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Indenture, transfers and exchanges of Securities and beneficial
interests in a Global Security shall be made only in accordance with this
Section 3.6(b).
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(i) Restricted Non-Global Security to Global Security. If the Holder
of a Restricted Security (other than a Global Security) wishes at any time
to transfer all or any portion of such Security to a Person who wishes to
take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global
Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with the
provisions of this clause (b)(i) and subject to the Applicable Procedures.
Upon receipt by the Securities Registrar of (A) such Security as provided
in Section 3.6(a) and instructions satisfactory to the Securities
Registrar directing that a beneficial interest in the Global Security in a
specified principal amount not greater than the principal amount of such
Security be credited to a specified Agent Member's account and (B) a
Restricted Securities Certificate duly executed by such Holder or such
Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, then the Securities
Registrar shall cancel such Security (and issue a new Security in respect
of any untransferred portion thereof) as provided in Section 3.6(a) and
increase the aggregate principal amount of the Global Security by the
specified principal amount as provided in Section 3.5(c).
(ii) Non-Global Security to Non-Global Security. A Security that is
not a Global Security may be transferred, in whole or in part, to a Person
who takes delivery in the form of another Security that is not a Global
Security as provided in Section 3.6(a), provided that if the Security to
be transferred in whole or in part is a Restricted Security, the
Securities Registrar shall have received a Restricted Securities
Certificate duly executed by the transferor Holder or such Holder's
attorney duly authorized in writing.
(iii) Exchanges Between Global Security and Non-Global Security. A
beneficial interest in a Global Security may be exchanged for a Security
that is not a Global Security as provided in Section 3.5.
(iv) Certain Initial Transfers of Non-Global Securities. In the case
of Securities initially issued other than in global form, an initial
transfer or exchange of such Securities that does not involve any change
in beneficial ownership may be made to an Institutional Accredited
Investor or Investors as if such transfer or exchange were not an initial
transfer or exchange; provided that written certification shall be
provided by the transferee and transferor of such
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Securities to the Securities Registrar that such transfer or exchange does
not involve a change in beneficial ownership.
(v) Limitations Relating to Principal Amount. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Indenture and unless otherwise specified as
permitted by Section 3.1; Securities or portions thereof may be
transferred or exchanged only in principal amounts of not less than
$100,000. Any transfer, exchange or other disposition of Securities in
contravention of this Section 3.6(b)(v) shall be deemed to be void and of
no legal effect whatsoever, any such transferee shall be deemed not to be
the Holder or owner of any beneficial interest in such Securities for any
purpose, including but not limited to the receipt of interest payable on
such Securities, and such transferee shall be deemed to have no interest
whatsoever in such Securities.
(c) Restricted Securities Legend. Except as set forth below, all
Securities shall bear a Restricted Securities Legend:
(i) subject to the following clauses of this Section 3.6(c), a
Security or any portion thereof that is exchanged, upon transfer or
otherwise, for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall bear the
Restricted Securities Legend while represented thereby;
(ii) subject to the following clauses of this Section 3.6(c), a new
Security which is not a Global Security and is issued in exchange for
another Security (including a Global Security) or any portion thereof,
upon transfer or otherwise, shall, if such new Security is required
pursuant to Section 3.6(b)(ii) or (iii) to be issued in the form of a
Restricted Security, bear a Restricted Securities Legend;
(iii) a new Security (other than a Global Security) that does not
bear a Restricted Securities Legend may be issued in exchange for or in
lieu of a Restricted Security or any portion thereof that bears such a
legend if, in the Company's judgment, placing such a legend upon such new
Security is not necessary to ensure compliance with the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, and the Trustee, at the written
direction of the Company in the form of an Officers' Certificate, shall
authenticate and deliver such a new Security as provided in this Article
III;
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(iv) notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
3.6(c), a Successor Security of a Security that does not bear a Restricted
Securities Legend shall not bear such form of legend unless the Company
has reasonable cause to believe that such Successor Security is a
"restricted security" within the meaning of Rule 144, in which case the
Trustee, at the written direction of the Company in the form of an
Officers' Certificate, shall authenticate and deliver a new Security
bearing a Restricted Securities Legend in exchange for such Successor
Security as provided in this Article III; and
(v) Securities distributed to a holder of Capital Securities upon
dissolution of an Issuer Trust shall bear a Restricted Securities Legend
if the Capital Securities so held bear a similar legend.
SECTION 3.7. Mutilated, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with such
security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save
each of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series,
of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, bearing the same legends, and
bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence
to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and
(ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them
harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such
Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute
and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any
such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series, of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount and bearing the same legends as such
destroyed, lost or stolen Security, and bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding.
If 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 3.7, the Company
may require the payment of a sum
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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 issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any
destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or
stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with
any and all other Securities of such series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
SECTION 3.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved.
Interest and Additional Interest on any Security of any series that is
payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment
Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest in respect of Securities of such series, except
that, unless otherwise provided in the Securities of such series, interest
payable on the Stated Maturity of the principal of a Security shall be paid to
the Person to whom principal is paid. The initial payment of interest on any
Security of any series that is issued between a Regular Record Date and the
related Interest Payment Date shall be payable as provided in such Security or
in the Board Resolution pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to the related
series of Securities.
Any interest on any Security that is due and payable, but is not timely
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of such
series (herein called "Defaulted Interest"), shall forthwith cease to be payable
to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having
been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its
election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest
to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series in respect of
which interest is
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in default (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the
payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following
manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of
Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date of
the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with
the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to
be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the
proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this
clause provided. Thereupon, the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date
for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be not more than
15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed
payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the
notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the
Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of
the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted
Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first class,
postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Security of such series at the
address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register not less
than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The Trustee may, in its
discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company, cause a similar
notice to be published at least once in a newspaper, customarily published
in the English language on each Business Day and of general circulation in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but such publication shall
not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record
Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the
Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such
Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the
Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are
registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable
pursuant to the following clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any
other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Securities of the series in respect of
which interest is in default may be listed and, upon such notice as may be
required by such exchange (or by the Trustee if the
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Securities are not listed), if, after notice given by the Company to the
Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause 2, such payment
shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security
delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in
lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and
unpaid, and to accrue interest, that were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 3.9. Persons Deemed Owners.
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall
treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such
Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and (subject to
Section 3.8) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes
whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company,
the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.
No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its
behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect
to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the
Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner 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 a Depositary or impair, as between a Depositary and
such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices
governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary (or its nominee) as
Holder of any Security.
SECTION 3.10. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer or exchange
shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the
Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered directly to the
Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may
at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously
authenticated and delivered hereunder that 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
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authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided
in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled
Securities shall be destroyed by the Trustee and the Trustee shall deliver to
the Company a certificate of such destruction.
SECTION 3.11. Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series for any
period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months
and the actual number of days elapsed in any partial month in such period, and
interest on the Securities of each series for a full period shall be computed by
dividing the rate per annum by the number of interest periods that together
constitute a full twelve months.
SECTION 3.12. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates.
If specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1 with respect to
the Securities of a particular series, so long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time during
the term of such series, from time to time to defer the payment of interest on
such Securities for such period or periods (each an "Extension Period") not to
exceed the number of consecutive quarterly, semi-annual or other periods that
equal five years with respect to each Extension Period, during which Extension
Periods the Company shall, if so specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, have
the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date. No
Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. At the
end of any such Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest then
accrued and unpaid on the Securities (together with Additional Interest thereon,
if any, at the rate specified for the Securities of such series to the extent
permitted by applicable law); provided, however, that no Extension Period shall
extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such
series; and provided further, however, that, during any such Extension Period,
the Company shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Company's capital stock, or (ii) make any payment of principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in
interest to the Securities of such series (other than (a) repurchases,
redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in
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connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of an exchange or conversion
of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a
Subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital
stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or
series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests
in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,
(d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any Rights Plan, or the
issuance of rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the
form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the
stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the
same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with
or junior to such stock). Prior to that termination of any such Extension
Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest, provided that no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and provided further, that no
Extension Period shall exceed the period or periods specified in such
Securities, extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of such
Securities or end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. Upon the
termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and
unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment
Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period, subject to the
above conditions. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable
during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of
interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension
Period shall bear Additional Interest as and to the extent as may be specified
as contemplated by Section 3.1. The Company shall give the Holders of the
Securities of such series and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any
such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date on which interest on Securities of such series would be
payable but for such deferral or, with respect to any Securities of a series
issued to an Issuer Trust, so long as any such Securities are held by such
Issuer Trust, at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the next
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succeeding date on which Distributions on the Capital Securities of such Issuer
Trust would be payable but for such deferral, and (ii) the date on which the
Property Trustee of such Issuer Trust is required to give notice to holders of
such Capital Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are
payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record
date.
The Trustee shall promptly give notice of the Company's election to begin
any such Extension Period to the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such
series.
SECTION 3.13. Right of Set-Off.
With respect to the Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall have
the right to set off any payment it is otherwise required to make in respect of
any such Security to the extent the Company has theretofore made, or is
concurrently on the date of such payment making, a payment under the Guarantee
relating to such Security or to a holder of Capital Securities pursuant to an
action undertaken under Section 5.8 of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.14. Agreed Tax Treatment.
Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Company and, by its
acceptance of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and
any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Security agree that for
United States Federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that such
Security constitutes indebtedness.
SECTION 3.15. Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity.
If specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1 with respect to
the Securities of a particular series, the Company shall have the right to (i)
shorten the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series at
any time to any date and (ii) extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of the
Securities of such series at any time at its election for one or more periods,
provided that, if the Company elects to exercise its right to extend the Stated
Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series pursuant to clause
(ii) above, at the time such election is made and at the time of extension, such
conditions as may be specified in such Securities shall have been satisfied.
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SECTION 3.16. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company, in issuing the Securities, may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then
generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notice
of redemption and other similar or related materials as a convenience to
Holders; provided that any such notice or other materials may state that no
representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed
on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption or other materials
and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed
on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect
in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall, upon Company Request, cease to be of further effect
(except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided in this
Section 4.1) and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company,
shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture, when
(1) either
(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered
(other than (i) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen
and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.7 and
(ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been
deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company
and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust,
as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation; or
(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation
(i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated
Maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or
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(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 subclause (B)(i), (ii) or (iii) above, has
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in
trust for such purpose an amount in the currency or currencies in which
the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay and discharge
the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and
interest (including any Additional Interest) to the date of such deposit
(in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the
Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge
of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the
obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14
and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to
subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the
Trustee under Section 4.2 and the last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall
survive.
SECTION 4.2 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and
applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and
this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if
any) and interest and Additional Interest for the payment of which such money or
obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee.
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ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
SECTION 5.1. Events of Default.
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to the Securities of
any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected
by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or
any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
series, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, when it
becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of
30 days (subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of an
Extension Period); or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any,
on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or
(3) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform
any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company in the
Securities of that series or in this Indenture for a period of 90 days
after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the
Company to remedy the same, shall have been given to the Company by the
Trustee by registered or certified mail or to the Company and the Trustee
by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series; or
(4) the occurrence of the appointment of a receiver or other similar
official in any liquidation, insolvency or similar proceeding with respect
to the Company or all or substantially all of its property; or a court or
other governmental agency shall enter a decree or order and such decree or
order shall remain unstayed and undischarged for a period of 60 days; or
(5) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities
of that series.
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SECTION 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
Section 5.1(4)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding
occurs and is continuing, then, and in every such case, the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the
Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal
amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Securities of
that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the
Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), provided that, in the case of
the Securities of a series issued to an Issuer Trust, if, upon an Event of
Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of such series fail to declare the principal of all
the Outstanding Securities of such series to be immediately due and payable, the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the
related Trust Agreement) of the related series of Capital Securities issued by
such Issuer Trust then outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration
by a notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee; and upon any such
declaration such principal amount (or specified portion thereof) of and the
accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of
such series shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default
specified in Section 5.1(4) with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of such series
(or, if the Securities of such series are Discount Securities, such portion of
the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms of that
series) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the
part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Payment
of principal and interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Securities
shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article XIII notwithstanding
that such amount shall become immediately due and payable as herein provided.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this
Article provided, the Holders of a majority in 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:
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(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay:
(A) all overdue installments of interests on all Securities of
such series;
(B) any accrued Additional Interest on all Securities of such
series;
(C) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities
of such series that have become due otherwise than by such
declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional Interest
thereon at the rate borne by the Securities; and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel; and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series
that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived
as provided in Section 5.13.
In the case of Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer Trust,
if the Holders of such Securities fail to annul such declaration and waive such
default, the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined
in the related Trust Agreement) of the related series of Capital Securities
issued by such Issuer Trust then outstanding shall also have the right to
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences by written notice to the
Company and the Trustee, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth
in clauses (1) and (2) above of this section 5.2.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
SECTION 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest
(including any Additional Interest) on any Security of any series when
such
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interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period
of 30 days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (and premium,
if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the
benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and
payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and
interest (including any Additional Interest), and, in addition thereto,
all amounts owing the Trustee under Section 6.7.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the
Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a
judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may
prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same
against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the
monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of
the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities, wherever
situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and
is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce
its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such
appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to
protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any
covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial or
administrative proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their
creditors,
(a) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made
any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal (and
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premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest)) shall be
entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and
premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) owing
and unpaid in respect to the Securities and to file such other papers or
documents as may be necessary or advisable and to take any and all actions
as are authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have the
claims of the Holders and any predecessor to the Trustee under Section 6.7
allowed in any such judicial or administrative proceedings; and
(ii) in particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and
receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such
claims and to distribute the same in accordance with Section 5.6; and
(b) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator,
conservator (or other similar official) in any such judicial or administrative
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
Trustee for distribution in accordance with Section 5.6, and in the event that
the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it and any predecessor Trustee
under Section 6.7.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities
or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in
respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however,
that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a
trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors' or
other similar committee.
SECTION 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities 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
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of judgment shall, subject to Article XIII and after provision for the payment
of all the amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section
6.7, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the
Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 5.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with
respect to a series of Securities pursuant to this Article shall be applied in
the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of
the distribution of such money or property on account of principal (or premium,
if any) or interest (including any Additional 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 and any predecessor
Trustee under Section 6.7;
SECOND: Subject to Article XIII, to the payment of the amounts then due
and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any)
and interest (including any Additional Interest) in respect of which or for the
benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such series of
Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
Additional Interest), respectively; and
THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.
SECTION 5.7 Limitation on Suits.
Subject to Section 5.8, no Holder of any Securities of any series shall
have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect
to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee
of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that
series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written
request to the Trustee to
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institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name
as Trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice,
request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such
proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been
given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall
have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing itself
of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the
rights of any other Holders of Securities, or to obtain or to seek to
obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce
any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and
for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.
SECTION 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium
and Interest; Direct Action by Holders of Capital Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any
Security of any series shall have the right, which is absolute and
unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and
(subject to Sections 3.8 and 3.12) interest (including any Additional Interest)
on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security
(or in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired
without the consent of such Holder. In the case of Securities of a series issued
to an Issuer Trust, any registered holder of the series of Capital Securities
issued by such Issuer Trust shall have the right, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default described in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2), to institute a suit
directly against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder of
principal of (premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 3.8 and 3.12) interest
(including any Additional Interest) on the Securities having a principal amount
equal to
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the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the related Trust Agreement) of
such Capital Securities held by such holder.
SECTION 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Capital Securities issued by
any Issuer Trust 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, such Holder or such
holder of Capital Securities, then, and in every such case, the Company, the
Trustee, such Holders and such holder of Capital Securities shall, subject to
any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to
their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the
Trustee, such Holder and such holder of Capital Securities shall continue as
though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.7, no
right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or 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 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee, any Holder of any Security with
respect to the Securities of the related series or any holder of any Capital
Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of the related series shall impair any such right or
remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence
therein.
Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or
to the Holders and the right and remedy given to the holders of Capital
Securities by Section 5.8 may be exercised from time to time, and as often as
may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee, the Holders or the holders of Capital
Securities, as the case may be.
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SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with
respect to the Securities of such series, provided that:
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Indenture,
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the
Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(3) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have
the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or
Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, determine that the
proceeding so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not
joining in any such direction or would involve the Trustee in personal
liability.
SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of any series affected thereby and, in the case of
any Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer Trust, the holders of a
majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the related Trust
Agreement) of the Capital Securities issued by such Issuer Trust may waive any
past default hereunder and its consequences with respect to such series except a
default:
(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security of such
series (unless such default has been cured and the Company has paid to or
deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest (including Additional Interest) and all principal
of (and premium, if any, on) all Securities of that series due otherwise
than by acceleration), or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article
IX cannot be modified or amended
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without the consent of each Holder of any Outstanding Security of such
series affected.
Any such waiver shall be deemed to be on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series, or in the case of waiver by holders of Capital
Securities issued by such Issuer Trust, by all holders of Capital Securities
issued by such Issuer Trust.
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 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by
his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in
its discretion, require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy
under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or
omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an
undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may, in its
discretion, assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and
good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant, but the
provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the
Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in
the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the
enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
(including any Additional Interest) on any Security on or after the respective
Stated Maturities expressed in such Security.
SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it
will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or
take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants
or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such
law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any
power herein granted to the Trustee, but will
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suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had
been enacted.
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such
duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the
Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness
of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished
to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture, but
in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provisions
hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or
not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs.
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act or its own willful misconduct except that
(1) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of
subsection (a) of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made
in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
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(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken
or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the
direction of Holders pursuant to Section 5.12 relating to the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee,
under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of a series.
(d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance
of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording
protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Defaults.
Within 90 days after actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the
Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of
Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Securities
Register, notice of such default, unless such default shall have been cured or
waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment
of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional
Interest) on any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive
committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the
Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided further,
that, in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(3),
no such notice to Holders of Securities of such series shall be given until at
least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the
term "default" means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both
would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.
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SECTION 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, Security or
other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request 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 Officers' Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or
any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of
the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered
to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities that 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, indenture,
Security or other paper or document, but the Trustee in its discretion may make
such inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and,
if the Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall
be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company,
personally or by agent or attorney; and
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(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.
SECTION 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee's
certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company,
and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility
for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity
or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor
any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the
Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 6.5. May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections
6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Securities
Registrar or such other agent.
SECTION 6.6. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no
liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise
agreed with the Company.
SECTION 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in such amounts as the
Company and the Trustee shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall
not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust).
(b) Since the Trust is being formed solely to facilitate an investment in
the Capital Securities, the Company, as borrower, hereby covenants to pay all
debts and obligations
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(other than with respect to the Capital Securities and the Common Securities)
and all costs and expenses of the Trust (including without limitation all costs
and expenses relating to the organization of the Trust, the fees and expenses of
the trustees and all costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Trust)
and to pay any and all taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of
whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed on the Trust by the
United States, or any taxing authority, so that the net amounts received and
retained by the Trust and the Property Trustee after paying such expenses will
be equal to the amounts the Trust and the Property Trustee would have received
had no such costs or expenses been incurred by or imposed on the Trust. The
foregoing obligations of the Company are for the benefit of, and shall be
enforceable by, any person to whom any such debts, obligations, costs, expenses
and taxes are owed (each, a "Creditor") whether or not such Creditor has
received notice thereof. Any such Creditor may enforce such obligations of the
Company directly against the Company, and the Company irrevocably waives any
right or remedy to require that any such Creditor take any action against the
Trust or any other person before proceeding against the Company. The Company
shall execute such additional agreements as may be necessary or desirable to
give full effect to the foregoing.
(3) The Company shall indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable compensation
and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel) incurred without
negligence or bad faith, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this trust or the performance of its duties hereunder,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder. This indemnification shall survive the termination of this
Indenture or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 5.1(4) occurs, the expenses and the compensation
for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the
Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 or any successor statute.
SECTION 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
The Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Nothing
herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the Commission the application
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referred to in the second to last paragraph of said Section 310(b).
SECTION 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be:
(a) an entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States of America or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of
Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state, territorial or District
of Columbia authority, or
(b) an entity or other Person organized and doing business under the laws
of a foreign government that is permitted to act as Trustee pursuant to a rule,
regulation or order of the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust powers, and subject to supervision or examination by authority
of such foreign government or a political subdivision thereof substantially
equivalent to supervision or examination applicable to United States
institutional trustees;
in either case having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000,
subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If such
entity publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to
the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then, for
the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such entity
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 shall cease
to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in
this Article. Neither the Company nor any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company shall serve
as Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder.
SECTION 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.11.
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(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of
one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to
the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the
resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities
of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to
the Company.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.8 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 6.9 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, (i) the Company, acting pursuant to the authority of a
Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of all
series issued hereunder, or (ii) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has
been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of
such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of
all series issued hereunder and the appointment of a successor Trustee or
Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with respect
to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution,
shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
that or those series. If, within one year after
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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 aggregate 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, become the successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the
Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series
shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted
appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona
fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to
Section 5.14, on behalf of such Holder 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.
(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of
a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing
written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the
Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the
Securities Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate
Trust Office.
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request
of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon
payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property
and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
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(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall
contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that
or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2)
if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall
contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm
that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with
respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring
Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or
in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees or 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 removal of the retiring
Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect
to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such
successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such
successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder
with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment
of such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor Trustee all rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph
(a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless, at the time
of such acceptance, such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under
this Article.
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SECTION 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which
it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to
all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall
be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such entity shall be
otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the
Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to
such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the
Securities so authenticated, and in case any Securities shall not have been
authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities
either in the name of any predecessor Trustee or in the name of such successor
Trustee, and in all cases the certificate of authentication shall have the full
force which it is provided anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture that
the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
SECTION 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or
any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against
the Company (or any such other obligor).
SECTION 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to
one or more series of Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of
the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue
and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or
pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all
purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the
Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be
deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the
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Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be an entity organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America, or of any state
or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws
to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not
less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or
state authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at
least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section the combined capital
and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any entity into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party,
or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust
business of an Authenticating Agent shall be the successor Authenticating Agent
hereunder, provided such entity shall be otherwise eligible under this Section,
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate
the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent, which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such
appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.6 to all Holders of Securities
of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any
successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance 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 provision of
this Section.
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The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee
shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payment, subject to the provisions
of Section 6.7.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to
this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned
Indenture.
Dated:____________ BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:_____________________________
As Authenticating Agent
Name:
Title:
By:_____________________________
Authorized Officer
Name:
Title:
ARTICLE VII
HOLDER'S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE,
PAYING AGENT AND COMPANY
SECTION 7.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after June 30 and December 31 in
each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the
names and addresses of the Holders as of such June 30 and December 31, and
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(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30
days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar
form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list
is furnished, excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the
Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar.
SECTION 7.1. Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect
to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the
corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the
Trust Indenture Act.
(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees
with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the
disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders made
pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 7.3. Reports by Trustee and Paying Agent.
(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the
Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act, at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(b) Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more
than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than January 31 in each calendar
year, commencing with the first January 31 after the first issuance of
Securities under this Indenture.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each securities exchange upon which any
Securities are listed and also with the Commission. The Company will notify the
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Trustee when any Securities are listed on any securities exchange.
(d) The Paying Agent shall comply with all withholding, backup
withholding, tax and information reporting requirements under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder
with respect to payments on, or with respect to, the Securities.
SECTION 7.4. Reports by Company.
The Company shall file or cause to be filed with the Trustee and with the
Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other
reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture
Act. In the case of information, documents or reports required to be filed with
the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act,
the Company shall file or cause the filing of such information documents or
reports with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is required to be filed
with the Commission.
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
SECTION 8.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to any Person, and no Person shall consolidate with or merge into the Company or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to the Company, unless:
(1) If the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another
Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, the entity formed by such
consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that
acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the properties and
assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be an entity
organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or
any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume,
by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the
Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment
of the principal of (and
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premium, if any), and interest (including any Additional Interest) on all
the Securities of every series and the performance of every covenant of
this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of
Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such
consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and any such
supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been
complied with and, in the case of a transaction subject to this Section
8.1 but not requiring a supplemental indenture under paragraph (1) of this
Section 8.1, an Officer's Certificate or Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that the surviving, resulting or successor entity is legally bound by the
Indenture and the Securities; and the Trustee, subject to Section 6.1, may
rely upon such Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that such transaction complies with this Section 8.1.
SECTION 8.2. Successor Company Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger by the Company with or into any other
Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Company of its properties
and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section
8.1, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Company
is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed
to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the
Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person
had been named as the Company herein; and in the event of any such conveyance,
transfer or lease the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and
covenants under the Indenture and the Securities.
Such successor Person may cause to be executed, and may issue either in
its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Securities
issuable hereunder that theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company
and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor Person
instead of the Company and subject to all the
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terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee
shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities that previously shall have
been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for
authentication pursuant to such provisions and any Securities that such
successor Person thereafter shall cause to be executed and delivered to the
Trustee on its behalf for the purpose pursuant to such provisions. All the
Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit
under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, such
changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to be
issued as may be appropriate.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.1. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter
into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the
Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, and
the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company
herein and in the Securities contained; or
(2) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to
or with the Trustee or to surrender any right or power herein conferred
upon the Company; or
(3) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 2.1 or 3.1; or
(4) to facilitate the issuance of Securities of any series in
certificated or other definitive form; or
(5) 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
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covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of the
series specified) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon
the Company; or
(6) 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 Defaults 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 the series specified); or
(7) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture,
provided that any such change or elimination shall (1) become effective
only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to
the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the
benefit of such provision or (b) not apply to any Outstanding Securities;
or
(8) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein that 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 (8) shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders
of Securities of any series in any material respect or, in the case of the
Securities of a series issued to an Issuer Trust and for so long as any of
the corresponding series of Capital Securities issued by such Issuer Trust
shall remain outstanding, the holders of such Capital Securities; or
(9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or
more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant
to the requirements of Section 6.11(b); or
(10) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act.
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SECTION 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such
supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the
Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may
enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of
adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the
provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however,
that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of
each Outstanding Security of each series affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of interest (including any Additional 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 principal of a Discount Security that would be due and payable
upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to
Section 5.2, or change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency
in which, any Security or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right
to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
Redemption Date), or
(2) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is
required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose
Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions
of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences)
provided for in this Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or
Section 10.5, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that
certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived
without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected thereby;
provided, further, that, in the case of the Securities of a series issued
to an Issuer Trust, so long as any of the corresponding series of Capital
Securities issued by such
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Issuer Trust remains outstanding, (i) no such amendment shall be made that
adversely affects the holders of such Capital Securities in any material
respect, and no termination of this Indenture shall occur, and no waiver
of any Event of Default or compliance with any covenant under this
Indenture shall be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of
at least a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the
related Trust Agreement) of such Capital Securities then outstanding
unless and until the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the Securities
of such series and all accrued and (subject to Section 3.8) unpaid
interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon have been paid in
full, and (ii) no amendment shall be made to Section 5.8 of this Indenture
that would impair the rights of the holders of Capital Securities issued
by an Issuer Trust provided therein without the prior consent of the
holders of each such Capital Security then outstanding unless and until
the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the Securities of such series
and all accrued and (subject to Section 3.8) unpaid interest (including
any Additional Interest) thereon have been paid in full.
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the
benefit of one or more particular series of Securities or any corresponding
series of Capital Securities of an Issuer Trust that holds the Securities of any
series, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series
or holders of such Capital Securities of such corresponding 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 or holders
of Capital Securities of any other such corresponding series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 9.3. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that
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the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture, and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to
such action have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated
to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.4. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this
Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
shall be bound thereby.
SECTION 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 9.6. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by
the Company, bear a notation in form approved by the Company as to any matter
provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine,
new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the
Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the
Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for
Outstanding Securities of such series.
ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
SECTION 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities of
that series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
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SECTION 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of
Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented
or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture
may be served. The Company initially appoints the Trustee, acting through its
Corporate Trust Office, as its agent for said purposes. The Company will give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such
office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office
or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the
Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and
demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices
or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all
of such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of
Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation and any change in
the location of any such office or agency.
SECTION 10.3. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect
to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Interest)
on any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal
(and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Interest) so becoming
due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as
herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will, prior
to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
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each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, including
Additional Interest on any Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum
sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest, including
Additional Interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal (and premium, if any) or
interest, including Additional Interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the
Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to execute
and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree
with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying
Agent will:
(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any, or interest (including Additional Interest) on the Securities
of a series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such
sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other
obligor upon such Securities) in the making of any payment of principal (and
premium, if any) or interest (or Additional Interest) in respect of any Security
of any Series;
(3) at any time during the continuance of any default with respect to a
series of Securities, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to
the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent with respect to such
series; and
(4) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it
as a Paying Agent.
The Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or
by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in
trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee
upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or
such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee,
such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such money.
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Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by
the Company in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any)
or interest (including Additional Interest) on any Security and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest
(including Additional Interest) has become due and payable shall (unless
otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or
unclaimed property law) be paid on Company Request to the Company, or (if then
held by the Company) shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of
applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be discharged from
such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured
general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all
liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money,
and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease;
provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required
to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be
published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily
published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and
that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from
the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining
will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 10.4. Statement as to Compliance.
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 Officers'
Certificate covering the preceding calendar year, stating whether or not to the
best knowledge of the signers thereof of the Company is in default in the
performance, observance or fulfillment of or compliance with any of the terms,
provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture, and if the Company shall
be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of
which they may have knowledge. For the purpose of this Section 10.4, compliance
shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice
provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.5. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
Subject to the rights of holders of Capital Securities specified in
Section 9.2, if any, the Company may omit in any particular instance to comply
with any covenant or condition provided pursuant to Section 3.1, 9.1(3) or
9.1(4) with
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respect to the Securities of any series, if before or after the time for such
compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either
waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such
covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such
covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such
waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company in respect of any
such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10.6. Additional Sums.
In the case of the Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and except
as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1, if (i) an
Issuer Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding Securities of such series,
and (ii) a Tax Event has occurred and is continuing in respect of such Issuer
Trust, the Company shall pay to such Issuer Trust (and its permitted successors
or assigns under the related Trust Agreement) for so long as such Issuer Trust
(or its permitted successor or assignee) is the registered holder of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, such additional sums as may be necessary
in order that the amount of Distributions (including any Additional Amounts (as
defined in such Trust Agreement)) then due and payable by such Issuer Trust on
the related Capital Securities and Common Securities that at any time remain
outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof shall not be reduced as a
result of such Additional Taxes (the "Additional Sums"). Whenever in this
Indenture or the Securities there is a reference in any context to the payment
of principal of or interest on the Securities, such mention shall be deemed to
include mention of the payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this
paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or
would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph
and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any
provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those
provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided, however,
that the deferral of the payment of interest pursuant to Section 3.12 or the
Securities shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due
and payable.
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SECTION 10.7. Additional Covenants.
The Company covenants and agrees with each Holder of Securities of each
series that it shall not (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on,
or redeem purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
shares of the Company's capital stock, or (y) make any payment of principal of
or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in
interest to the Securities of such series (other than (a) repurchases,
redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in
connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period or other event referred to below, (b) as a
result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's
capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company) for any
class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the
Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock,
(c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or
the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any Rights Plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other
property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights
pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or
other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of
such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the
dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock) if at
such time (i) there shall have occurred any event (A) of which the Company has
actual knowledge that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both,
would constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such
series, and (B) which the Company shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure,
(ii) if the Securities of such series are held by an Issuer Trust, the Company
shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the
Guarantee relating to the Capital Securities issued by such Issuer Trust, or
(iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to begin an Extension
Period with respect to the Securities of such series as provided herein
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and shall not have rescinded such notice, or such Extension Period, or any
extension thereof, shall be continuing.
The Company also covenants with each Holder of Securities of a series
issued to an Issuer Trust (i) to hold, directly or indirectly, 100% of the
Common Securities of such Issuer Trust, provided that any permitted successor of
the Company as provided under Section 8.2 may succeed to the Company's ownership
of such Common Securities, (ii) as holder of such Common Securities, not to
voluntarily terminate, windup or liquidate such Issuer Trust, other than (a) in
connection with a distribution of the Securities of such series to the holders
of the related Capital Securities in liquidation of such Issuer Trust, or (b) in
connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by
the related Trust Agreement, and (iii) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent
with the terms and provisions of such Trust Agreement, to cause such Issuer
Trust to continue not to be taxable as a corporation for United States Federal
income tax purposes.
SECTION 10.8. Original Issue Discount.
On or before December 15 of each year during which any Securities are
outstanding, the Company shall furnish to each Paying Agent such information as
may be reasonably requested by each Paying Agent in order that each Paying Agent
may prepare the information which it is required to report for such year on
Internal Revenue Service Forms 1096 and 1099 pursuant to Section 6049 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Such information shall include the
amount of original issue discount includible in income for each authorized
minimum denomination of principal amount at Stated Maturity of outstanding
Securities during such year.
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 11.1. Applicability of This Article.
Redemption of Securities of any series as permitted or required by any
form of Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be made in accordance
with such form of Security and this Article; provided, however, that, if any
provision of any such form of Security shall conflict with any provision of this
Article, the provision of such form of Security shall govern.
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SECTION 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by
or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of
the Company, the Company shall, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to
the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the
Trustee), notify the Trustee and, in the case of Securities of a series held by
an Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee under the related Trust Agreement, of such
date and of the principal amount of Securities of the applicable series to be
redeemed and provide the additional information required to be included in the
notice or notices contemplated by Section 11.4; provided that, in the case of
any series of Securities initially issued to an Issuer Trust, for so long as
such Securities are held by such Issuer Trust, such notice shall be given not
less than 45 nor more than 75 days prior to such Redemption Date (unless a
shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Property Trustee under the related
Trust Agreement). In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the
expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such
Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction.
SECTION 11.3. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee
shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for
redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series,
provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security
shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum
authorized denomination) for such Security.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities
selected for partial redemption and the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all
provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of
any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
principal amount of such Security that has been or is to be redeemed.
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SECTION 11.4. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
mailed not later than the thirtieth day, and not earlier than the sixtieth day,
prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at
the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register.
With respect to Securities of such series to be redeemed, each notice of
redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price cannot be calculated
prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of the
Redemption Price provided pursuant to the Indenture together with a statement
that it is an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price will be calculated
on the third Business Day prior to the Redemption Date (if such an estimate of
the Redemption Price is given, a subsequent notice shall be given as set forth
above setting forth the Redemption Price promptly following the calculation
thereof);
(c) if less than all Outstanding Securities of such particular series are
to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the
respective principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;
(d) that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and
payable upon each such Security or portion thereof, and that interest thereon,
if any, shall cease to accrue on and after said date;
(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for
payment of the Redemption Price;
(f) such other provisions as may be required in respect of the terms of a
particular series of Securities; and
(g) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the
Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.
The notice, if mailed in the manner provided above, shall be conclusively
presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder
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receives such notice. In any case, a failure to give such notice by mail or any
defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as
a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other Security.
SECTION 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date specified
in the notice of redemption given as provided in Section 11.4, the Company will
deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents (or if the Company is
acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company will segregate and hold in trust as
provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption
Price of, and any accrued interest (including Additional Interest) on, all the
Securities (or portions thereof) that are to be redeemed on that date.
SECTION 11.6. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.
If any notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 11.4,
the Securities or portion of Securities with respect to which such notice has
been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places
stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued
interest (including any Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date. On
presentation and surrender of such Securities at a Place of Payment in said
notice specified, the said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be
paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price, together
with accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) to the Redemption
Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 3.1, installments of interest (including Additional Interest) whose
Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the
Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as
such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their
terms and the provisions of Section 3.8.
Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Company shall
execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder thereof, at
the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of
authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed
portion of the Security so presented and having the same Original Issue Date,
Stated Maturity and terms.
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If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid under surrender
thereof for redemption, the principal of and premium, if any, on such Security
shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed
therefor in the Security.
SECTION 11.7. Right of Redemption of Securities Initially Issued to an
Issuer Trust.
In the case of the Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, the
Company, at its option, may redeem such Securities (i) on or after the date
specified in such Security, in whole at any time or in part from time to time,
or (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event, an
Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event, at any time within 90
days following the occurrence and during the continuation of such Tax Event,
Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event, in whole (but not in part),
in each case at a Redemption Price specified in such Security, together with
accrued interest (including Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date.
If less than all the Securities of any such series are to be redeemed, the
aggregate principal amount of such Securities remaining Outstanding after giving
effect to such redemption shall be sufficient to satisfy any provisions of the
Trust Agreement related to the Issuer Trust to which such Securities were
issued.
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS
Except as may be provided in any supplemental or amended indenture, no
sinking fund shall be established or maintained for the retirement of Securities
of any series.
ARTICLE XIII
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 13.1. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness.
The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by its
acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in
the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article, the payment of the principal
of (and
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premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on each and
all of the Securities of each and every series are hereby expressly made
subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 13.2. No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default; Payment Over
of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.
If the Company shall default in the payment of any principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness when the same becomes
due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by
declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then, upon written notice of such
default to the Company by the holders of Senior Indebtedness or any trustee
therefor, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall
have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property,
securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made on
account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest (including
Additional Interest) on any of the Securities, or in respect of any redemption,
repayment, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities.
In the event of (i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating
to the Company, its creditors or its property, (ii) any proceeding for the
liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, voluntary or
involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
(iii) any assignment by the Company for the benefit of creditors or (iv) any
other marshalling of the assets of the Company (each such event, if any, herein
sometimes referred to as a "Proceeding"), all Senior Indebtedness (including any
interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall
first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property, shall be made to any Holder of any of the
Securities on account thereof. Any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other
entity provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of
which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination
provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the
payment of all Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding and to any securities
issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or
readjustment), which would otherwise
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(but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of
the Securities of any series shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders
of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among
such holders until all Senior Indebtedness (including any interest thereon
accruing after the commencement of any Proceeding) shall have been paid in full.
In the event of any Proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing
with respect to Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities, together
with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the
Securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the
Company the amounts at the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities and such other obligations
before any payment or other distribution; whether in cash, property or
otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations of
the Company ranking junior to the Securities, and such other obligations. If,
notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character or
any security, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than
securities of the Company or any other entity provided for by a plan of
reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to
the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the
indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect
thereof under any plan of reorganization or readjustment), shall be received by
the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms hereof and before
all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, such payment or
distribution or security shall be received in trust for the benefit of, and
shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then
existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior
Indebtedness in full. In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder
to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution or security, each holder of
Senior Indebtedness is hereby irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the
same.
The Trustee and the Holders shall take such action (including, without
limitation, the delivery of this Indenture to an agent for the holders of Senior
Indebtedness or consent to the filing of a financing statement with respect
hereto) as may, in the opinion of counsel designated by the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Senior Indebtedness at the
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time outstanding, be necessary or appropriate to assure the effectiveness of the
subordination effected by these provisions.
The provisions of this Section 13.2 shall not impair any rights,
interests, remedies or powers of any secured creditor of the Company in respect
of any security interest the creation of which is not prohibited by the
provisions of this Indenture.
The securing of any obligations of the Company, otherwise ranking on a
parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities shall not be
deemed to prevent such obligations form constituting, respectively, obligations
ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities.
SECTION 13.3. Payment Permitted If No Default.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any
of the Securities shall prevent (a) the Company, at any time, except during the
pendency of the conditions described in the first paragraph of Section 13.2 or
of any Proceeding referred to in Section 13.2, from making payments at any time
of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional
Interest) on the Securities, or (b) the application by the Trustee of any monies
deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of
(and premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the
Securities or the retention of such payment by the Holders, if, at the time of
such application by the Trustee, it did not have knowledge that such payment
would have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article.
SECTION 13.4. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to the payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on all
Senior Indebtedness, or the provision for such payment in cash or cash
equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of
the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness
pursuant to the provisions of this Article (equally and ratably with the holders
of all indebtedness of the Company that by its express terms is subordinated to
Senior Indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as the
Securities are subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness and is entitled to like
rights of subrogation by
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reason of any payments or distributions made to holders of such Senior
Indebtedness) to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to
receive payments and distributions of cash, property and securities applicable
to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium if any) and
interest (including Additional Interest) on the Securities shall be paid in
full. For purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which
the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the
provisions of this Article, and no payments over pursuant to the provisions of
this Article to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities
or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of
Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a
payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of the Senior
Indebtedness.
SECTION 13.5. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.
The provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the purpose
of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities on the one hand
and the holders of Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in
this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to
or shall (a) impair, as between the Company and the Holders of the Securities,
the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay to
the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities as and when the
same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms; or (b) affect
the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of the Securities and
creditors of the Company other than their rights in relation to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness; or (c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security
(or to the extent expressly provided herein, the holder of any Capital Security)
from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default
under this Indenture, including filing and voting claims in any Proceeding,
subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior
Indebtedness to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable or
deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.
SECTION 13.6. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Holder of a Security by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes and
directs the Trustee on his or her
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behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or
effectuate the subordination provided in this Article and appoints the Trustee
his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 13.7. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to
enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be
prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company
or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any
noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this
Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or
be otherwise charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the immediately preceding
paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to
time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the
Securities of any series, without incurring responsibility to such Holders of
the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in
this Article or the obligations hereunder of such Holders of the Securities to
the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i)
change the manner, place or terms of payment or extent the time of payment of,
or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any
manner Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any
agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange,
release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise
securing Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for
the collection of Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from
exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.
SECTION 13.8. Notice to Trustee.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of
any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Article or any other provision of this Indenture, the
Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that
would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the
Securities, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice
thereof from the Company or a holder of Senior
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Indebtedness or from any trustee, agent or representative therefor; provided,
however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in
this Section at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the
terms hereof any monies may become payable for any purpose (including, the
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) on any Security), then, anything herein contained to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to
receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were
received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be
received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall be entitled to
rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself
or herself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or
attorney-in-fact therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a
holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or attorney-in-fact therefor). In
the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is
required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior
Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this
Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness
held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate
in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of
such Person under this Article, and if such evidence is not furnished, the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
SECTION 13.9. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating
Agent.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, and the
Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree
entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such Proceeding is
pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, conservator,
liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or
other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to
the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled
to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount
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thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon
and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.
SECTION 13.10. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, shall not be
deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall
not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over
or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other Person
cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall
be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.
SECTION 13.11. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness;
Preservation of Trustee's Rights.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights
set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness that may at
any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior
Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of
its rights as such holder.
SECTION 13.12. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have
been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee"
as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context otherwise
requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within
its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were
named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee.
SECTION 13.13. Certain Conversions or Exchanges Deemed Payment.
For purposes of this Article only, (a) the issuance and delivery of junior
securities upon conversion or exchange of Securities of any series shall not be
deemed to constitute a payment or distribution on account of the principal of
(or premium, if any, on) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on such
Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of such
Securities, and (b) the payment, issuance or delivery of cash, property or
securities (other than junior securities) upon conversion or exchange of a
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Security of any series shall be deemed to constitute payment on account of the
principal of such security. For the purposes of this Section, the term "junior
securities" means (i) shares of any stock of any class of the Company, and (ii)
securities of the Company that are subordinated in right of payment to all
Senior Indebtedness that may be outstanding at the time of issuance or delivery
of such securities to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent
than, the Securities are so subordinated as provided in this Article.
* * * *
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
[Remainder of page left intentionally blank; signatures appear on following
page.]
- 99 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest:_______________________ FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:_______________________ BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
Trustee
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
- 100 -
ANNEX A
FORM OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE
RESTRICTED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE
(For transfers pursuant to Section 3.6(b) of
the Indenture referred to below)
[_________________________],
as Securities Registrar
[address]
Re: [Title of Securities] of First Empire State
Corporation (the "Securities")
Reference is made to the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
January ___, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between First Empire State Corporation, a
New York corporation, and Bankers Trust Company, as Trustee. Terms used herein
and defined in the Indenture or in Regulation S, Rule 144A or Rule 144 under the
U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") are used here as so defined.
This certificate relates to $ aggregate principal amount of Securities,
which are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the "Specified
Securities"):
CUSIP No(s).
CERTIFICATE No(s).
CURRENTLY IN GLOBAL FORM: Yes ____ No ____ (check one)
The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the "Undersigned")
hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the
Specified Securities or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners
of the Specified Securities and is duly authorized by them to do so. Such
beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the "Owner".
If the Specified Securities are represented by a Global Security, they are held
through a Depositary or an Agent Member in the name of the Undersigned, as or on
behalf of the Owner. If the Specified Securities are
- 101 -
not represented by a Global Security, they are registered in the name of the
Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.
The Owner has requested that the Specified Securities be transferred to a
person (the "Transferee") who will take delivery in the form of a Restricted
Security. In connection with such transfer, the Owner hereby certifies that,
unless such transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule
144A, Rule 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 under the Securities Act and all
applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other
jurisdictions. Accordingly, the Owner hereby further certifies that
(1) Rule 144A Transfers. If the transfer is being effected in
accordance with Rule 144A:
(A) the Specified Securities are being transferred to a person
that the Owner and any person acting on its behalf reasonably
believe is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of
Rule 144A, acquiring for its own account or for the account of a
qualified institutional buyer; and
(B) the Owner and any person acting on its behalf have taken
reasonable steps to ensure that the Transferee is aware that the
Owner may be relying on Rule 144A in connection with the transfer;
and
(2) Rule 904 Transfers. If the transfer is being effected in
accordance with Rule 904:
(A) the Owner is not a distributor of the Securities, an
affiliate of the Company or any such distributor or a person acting
in behalf of any of the foregoing;
(B) the offer of the Specified Securities was not made to a
person in the United States;
(C) either;
(i) at the time the buy order was originated, the
Transferee was outside the United States or the Owner and any
person acting on its behalf reasonably believed that the
Transferee was outside the United States, or
- 102 -
(ii) the transaction is being executed in, on or through
the facilities of the Eurobond market, as regulated by the
Association of International Bond Dealers, or another
designated offshore securities market and neither the Owner
nor any person acting on its behalf know that the transaction
has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States;
(D) no directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902
of Regulation S have been made in the United States by or on behalf
of the Owner or any affiliate thereof; and
(E) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade
the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
(3) Rule 144 Transfers. If the transfer is being effected pursuant
to Rule 144:
(A) the transfer is occurring after a holding period of at
least two years (computed in accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule
144) has elapsed since the date the Specified Securities were
acquired from the Company or from an affiliate (as such term is
defined in Rule 144) of the Company, whichever is later, and is
being effected in accordance with the applicable amount, manner of
sale and notice requirements of paragraphs (e), (f) and (h) of Rule
144;
(B) the transfer is occurring after a holding period by the
Owner of at least three years has elapsed since the date the
Specified Securities were acquired from the Company or from an
affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144) of the Company,
whichever is later, and the Owner is not, and during the preceding
three months has not been, an affiliate of the Company; or
(C) the Owner is a Qualified Institutional Buyer under Rule
144A or has acquired the Securities otherwise in accordance with
Sections (1), (2) or (3) hereof and is transferring the Securities
to an institutional accredited investor in a transaction exempt from
the requirements of the Securities Act.
- 103 -
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company and the Initial Purchasers (as defined in
the Trust Agreement relating to the Issuer Trust to which the Securities were
initially issued).
(Print the name of the Undersigned, as such term is
defined in the second paragraph of this certificate.)
Dated:__________________________ By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
(If the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership or
fiduciary, the title of the person signing on behalf of
the Undersigned must be stated.)
- 104 -
Exhibit 4.2
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
TRUST AGREEMENT
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of January ___, 1997, is by and among (i)
First Empire State Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Depositor"), (ii)
Bankers Trust Company, a New York banking corporation, as property trustee and
(iii) Bankers Trust (Delaware), a Delaware banking corporation, as Delaware
trustee (each of Bankers Trust Company and Bankers Trust (Delaware) a "Trustee,"
and collectively the "Trustees"). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as
follows:
1. The trust created hereby (the "Trust") shall be known as "First Empire
Capital Trust I."
2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the
Trustees the sum of $10. The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of such amount
in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the initial trust
estate. The Trustees hereby declare that they will hold the trust estate in
trust for the Depositor.
3. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust created hereby
constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code,
12 Del. C. ss. 3801 et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and that this document
constitutes the governing instrument of the Trust.
4. The Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a
certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the
provisions of the Business Trust Act.
5. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an amended and restated
Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially to the effect
set forth in the Registration Statement, to provide for the contemplated
operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of Capital Securities and
Common Securities referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of
such amended and restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty
or obligation hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise
required by applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such
execution and delivery of any licenses, consents or approvals required by
applicable law or otherwise.
6. The Depositor and the Trustees hereby authorize and direct the
Depositor, as the sponsor of the Trust, to execute on behalf of the Trust that
certain Underwriting Agreement relating to the Capital Securities, among the
Trust, the Depositor and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as the
representative of the several Underwriters named therein.
7. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts.
-1-
8. The number of Trustees initially shall be two (2) and thereafter the
number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a
written instrument signed by the Depositor, who may increase or decrease the
number of Trustees; provided, however, that, to the extent required by the
Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural person who is a
resident of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which has its
principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the
requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the Depositor
is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any Trustee at any time. The
Trustees may resign upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the
Depositor.
9. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws
principles).
-2-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound,
have caused this Trust Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first
written above.
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION,
as Depositor
By: _________________________________
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as property trustee
By: _________________________________
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
as Delaware trustee
By: _________________________________
Name:
Title:
-3-
Exhibit 4.3
DRAFT as of 1/16/97
AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRUST AGREEMENT
among
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION, as Depositor,
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
as Property Trustee,
and
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee
Dated as of January , 1997
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating, to
Sections 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Trust Agreement
Act Section Section
- --------------- ---------------
(ss.) 310(a)(1)............................................ 8.7
(a)(2)............................................. 8.7
(a)(3)............................................. 8.9
(a)(4)............................................. 2.7(a)(ii)
(b)................................................ 8.8, 10.10(b)
(ss.) 311(a)............................................... 8.13, 10.10(b)
(b)................................................ 8.13, 10.10(b)
(ss.) 312(a)............................................... 5.7, 10.10(b)
(b)................................................ 5.7, 10.10(b), (f)
(c)................................................ 5.7
(ss.) 313(a)............................................... 8.15(a)
(a)(4)............................................. 8.15(b), 10.10(c)
(b)................................................ 8.15(c), 10.10(c)
(c)................................................ 10.9, 10.10(c)
(d)................................................ 10.10(c)
(ss.) 314(a)............................................... 8.16, 10.10(d)
(b)................................................ Not Applicable
(c)(1)............................................. 8.17, 10.10(d), (e)
(c)(2)............................................. 8.17, 10.10(d), (e)
(c)(3)............................................. 8.17, 10.10(d), (e)
(e)................................................ 8.17, 10.10(e)
(ss.) 315(a)............................................... 8.8
(b)................................................ 8.1(c)
(c)................................................ 8.2
(d)................................................ 8.1(d)
(e)................................................ Not Applicable
(ss.) 316(a)............................................... Not Applicable
(a)(1)(A).......................................... Not Applicable
(a)(1)(B).......................................... Not Applicable
(a)(2)............................................. Not Applicable
(b)................................................ 5.13
(c)................................................ 6.7
(ss.) 317(a)(1)............................................ Not Applicable
(a)(2)............................................. 8.14
(b)................................................ 5.10
(ss.) 318(a)............................................... 10.10(a)
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Trust Agreement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I. DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions........................................... 2
ARTICLE II. CONTINUATION OF THE ISSUER TRUST
SECTION 2.1. Name.................................................. 17
SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal
Place of Business..................................... 17
SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property,
Organizational Expenses............................... 18
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of Capital Securities........................ 18
SECTION 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities;
Subscription and Purchase of Junior
Subordinated Debentures............................... 18
SECTION 2.6. Declaration of Trust.................................. 19
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain
Transactions.......................................... 19
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust....................................... 23
SECTION 2.9. Title to Trust Property............................... 23
ARTICLE III. PAYMENT ACCOUNT
SECTION 3.1. Payment Account....................................... 23
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION
SECTION 4.1. Distributions......................................... 24
SECTION 4.2. Redemption............................................ 25
SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities.................... 28
SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures.................................... 29
SECTION 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports............................... 30
SECTION 4.6. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc.
of the Issuer Trust................................... 30
SECTION 4.7. Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to
Direct Actions........................................ 31
SECTION 4.8. Liability of the Holder of Common Securities.......... 31
ARTICLE V. TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership..................................... 31
SECTION 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates..................... 31
SECTION 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust
Securities Certificates............................... 32
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SECTION 5.4. Global Capital Security............................... 32
SECTION 5.5. Registration of Transfer and Exchange
Generally; Certain Transfers and
Exchanges; Capital Securities Certificates............ 34
SECTION 5.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Trust Securities Certificates......................... 38
SECTION 5.7. Persons Deemed Holders................................ 39
SECTION 5.8. Access to List of Holders'
Names and Addresses................................... 39
SECTION 5.9. Maintenance of Office or Agency....................... 39
SECTION 5.10. Appointment of Paying Agent........................... 39
SECTION 5.11. Ownership of Common Securities
by Depositor.......................................... 40
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency............................ 41
SECTION 5.13. Rights of Holders..................................... 41
ARTICLE VI. ACTS OF HOLDERS; MEETINGS;
VOTING
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Holder's Voting Rights................. 44
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings.................................... 45
SECTION 6.3. Meetings of Holders................................... 45
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights......................................... 46
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, etc.......................................... 46
SECTION 6.6. Holder Action by Written
Consent............................................... 46
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other
Purposes.............................................. 46
SECTION 6.8. Acts of Holders....................................... 47
SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records................................. 48
ARTICLE VII. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties
of the Property Trustee and
the Delaware Trustee.................................. 48
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of
Depositor............................................. 50
ARTICLE VIII. THE ISSUER TRUSTEES; THE ADMINISTRATORS
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities................... 50
SECTION 8.2. Certain Notices....................................... 53
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.................... 54
- 2 -
SECTION 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals
or Issuance of Securities............................. 56
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities................................... 56
SECTION 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees......................... 56
SECTION 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required;
Eligibility of Trustees and Administrators............ 57
SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests................................. 58
SECTION 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee...................... 58
SECTION 8.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of
Successor............................................. 60
SECTION 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by
Successor............................................. 62
SECTION 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
Succession to Business................................ 62
SECTION 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims
Against Depositor or Issuer Trust..................... 63
SECTION 8.14. Trustee May File Proofs of Claims..................... 63
SECTION 8.15. Reports by Property Trustee........................... 64
SECTION 8.16. Reports to the Property Trustee....................... 64
SECTION 8.17. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions
Precedent............................................. 65
SECTION 8.18. Number of Issuer Trustees............................. 65
SECTION 8.19. Delegation of Power................................... 65
SECTION 8.20. Appointment of Administrators......................... 65
ARTICLE IX. TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 9.1. Termination Upon Expiration Date;
Termination Upon Tax Event............................ 66
SECTION 9.2. Early Termination..................................... 66
SECTION 9.3. Termination........................................... 67
SECTION 9.4. Liquidation........................................... 67
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations
or Replacements of the Issuer Trust................... 69
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Holders....................... 70
SECTION 10.2. Amendment............................................. 71
SECTION 10.3. Separability.......................................... 72
SECTION 10.4. Governing Law......................................... 72
SECTION 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day...................... 72
SECTION 10.6. Successors............................................ 73
SECTION 10.7. Headings.............................................. 73
SECTION 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands.......................... 73
- 3 -
SECTION 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition............................. 74
SECTION 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with
Trust Indenture Act................................... 75
SECTION 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement,
Guarantee and Indenture............................... 75
Exhibit A Certificate of Trust
Exhibit B Form of Certificate Depositary Agreement
Exhibit C Form of Common Securities Certificate
Exhibit D Form of Capital Securities Certificate
- 4 -
AGREEMENT
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of January , 1997, among
(i) First Empire State Corporation, a New York corporation (including any
successors or assigns, the "Depositor"), (ii) Bankers Trust Company, a New York
banking corporation, as property trustee, (in such capacity, the "Property
Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as
Property Trustee, the "Bank"), and (iii) Bankers Trust (Delaware), a Delaware
banking corporation, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") (the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee are referred to collectively herein as the
"Issuer Trustees") and (iv) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Property Trustee, and the Delaware Trustee
have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the
Delaware Business Trust Act by the entering into a certain Trust Agreement,
dated as of January , 1997 (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and by the
execution and filing by the Delaware Trustee with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed on January , 1997 (the
"Certificate of Trust"), attached as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Delaware Trustee desire to amend and
restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to
provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance of the Common Securities by
the Issuer Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Capital
Securities by the Issuer Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (iii) the
acquisition by the Issuer Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title
and interest in the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and (iv) the appointment of
the Administrators.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the
other parties and for the benefit of the Holders, hereby amends and restates the
Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees, intending to be legally
bound, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 0.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
- 2 -
(a) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them
in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein;
(c) The words "include," "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to
be followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(d) All accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles as in effect at the time of computation;
(e) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article"
or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this
Trust Agreement;
(f) The words "herein", "hereof' and "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section
or other subdivision; and
(g) all references to the date the Capital Securities were originally
issued shall refer to the date the Initial Capital Securities were originally
issued.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
"Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given
Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest (as
defined in the Indenture) paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Debentures
for such period.
"Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 10.6 of the
Indenture.
"Administrators" means each Person appointed in accordance with Section
8.20 solely in such Person's capacity as Administrator of the Issuer Trust
heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not in such Person's individual
capacity, or any successor Administrator appointed as herein provided; with the
initial Administrators being _______________________ and ______________________.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
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contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling' and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or
transaction involving a Global Capital Security or beneficial interest therein,
the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Capital Security, in each
case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to
time.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
(a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the
premises judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly
filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or
composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable federal or
State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing
a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar
official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property or ordering
the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such
decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a
bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or
insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer
or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or
State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the
consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of
such Person or of any substantial part of its property or the making by it of an
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of
its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness
to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or the taking of corporate action by such Person
in furtherance of any such action.
"Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.
"Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Depositor or
the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Depositor (or any other
committee of the board of directors of the Depositor performing similar
functions) or a committee designated by the board of directors of the Depositor
(or any such committee), comprised of two or more members of the board of
directors of the Depositor or officers of the Depositor, or both.
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"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted
by the Depositor's Board of Directors, or such committee of the Board of
Directors or officers of the Depositor to which authority to act on behalf of
the Board of Directors has been delegated, and to be in full force and effect on
the date of such certification, and delivered to the Issuer Trustees.
"Business Day" means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a
day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or in the City of
Buffalo, New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain
closed or (c) a day on which the Property Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or
the Delaware Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or the Corporate Trust Office of
the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
"Capital Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Capital Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
D.
"Capital Security" means a preferred undivided beneficial interest in
the assets of the Issuer Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having
the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to
receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Capital Treatment Event" means, in respect of any Issuer Trust, the
reasonable determination by the Depositor that, as a result of the occurrence of
any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or
administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
such pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of the
issuance of the Capital Securities of such Issuer Trust, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that the Depositor will not be entitled to treat an amount
equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital"
(or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the risk-based capital adequacy
guidelines of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as then in
effect and applicable to the Depositor.
"Certificate Depositary Agreement" means the agreement among the Issuer
Trust, the Depositor and DTC, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the
Closing Date, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may
be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Certificate of Trust" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this
Trust Agreement.
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"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing
agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") shall be the initial Clearing
Agency.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other
financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing
Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" means the Time of Delivery, which date is also the date
of execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time
to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such
Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under
the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership
of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.
"Common Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets
of the Issuer Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having the rights
provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Property
Trustee located in New York City which at the time of the execution of this
Trust Agreement is located at Four Albany Street, New York, New York 10006;
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group - Corporate Market Services.
"Debenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in
the Indenture.
"Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debentures to be
redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption of such Debentures
under the Indenture.
"Debenture Trustee" means Bankers Trust Company, a New York banking
corporation and any successor.
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"Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss. 3801, et seq., as it may be amended from time to
time.
"Delaware Trustee" means the corporation identified as the "Delaware
Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as
Delaware Trustee of the Issuer Trust continued hereunder and not in its
individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any
successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"Depository" means the Depository Trust Company or any successor
thereto.
"Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a).
"Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities
as provided in Section 4.1.
"Early Termination Event" has the meaning specified in Section 9.2.
"Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the
reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
(a) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default; or
(b) default by the Issuer Trust in the payment of any Distribution when
it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of 30
days; or
(c) default by the Issuer Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price
of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of
any covenant or warranty of the Issuer Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other
than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach
of which is dealt with in clause (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such
default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by
registered or certified mail, to the Issuer Trustees and the Depositor by the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Capital Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and
requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of
Default" hereunder; or
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(e) the occurrence of any Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property
Trustee or all or substantially all of its property if a successor Property
Trustee has not been appointed within a period of 90 days thereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to
time.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.
"Global Capital Securities Certificate" means a Capital Securities
Certificate evidencing ownership of Global Capital Securities.
"Global Capital Security" means a Capital Security, the ownership and
transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as
described in Section 5.4.
"Guarantee Agreement" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and
delivered by the Depositor and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee,
contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for
the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities, as amended from time to
time.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Trust
Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any such Person shall be
deemed to be a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business
Trust Act.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of January
__, 1997, between the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee (as amended or
supplemented from time to time) relating to the issuance of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Issuer Trust of an
Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written change
(including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of
law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or
regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Issuer
Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change
becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the
date of the issuance of the Capital Securities.
"Issuer Trust" means First Empire Capital Trust I.
"Issuer Trustees" means, collectively, the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee.
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"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
"Junior Subordinated Debentures" means the aggregate principal amount of
the Depositor's % Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, due
________ __, 2027, issued pursuant to the Indenture.
"Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of
trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest
or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement
of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Like Amount" means (a) with respect to a redemption of Trust
Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion
of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures to be
contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Indenture, allocated to the
Common Securities and to the Capital Securities based upon the relative
Liquidation Amounts of such classes and (b) with respect to a distribution of
Junior Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with
a dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, Junior Subordinated Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior Subordinated Debentures are
distributed.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security.
"Liquidation Date" means the date on which Junior Subordinated
Debentures are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection
with a termination and liquidation of the Issuer Trust pursuant to Section 9.4.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.4(d).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities" or "Majority
in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities" means, except as provided by the
Trust Indenture Act, Capital Securities or Common Securities, as the case may
be, representing more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then
Outstanding Capital Securities or Common Securities, as the case may be.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President, and by the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of
the Depositor, and delivered to the party provided herein. Any Officers'
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include:
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(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
that such officer has read the covenant or condition and the definitions
relating thereto;
(b) a statement that such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(c) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for or an employee of the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.
"Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the preamble to
this Trust Agreement.
"Outstanding," with respect to Trust Securities, means, as of the date
of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and delivered under
this Trust Agreement, except:
(a) Trust Securities theretofore canceled by the Property Trustee
or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Trust Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any
Paying Agent for the Holders of such Capital Securities, provided that if such
Trust Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly
given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(c) Trust Securities which have been paid or in exchange for or in
lieu of which other Trust Securities have been executed and delivered pursuant
to Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 and 5.13;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Capital Securities have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Capital
Securities owned by the Depositor, or any Issuer Trustee, any Administrator or
any Affiliate of the Depositor, any Issuer Trustee shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Issuer
Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Capital Securities
that such Issuer Trustee or such Administrator, as the case may be, knows to be
so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not apply at any
time when
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all of the outstanding Capital Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or
more of the Issuer Trustees, one or more of the Administrators and/or any such
Affiliate. Capital Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may
be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the
Administrators the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Capital
Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the
Depositor.
"Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of Global Capital
Securities as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a Clearing
Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records of a
Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or indirectly,
in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency.
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed
pursuant to Section 5.10 and shall initially be the Property Trustee.
"Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate
trust account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Property Trustee in
its trust department for the benefit of the Holders in which all amounts paid in
respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be held and from which the
Property Trustee, through the Paying Agent, shall make payments to the Holders
in accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.2.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or
any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever
nature.
"Property Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Property Trustee"
in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Property
Trustee of the Issuer Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its
individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any
successor property trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust
Agreement; provided that each Junior Subordinated Debenture Redemption Date and
the stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be a Redemption
Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities, including but not limited to any
date of redemption pursuant to the occurrence of any Special Event.
"Redemption Price" means with respect to a redemption of any Trust
Security, the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, together with
accumulated but unpaid
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Distributions to but excluding the date fixed for redemption, plus the related
amount of the premium, if any, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent
redemption of a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures.
"Relevant Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.10.
"Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Property Trustee
means any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any managing
director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer,
assistant secretary or any other officer of the Property Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of the
Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to
whom such matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any
successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 5.5.
"Special Event" means any Tax Event, Capital Treatment Event or
Investment Company Event.
"Successor Capital Securities" of any particular Capital Securities
Certificate means every Capital Securities Certificate issued after, and
evidencing all or a portion of the same beneficial interest in the Issuer Trust
as that evidenced by, such particular Capital Securities Certificate; and, for
the purposes of this definition, any Capital Securities Certificate executed and
delivered under Section 5.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Capital Securities Certificate shall be deemed to
evidence the same beneficial interest in the Issuer Trust as the mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Capital Securities Certificate.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Issuer Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after
the date of issuance of the Capital Securities, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that (i) the Issuer Trust is, or will be within 90 days of
the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to United States Federal income
tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Junior
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Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Depositor on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the delivery of such
Opinion of Counsel will not be, deductible by the Depositor, in whole or in
part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Issuer Trust
is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel,
subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental changes.
"Time of Delivery" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting
Agreement.
"Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as
the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the
applicable provisions hereof, including (i) all Exhibits hereto, and (ii) for
all purposes of this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement any such modification,
amendment or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are
deemed to be a part of and govern this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and
any modification, amendment or supplement, respectively.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or any
successor statute, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Trust Property" means (a) the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (b) any
cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account, and (c) all proceeds and
rights in respect of the foregoing any other property and assets for the time
being held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts
of this Trust Agreement.
"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities
Certificates or the Capital Securities Certificates.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Capital
Securities.
"Underwriters" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting Agreement.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of
January , 1997, among the Issuer Trust, the Depositor and the Underwriters, as
the same may be amended from time to time.
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ARTICLE II
CONTINUATION OF THE ISSUER TRUST
SECTION 2.1. Name.
The Issuer Trust continued hereby shall be known as "First Empire
Capital Trust I", as such name may be modified from time to time by the
Administrators following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and
the other Issuer Trustees, in which name the Administrators and the Issuer
Trustees may engage in the transactions contemplated hereby, make and execute
contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Issuer Trust and sue and be
sued.
SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of
Business.
The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is Bankers
Trust (Delaware), 1001 Jefferson Street, Suite 550, Wilmington, DE 19801,
Attention:________________, or such other address in the State of Delaware as
the Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the Holders and the
Depositor. The principal executive office of the Issuer Trust is in care of
First Empire State Corporation, One M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York 14240,
Attention: Office of the Secretary.
SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property, Organizational
Expenses.
The Property Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor in
connection with this Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which constitutes the
initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay all organizational expenses of
the Issuer Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any Issuer Trustee,
promptly reimburse such Issuer Trustee for any such expenses paid by such Issuer
Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the
payment of such expenses.
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of the Capital Securities.
On January , 1997, the Depositor, both on its own behalf and on behalf
of the Issuer Trust pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement executed and
delivered the Underwriting Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution and
delivery of this Trust Agreement, an Administrator, on behalf of the Issuer
Trust, shall manually execute in accordance with Section 5.3 and the Property
Trustee shall authenticate in accordance with Section 5.4 and deliver to the
Underwriters, Capital Securities Certificates, registered in the names requested
by the Underwriters, in an aggregate amount of 200,000 Capital Securities having
an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $5,000,000, against receipt of the aggregate
purchase price of such Capital Securities of $5,000,000, by the Property
Trustee.
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SECTION 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and
Purchase of Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, an Administrator, on behalf of the Issuer Trust, shall execute or
cause to be executed in accordance with Section 5.2 and the Property Trustee
shall deliver to the Depositor Common Securities Certificates, registered in the
name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of 6,186 Common Securities having
an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $154,640 against receipt of the aggregate
purchase price of such Common Securities of $154,640 by the Property Trustee.
Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrator, on behalf of the Issuer Trust,
shall subscribe for and purchase from the Depositor the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, registered in the name of the Issuer Trust and having an aggregate
principal amount equal to $5,154,640, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price
for such Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the
Issuer Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $5,154,640 (being the
sum of the amounts delivered to the Property Trustee pursuant to (i) the second
sentence of Section 2.4, and (ii) the first sentence of this Section 2.5) and
receive on behalf of the Issuer Trust the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
SECTION 2.6. Declaration of Trust.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Issuer Trust are to (a)
issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire
the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and (b) engage in only those other
activities necessary, convenient or incidental thereto. The Depositor hereby
appoints the Issuer Trustees as trustees of the Issuer Trust, to have all the
rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and the Issuer
Trustees hereby accept such appointment, provided, however, that it is the
intent of the parties hereto that such Administrators shall not be trustees or
fiduciaries with respect to the Issuer Trust and this Agreement shall be
construed in a manner consistent with each intent. The Property Trustee hereby
declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the
conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Issuer Trust and the Holders.
The Depositor hereby appoints the Administrators, with such Administrators
having all rights, powers and duties set forth herein with respect to
accomplishing the purposes of the Issuer Trust, and the Administrators hereby
accept such appointment, provided, however, that it is the intent of the parties
hereto that such Administrators shall not be truestees or fiduciaries with
respect to the Issuer Trust and this Agreement shall be construed in a manner
consistent with such intent. The Property Trustee shall have the right and power
to perform those duties assigned to the Administrators. The Delaware Trustee
shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee
have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the
Administrators set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the
trustees of the Issuer Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the
requirements
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of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act and for taking such actions
as are required to be taken by a Delaware trustee under the Delaware Business
Trust Act.
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.
(a) The Issuer Trustees and the Administrators shall conduct the affairs
of the Issuer Trust in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement.
Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section and in
accordance with the following provisions (i), (ii) and (iii), the Issuer
Trustees and the Administrators shall act as follows:
(i) Each Administrator shall:
(A) comply with the Underwriting Agreement regarding the issuance
and sale of the Trust Securities;
(B) assist in compliance with the Securities Act, applicable state
securities or blue sky laws, and the Trust Indenture Act;
(C) assist in the listing of the Capital Securities upon such
securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor, with
the registration of the Capital Securities under the Exchange Act, if required,
and the preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports and other
documents pursuant to the foregoing;
(D) execute and deliver an application for a taxpayer
identification number for the Issuer Trust; and
(E) take any action incidental to the foregoing as necessary or
advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement.
(ii) The Property Trustee shall have the power and authority to act on
behalf of the Issuer Trust with respect to the following matters:
(A) the establishment of the Payment Account;
(B) the receipt of the Junior Subordinated Debentures;
(C) the receipt and collection of interest, principal and any
other payments made in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in the
Payment Account;
(D) the distribution of amounts owed to the Holders in respect of
the Trust Securities;
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(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a
holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures;
(F) the sending of notices of default and other information
regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the
terms of this Trust Agreement;
(H) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up
of the affairs of and liquidation of the Issuer Trust and the preparation,
execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware;
(I) after an Event of Default (other than under paragraph (b),
(c), (d), or (f) of the definition of such term if such Event of Default is by
or with respect to the Property Trustee), comply with the provisions of this
Trust Agreement and take any action to give effect to the terms of this Trust
Agreement and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the
Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any
particular Holder); and
provided, however, that nothing in this Section 2.7(a)(ii) shall require the
Property Trustee to take any action that is not otherwise required in this Trust
Agreement.
(iii) The Property Trustee shall comply with the listing requirements of
the Capital Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be
determined by the Depositor, the registration of the Capital Securities under
the Exchange Act, if required, and the preparation and filing of all periodic
and other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing; and
(b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Issuer Trust
(or the Issuer Trustees or Administrators acting on behalf of the Issuer Trust)
shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly
provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, neither the Issuer
Trustees nor the Administrators shall (i) acquire any investments or engage in
any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign,
transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the
Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly
provided herein, (iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected to
cause the Issuer Trust to become taxable as a corporation for United States
Federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
issue any other debt, or (v) take or consent to any action that would result in
the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property. The Property Trustee shall
defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any
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time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of
the Issuer Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the
Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Issuer Trust
with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Issuer Trust, the following (and any
actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date
of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the preparation by the Issuer Trust of a registration
statement, and a prospectus in relation to the Capital Securities, including any
amendments thereto and the taking of any action necessary or desirable to sell
the Capital Securities in a transaction or a series of transactions not exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act;
(ii) the determination of the States in which to take appropriate
action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and
the determination of any and all such acts, other than actions that must be
taken by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust, and the advice to the Issuer Trustees
of actions they must take on behalf of the Issuer Trust, and the preparation for
execution and filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Issuer
Trust or on behalf of the Issuer Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or
advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States in
connection with the sale of the Capital Securities;
(iii) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and
delivery of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital
Securities; and
(iv) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to
carry out any of the foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrators
and the Property Trustee are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of
the Issuer Trust and to operate the Issuer Trust so that the Issuer Trust will
not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act, and will not be taxable as a corporation for the United
States Federal income tax purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States
income tax purposes. In this connection, the Property Trustee and the Holders of
Common Securities are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with
applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust Agreement, that the
Property Trustee and Holders of Common Securities determine in their discretion
to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the holders of the
Outstanding Capital Securities. In no event shall the Administrators or the
Issuer Trustees be liable to the Issuer Trust or the
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Holders for any failure to comply with this section that results from a change
in law or regulations or in the interpretation thereof.
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust.
The assets of the Issuer Trust shall consist solely of the Trust
Property.
SECTION 2.9. Title to Trust Property.
Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by
the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Issuer Trust and the Holders in
accordance with this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE III
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
SECTION 3.1. Payment Account.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall
establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and its agents shall have
exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment
Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment
Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property
deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the
Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Holders
and for distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any priority
of payments provided for herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly
upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other
payments or proceeds with respect to, the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property
Trustee pending distribution thereof.
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ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION
SECTION 4.1. Distributions.
(a) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the
Trust Property, and Distributions (including of Additional Amounts) will be made
on the Trust Securities at the rate and on the dates that payments of interest
(including of Additional Interest, as defined in the Indenture) are made on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Accordingly:
(i) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative and
will accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Issuer Trust
available for the payment of Distributions. Distributions shall
accumulate from _________ , 1997, and, except in the event (and to the
extent) that the Depositor exercises its right to defer the payment of
interest on the Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, shall be payable
quarterly in arrears on the _____ day of ________ __, ________ __,
________ __, and _______ __ of each year, commencing on ______ __, 1997.
If any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Trust
Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution
shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (without
any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), with the
same force and effect as if made on the date on which such payment was
originally payable (each date on which distributions are payable in
accordance with this Section 4.1(a), a "Distribution Date").
(ii) The Trust Securities shall be entitled to Distributions
payable at a rate of % per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any period less than
a full Distribution period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in a
partial month in a period. Distributions payable for each full
Distribution period will be computed by dividing the rate per annum by
two. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include
any Additional Amounts in respect of such period.
(iii) So long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Depositor has the right under the Indenture
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to defer the payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
at any time and from time to time for a period not exceeding 20
consecutive quarterly periods (an "Extension Period"), provided that no
Extension Period may extend beyond ________ __, 2027. As a consequence
of any such deferral, quarterly Distributions on the Trust Securities by
the Trust will also be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to
which Holders of the Trust Securities are entitled will accumulate
additional Distributions thereon at the rate per annum of % per annum,
compounded quarterly) from the relevant payment date for such
Distributions, computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months and the actual days elapsed in a partial month in such period.
Additional Distributions payable for each full Distribution period will
be computed by dividing the rate per annum by two (2). The term
"Distributions" as used in Section 4.1 shall include any such additional
Distributions provided pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(iii).
(iv) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the
Property Trustee from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each
Distribution Date only to the extent that the Issuer Trust has funds
then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of
such Distributions.
(b) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution
Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities
Register for the Trust Securities at the close of business on the relevant
record date, which shall be at the close of business on the ____ day of _______
__, _______ __, _______ __, _______ __, whether or not a Business Day).
SECTION 4.2. Redemption.
(a) On each Junior Subordinated Debenture Redemption Date and on the
stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Issuer Trust will be
required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price.
(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed,
at such Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of
redemption shall state:
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(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price, or if the Redemption Price cannot be
calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of
the Redemption Price provided pursuant to the Indenture together with a
statement that it is an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price will be
calculated on the third Business Day prior to the Redemption Date (and if an
estimate is provided, a further notice shall be sent of the actual Redemption
Price on the date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, that notice of such
actual Redemption Price is received pursuant to the Indenture);
(iii) the CUSIP number or CUSIP numbers of the Capital Securities
affected;
(iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be
redeemed, the identification and the total Liquidation Amount of the particular
Trust Securities to be redeemed;
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become
due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that
Distributions thereon will cease to accumulate on and after said date, except as
provided in Section 4.2(d) below; and
(vi) the place or places where Trust Securities are to be
surrendered for the payment of the Redemption Price.
The Issuer Trust in issuing the Trust Securities shall use "CUSIP"
numbers, and the Property Trustee shall indicate the "CUSIP" numbers of the
Trust Securities in notices of redemption and related materials as a convenience
to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is
made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Trust
Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and related material.
(c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the
contemporaneous redemption of Junior Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of the
Trust Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each
Redemption Date only to the extent that the Issuer Trust has funds then on hand
and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.
(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of
any Capital Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
Redemption Date, subject to Section 4.2(c), the Property Trustee will, with
respect to Capital Securities held in global form, irrevocably deposit with the
Clearing Agency for such Capital Securities,
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to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable
Redemption Price and will give such Clearing Agency irrevocable instructions and
authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Capital Securities.
With respect to Capital Securities that are not held in global form, the
Property Trustee, subject to Section 4.2(c), will irrevocably deposit with the
Paying Agent, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the
applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable
instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holder of the
Capital Securities upon surrender of their Capital Securities Certificates.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the
Redemption Date for any Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable
to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Register for the
Trust Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution
Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as
required, then, upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Holders holding
Trust Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such
Holders to receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution payable in respect
of the Trust Securities on or prior to the Redemption Date, but without
interest, and such Securities will cease to be Outstanding. In the event that
any date on which any applicable Redemption Price is payable is not a Business
Day, then payment of the applicable Redemption Price payable on such date will
be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such
Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect
as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in
respect of any Trust Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or
refused and not paid either by the Issuer Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to
the Guarantee Agreement, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to
accumulate, as set forth in Section 4.1, from the Redemption Date originally
established by the Issuer Trust for such Trust Securities to the date such
applicable Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment
date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the
applicable Redemption Price.
(e) Subject to Section 4.3(a), if less than all the Outstanding Trust
Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated
pro rata to the Common Securities and the Capital Securities based on the
relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The particular Capital Securities
to be redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata basis based on their respective
Liquidation Amounts not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the
Property Trustee from the Outstanding Capital Securities not previously called
for redemption, or if the Capital Securities are then held in the form of a
Global Capital Security in accordance with the customary procedures for the
Clearing Agency, provided however, that with respect to Holders that would be
required to hold less than 100 but more than zero Capital Securities as a result
of such pro rata redemption, the Property Trustee shall redeem each such Holder
to either 100 Capital Securities or zero Capital
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Securities and shall use such method (including, without limitation, by lot) as
the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate. The Property Trustee shall
promptly notify the Security Registrar in writing of the Capital Securities
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Capital Securities selected for
partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all
purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all
provisions relating to the redemption of Capital Securities shall relate, in the
case of any Capital Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Capital Securities that has been
or is to be redeemed.
SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if
applicable) on, the Redemption Price of, and the Liquidation Distribution in
respect of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made, subject to
Section 4.2(e), pro rata among the Common Securities and the Capital Securities
based on the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities; provided, however,
that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date any Event of Default
resulting from a Debenture Event of Default in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) of the
Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution
(including any Additional Amounts) on, Redemption Price of, or Liquidation
Distribution in respect of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account
of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall
be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid
Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on all Outstanding Capital
Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or, in
the case of payment of the Redemption Price, the full amount of such Redemption
Price on all Outstanding Capital Securities then called for redemption, or in
the case of payment of the Liquidation Distribution the full amount of such
Liquidation Distribution on all Outstanding Capital Securities, shall have been
made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property
Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all
Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on, or the Redemption Price of,
Capital Securities then due and payable. The existence of an Event of Default
does not entitle the Holders of Capital Securities to accelerate the maturity
thereof.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default resulting from
any Debenture Event of Default, the Holder of the Common Securities shall have
no right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under this Trust
Agreement until the effects of all such Events of Default with respect to the
Capital Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all
such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Capital
Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property
Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Capital Securities and
not on behalf of the Holder of the Common Securities, and only the
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Holders of the Capital Securities will have the right to direct the Property
Trustee to act on their behalf.
SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures.
Payments of Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) in respect
of the Capital Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the
Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register
or, if the Capital Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions
shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately available funds, which will
credit the relevant accounts on the applicable Distribution Dates. Payments of
Distributions to Holders of $1,000,000 or more in aggregate Liquidation Amount
of Capital Securities may be made by wire transfer of immediately available
funds upon written request of such Holder of Capital Securities to the
Securities Registrar not later than 15 calendar days prior to the date on which
the Distribution is payable. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall
be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee
and the Holder of the Common Securities.
SECTION 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports.
The Administrators shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the
Depositor's expense, and file all United States Federal, state and local tax and
information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the
Issuer Trust. In this regard, the Administrators shall (a) prepare and file (or
cause to be prepared and filed) all Internal Revenue Service forms required to
be filed in respect of the Issuer Trust in each taxable year of the Issuer Trust
and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to each
Holder all Internal Revenue Service forms required to be provided by the Issuer
Trust. The Administrators shall provide the Depositor and the Property Trustee
with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly after such filing or
furnishing. The Issuer Trustees shall comply with United States Federal
withholding and backup withholding tax laws and information reporting
requirements with respect to any payments to Holders under the Trust Securities.
On or before December 15 of each year during which any Capital
Securities are outstanding, the Administrators shall furnish to the Paying Agent
such information as may be reasonably requested by the Property Trustee in order
that the Property Trustee may prepare the information which it is required to
report for such year on Internal Revenue Service Forms 1096 and 1099 pursuant to
Section 6049 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Such information
shall include the amount of original issue discount includible in income for
each outstanding Capital Security during such year.
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SECTION 4.6. Payment of Taxes; Duties, Etc. of the Issuer Trust.
Upon receipt under the Junior Subordinated Debentures of Additional
Sums, the Property Trustee shall promptly pay any taxes, duties or governmental
charges of whatsoever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed on the
Issuer Trust by the United States or any other taxing authority.
SECTION 4.7. Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions.
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Capital Securities shall
be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder has directly
received pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Indenture or Section 5.13 of this Trust
Agreement.
SECTION 4.8. Liability of the Holder of Common Securities.
The Holder of Common Securities shall be liable for the debts and
obligations of the Issuer Trust as set forth in Section 6.7 of the Indenture
regarding allocation of expenses.
ARTICLE V
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership.
Upon the formation of the Issuer Trust and the contribution by the
Depositor pursuant to Section 2.3 and until the issuance of the Trust
Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding,
the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Issuer Trust.
SECTION 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates.
(a) The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Issuer Trust by manual signature of at least one Administrator except as
provided in Section 5.3. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual
signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have
been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Issuer Trust, shall be validly
issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding
that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior
to the delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such
offices at the date of delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A
transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall become a Holder, and shall be
entitled to the rights and subject
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to the obligations of a Holder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust
Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 5.5.
(b) Upon their original issuance, Capital Securities Certificates shall
be issued in the form of one or more fully registered Global Capital Securities
Certificates which will be deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary and
registered in the name of the Depositary's nominee. Unless and until it is
exchangeable in whole or in part for the Capital Securities in definitive form,
a 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 of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor.
(c) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common
Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common
Securities Certificate.
SECTION 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates.
At the Time of Delivery, the Administrators shall cause Trust Securities
Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 2.4 and
2.5, to be executed on behalf of the Issuer Trust and delivered to the Property
Trustee and upon such delivery the Property Trustee shall authenticate such
Trust Securities Certificates and deliver such Trust Securities Certificates
upon the written order of the Depositor, executed by two authorized officers
thereof, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized
denominations.
SECTION 5.4. Global Capital Security.
(a) Any Global Capital Security issued under this Trust Agreement shall
be registered in the name of the nominee of the Clearing Agency and delivered to
such custodian therefor, and such Global Capital Security shall constitute a
single Capital Security for all purposes of this Trust Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, a
Global Capital Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for Capital
Securities registered, and no transfer of the Global Capital Security in whole
or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Clearing
Agency for such Global Capital Security, or its nominee thereof unless (i) such
Clearing Agency advises the Property Trustee in writing that such Clearing
Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities
as Clearing Agency with respect to such Global Capital Security, and the
Depositor is unable to locate a qualified successor, (ii) the Issuer Trust at
its option advises the Depositary in writing that it elects to terminate the
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book-entry system through the Clearing Agency, or (iii) there shall have
occurred and be continuing an Event of Default.
(c) If a Capital Security is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a
beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security, then either (i) such Global
Capital Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as
provided in this Article V or (ii) the Liquidation Amount thereof shall be
reduced, subject to Section 5.2, or increased by an amount equal to the portion
thereof to be so exchanged or cancelled, or equal to the Liquidation Amount of
such other Capital Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest
therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the
records of the Security Registrar, whereupon the Property Trustee, in accordance
with the Applicable Procedures, shall instruct the Clearing Agency or its
authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records.
Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a Global Capital Security by the
Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Property Trustee
shall, subject to Section 5.4(b) and as otherwise provided in this Article V,
authenticate and deliver any Capital Securities issuable in exchange for such
Global Capital Security (or any portion thereof) in accordance with the
instructions of the Clearing Agency. The Property Trustee shall not be liable
for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and
shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.
(d) Every Capital Security authenticated and delivered upon registration
of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Capital Security or
any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Article V or Article IV or
otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a
Global Capital Security, unless such Global Capital Security is registered in
the name of a Person other than the Clearing Agency for such Global Capital
Security or a nominee thereof.
(e) The Clearing Agency or its nominee, as the registered owner of a
Global Capital Security, shall be considered the Holder of the Capital
Securities represented by such Global Capital Security for all purposes under
this Trust Agreement and the Capital Securities, and owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Capital Security shall hold such interests pursuant to
the Applicable Procedures and, except as otherwise provided herein, shall not be
entitled to receive physical delivery of any such Capital Securities in
definitive form and shall not be considered the Holders thereof under this Trust
Agreement. Accordingly, any such owner's beneficial interest in the Global
Capital Security shall be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall
be effected only through, records maintained by the Clearing Agency or its
nominee. Neither the Property Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall have
any liability in respect of any transfers effected by the Clearing Agency.
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(f) The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Capital
Security shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be
limited to those established by law and agreements between such owners and the
Clearing Agency.
SECTION 5.5. Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally; Certain
Transfers and Exchanges; Capital Securities Certificates.
(a) The Property Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept at its Corporate
Trust Office a register or registers for the purpose of registering Capital
Securities Certificates and transfers and exchanges of Capital Securities
Certificates in which the registrar and transfer agent with respect to the
Capital Securities (the "Securities Registrar"), subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Capital
Securities Certificates and Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section
5.11 in the case of Common Securities Certificates) and registration of
transfers and exchanges of Capital Securities Certificates as herein provided.
Such register is herein sometimes referred to as the "Securities Register." The
Property Trustee is hereby appointed "Securities Registrar" for the purpose of
registering Capital Securities and transfers of Capital Securities as herein
provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Capital Security at
the offices or agencies of the Property Trustee designated for that purpose the
Depositor shall execute, and authenticate and deliver, in the name of the
designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Capital Securities of the
same series of any authorized denominations of like tenor and aggregate
principal amount and bearing such legends as may be required by this Trust
Agreement.
At the option of the Holder, Capital Securities may be exchanged for
other Capital Securities of any authorized denominations, of like tenor and
aggregate Liquidation Amount and bearing such legends as may be required by this
Trust Agreement, upon surrender of the Capital Securities to be exchanged as
such office or agency. Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange,
the Property Trustee shall execute and authenticate and deliver the Capital
Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Capital Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Capital
Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer Trust, evidencing the
same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Trust Agreement, as the
Capital Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
Every Capital Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange
shall (if so required by the Property Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Property Trustee and the Securities
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Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or exchange
of Capital Securities, but the Property Trustee may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer or exchange of Capital Securities.
Neither the Issuer Trust nor the Property Trustee shall be required,
pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (i) to issue, register the transfer
of or exchange any Capital Security during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Capital
Securities pursuant to Article IV and ending at the close of business on the day
of mailing of the notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or
exchange any Capital Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part,
except, in the case of any such Capital Security to be redeemed in part, any
portion thereof not to be redeemed.
(b) Certain Transfers and Exchanges. Trust Securities may only be
transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions
set forth in this Trust Agreement. Any transfer or purported transfer of any
Trust Security not made in accordance with this Trust Agreement shall be null
and void.
(i) Non Global Security to Non Global Security. A Trust Security
that is not a Global Capital Security may be transferred, in whole or in
part, to a Person who takes delivery in the form of another Trust
Security that is not a Global Security as provided in Section 5.5(a).
(ii) Free Transferability. Subject to this Section 5.5, Capital
Securities shall be freely transferable.
(iii) Exchanges Between Global Capital Security and Non-Global
Trust Security. A beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security may
be exchanged for a Trust Security that is not a Global Capital Security
as provided in Section 5.4.
SECTION 5.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities
Certificates.
If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered
to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive
evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust
Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities
Registrar and the Administrators such security or indemnity as may be required
by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such
Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser,
the
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Administrators, or any one of them, on behalf of the Issuer Trust shall execute
and make available for delivery, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate, in
exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust
Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor
and denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities
Certificate under this Section, the Administrators or the Securities Registrar
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate
Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute
conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the
Issuer Trust corresponding to that evidenced by the lost, stolen or destroyed
Trust Certificate, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or
destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.
SECTION 5.7. Persons Deemed Holders.
The Issuer Trustees or the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person
in whose name any Trust Securities are issued as the owner of such Trust
Securities for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes
whatsoever, and none of the Issuer Trustees, the Administrators nor the
Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 5.8. Access to List of Holders' Names and Addresses.
Each Holder and each Owner shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold
the Depositor, the Property Trustee, or the Administrators accountable by reason
of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which
such information was derived.
SECTION 5.9. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Property Trustee shall designate, with the consent of the
Administrators, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, an office or
offices or agency or agencies where Capital Securities Certificates may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Issuer Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities
Certificates may be served. The Property Trustee initially designates its
Corporate Trust Office at Four Albany Street, New York, NY 10006, Attention:
Corporate Trust and Agency Group - Corporate Market Services, as its corporate
trust office for such purposes. The Property Trustee shall give prompt written
notice to the Depositor, the Administrators and to the Holders of any change in
the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency.
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SECTION 5.10. Appointment of Paying Agent.
The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Holders from the Payment
Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property
Trustee and the Administrators. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power
to withdraw funds from the Payment Account solely for the purpose of making the
Distributions referred to above. The Property Trustee may revoke such power and
remove any Paying Agent in its sole discretion. The Paying Agent shall initially
be the Property Trustee. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to
resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrators, and
the Property Trustee. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be
the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to
act be revoked, the Property Trustee shall appoint a successor (which shall be a
bank or trust company) that is reasonably acceptable to the Administrators to
act as Paying Agent. Such successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent
appointed by the Administrators shall execute and deliver to the Issuer Trustees
an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent
shall agree with the Issuer Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying
Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for
payment to the Holders in trust for the benefit of the Holders entitled thereto
until such sums shall be paid to such Holders. The Paying Agent shall return all
unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such
Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property
Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.1, 8.3 and 8.6 herein shall apply to the
Bank also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Bank shall act as
Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed
hereunder. Any reference in this Trust Agreement to the Paying Agent shall
include any co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee unless the context
requires otherwise.
SECTION 5.11. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.
At each Time of Delivery, the Depositor shall acquire and retain
beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities except (i) in
connection with a consolidation or merger of the Depositor into another
corporation or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Depositor of its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, pursuant to
Section 8.1 of the Indenture, or (ii) to an Affiliate of the Depositor in
compliance with applicable law (including the Securities Act and applicable
state securities and blue sky laws). To the fullest extent permitted by law, any
attempted transfer of the Common Securities shall be void. The Administrators
shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to
contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT TO THE
DEPOSITOR OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE DEPOSITOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND
SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT."
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency.
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To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is
required under this Trust Agreement, for so long as Capital Securities are
represented by a Global Capital Securities Certificate, the Administrators and
the Issuer Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified
herein to be given to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to the
Owners.
SECTION 5.13. Rights of Holders.
(a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.9, and
the Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided
beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Issuer Trust conferred by
their Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or
division of property, profits or rights of the Issuer Trust except as described
below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights
specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust Securities
shall have no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and delivered to
Holders against payment of the purchase price therefor will be fully paid and
nonassessable by the Issuer Trust. The Holders of the Trust Securities, in their
capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(b) For so long as any Capital Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a
Debenture Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated
Debentures fail to declare the principal of all of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of at least 25% in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities then Outstanding shall have such
right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Property Trustee,
the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as provided
in the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the
Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences
if:
(i) the Depositor has paid or deposited with the Debenture
Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue installments of interest on all of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures,
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(B) any accrued Additional Interest on all of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures,
(C) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Junior
Subordinated Debentures which have become due otherwise than by
such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional
Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture Trustee under
the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee and the
Property Trustee, their agents and counsel; and
(ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, other than the non-payment of the principal of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures which has become due solely by such
acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section
5.13 of the Indenture.
If the Property Trustee fails to annul any such declaration and waive
such default, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities shall also have the right to rescind and annul such
declaration and its consequences by written notice to the Depositor, the
Property Trustee and the Debenture Trustee, subject to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Clause (i) and (ii) of this Section 5.13.
The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive
any past default under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of
principal or interest (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient
to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by
acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default in
respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Debentures. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default
or impair any right consequent thereon.
Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice declaring such an
acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of the Capital
Securities all or part of which is represented by Global Capital Securities, a
record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Capital
Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the
close of business on the day the Property Trustee receives such notice. The
Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such
Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders
remain Holders after such record date; provided, that, unless such
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declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be,
shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined
in such notice prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such
notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case
may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled
and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a
proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new
written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment
thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice which has
been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event
a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 5.13(b).
(c) For so long as any Capital Securities remain Outstanding, to the
fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement
and the Indenture, upon a Debenture Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1)
or 5.1(2) of the Indenture, any Holder of Capital Securities shall have the
right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor, pursuant to
Section 5.9 of the Indenture, for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the
principal amount of or interest on Junior Subordinated Debentures having an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action"). Except as set forth in
Sections 5.13(b) and 5.13 (c), the Holders of Capital Securities shall have no
right to exercise directly any right or remedy available to the holders of, or
in respect of, the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
ARTICLE VI
ACTS OF HOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Holder's Voting Rights.
(a) Except as provided in this Trust Agreement and in the Indenture and
as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Capital Securities shall have any
right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation
and management of the Issuer Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor
shall anything herein set forth or contained in the terms of the Trust
Securities Certificates be construed so as to constitute the Holders from time
to time as members of an association.
(b) So long as any Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the
Property Trustee on behalf of the Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee shall not
(i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or executing any trust or power
conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to such Junior Subordinated
Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that may be waived under Section 5.13 of
the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a
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declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall
be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination
of the Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Debentures, where such consent shall
be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders
of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities,
provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require the
consent of each Holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby, no
such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior written
consent of each Holder of Capital Securities. The Property Trustee shall not
revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of
Capital Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of Capital
Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital
Securities of any notice of default received with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the
Holders of the Capital Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions,
the Issuer Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of
Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such action will not
cause the Issuer Trust to be taxable as a corporation for United States Federal
income tax purposes.
(c) If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or
the Issuer Trust otherwise proposes to effect, (i) any action that would
adversely affect in any material respect the interests, powers, preferences or
special rights of the Capital Securities, whether by way of amendment to the
Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination
of the Issuer Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement,
then the Holders of Outstanding Trust Securities as a class will be entitled to
vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be
effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Trust Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be
made if, as a result of such amendment, it would cause the Issuer Trust to be
taxable as a corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes.
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of all meetings of the Holders, stating the time, place and
purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee pursuant to
Section 10.8 to each Holder of record, at his registered address, at least 15
days and not more than 90 days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any
business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated
in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned
without further notice.
SECTION 6.3. Meetings of Holders.
No annual meeting of Holders is required to be held. The Property
Trustee, however, shall call a meeting of Holders to vote on any matter upon the
written request of
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the Holders of record of 25% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities and the Administrators or the Property Trustee may, at any time in
their discretion, call a meeting of Holders of Capital Securities to vote on any
matters as to which Holders are entitled to vote.
Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
at any meeting of Holders of the Capital Securities.
If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Holders
of record present, in person or by proxy, holding Capital Securities
representing at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities
held by the Holders present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall
constitute the action of the Holders of Capital Securities, unless this Trust
Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights.
Holders shall be entitled to one vote for each $25 of Liquidation Amount
represented by their Outstanding Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to
which such Holders are entitled to vote.
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, etc.
At any meeting of Holders, any Holder entitled to vote thereat may vote
by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall
have been placed on file with the Property Trustee, or with such other officer
or agent of the Issuer Trust as the Property Trustee may direct, for
verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a
resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the
Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Holders
of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by
several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy
in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be
present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their
proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be
received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed
by or on behalf of a Holder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior
to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the
challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of
execution.
SECTION 6.6. Holder Action by Written Consent.
Any action which may be taken by Holders at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting if Holders holding at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of all Trust
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Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such larger proportion
thereof as shall be required by any other provision of this Trust Agreement)
shall consent to the action in writing.
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
For the purposes of determining the Holders who are entitled to notice
of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any
distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not
otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other
action, the Administrators or Property Trustee may from time to time fix a date,
not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Holders or the payment
of a distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the
determination of the identity of the Holders of record for such purposes.
SECTION 6.8. Acts of Holders.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made
or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments
of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent
duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are
delivered to the Property Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the
action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to
as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of
execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall
be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section
8.1) conclusive in favor of the Issuer Trustees, if made in the manner provided
in this Section.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a
certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument
or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by
a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such
certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing,
or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any
other manner which any Issuer Trustee or Administrator receiving the same deems
sufficient.
The ownership of Trust Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
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Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Holder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Holder
of the same Trust Security and the Holder of every Trust Security issued upon
the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof
in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Issuer
Trustees, the Administrators or the Issuer Trust in reliance thereon, whether or
not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any
action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with
regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust 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 Liquidation Amount.
If any dispute shall arise among the Holders, the Administrators or the
Issuer Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of
any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of
such Holder or Issuer Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of
such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such
matter.
A Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Depositor
under the Guarantee Agreement to enforce its rights under the Guarantee
Agreement without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee
Trustee (as defined in the Guarantee Agreement), the Issuer Trust, any Issuer
Trustee, any Administrator or any person or entity.
SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records.
Upon reasonable notice to the Administrators and the Property Trustee,
the records of the Issuer Trust shall be open to inspection by Holders during
normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Holder's
interest as a Holder.
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and
the Delaware Trustee.
The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf
of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Depositor and the Holders that:
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(a) The Property Trustee is a banking corporation with trust powers,
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of New
York, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out
and perform its obligations under the terms of this Trust Agreement.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of
this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Property Trustee; and this Trust Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Property Trustee, and constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Property Trustee, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
(regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement by
the Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Property Trustee.
(d) At the Time of Delivery, the Property Trustee has not knowingly
created any liens or encumbrances on the Trust Securities.
(e) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any New York State or federal banking authority is required for the
execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee, of this Trust
Agreement.
(f) The Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with trust power and authority
to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the
terms of, the Declaration.
(g) The execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of
this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Delaware Trustee; and this Trust Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' right
generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
(regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
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(h) The execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement by
the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee.
(i) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to any state or Federal banking authority is required for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee, of this Trust Agreement.
(j) The Delaware Trustee is an entity which has its principal place of
business in the State of Delaware.
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor.
The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Holders that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued at the Time of Delivery on
behalf of the Issuer Trust have been duly authorized and will have been duly and
validly executed, issued and delivered by the Issuer Trustees pursuant to the
terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Trust
Agreement, and the Holders will be, as of each such date, entitled to the
benefits of this Trust Agreement; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by
the Issuer Trust (or the Issuer Trustees on behalf of the Issuer Trust) under
the laws of the State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by either the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
THE ISSUER TRUSTEES; THE ADMINISTRATORS
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Issuer Trustees and the
Administrators shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of
the Property Trustee, by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the Issuer Trustees or the
Administrators to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any
financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in
the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if they 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 Trust Agreement relating to the
conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Issuer
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Trustees or the Administrators shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be construed to release an
Administrator from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act, or its own willful misconduct. To the extent that, at law or in
equity, an Issuer Trustee or Administrator has duties and liabilities relating
to the Issuer Trust or to the Holders, such Issuer Trustee or Administrator
shall not be liable to the Issuer Trust or to any Holder for such Issuer
Trustee's or Administrator's good faith reliance on the provisions of this Trust
Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that they
restrict the duties and liabilities of the Issuer Trustees and Administrators
otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and the
Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Issuer Trustees and
Administrators.
(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in
respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds
from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient
revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a
Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder,
by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the
revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for
distribution to it as herein provided and that neither the Issuer Trustees nor
the Administrators are personally liable to it for any amount distributable in
respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust
Security. This Section 8.1(b) does not limit the liability of the Issuer
Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case
of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall
undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Trust Agreement (including pursuant to Section 10.10), and no implied covenants
shall be read into this Trust Agreement against the Property Trustee. If an
Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to
Section 5.13 of the Indenture), the Property Trustee shall enforce this Trust
Agreement for the benefit of the Holders and shall exercise such of the rights
and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, and use the same degree of care
and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve
the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
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(A) the duties and obligations of the Property Trustee shall
be determined solely by the express provisions of this Trust
Agreement (including pursuant to Section 10.10), and the Property
Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such
duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Trust
Agreement (including pursuant to Section 10.10); and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Property
Trustee, the Property Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the
truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions
expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to
the Property Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Trust Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or
opinions that by any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture
Act are specifically required to be furnished to the Property
Trustee, the Property Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the
same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements
of this Trust Agreement;
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with the direction of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property
Trustee under this Trust Agreement;
(iv) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody,
safe keeping and physical preservation of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures and the Payment Account shall be to deal with such Property
in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar property
for its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on
liability afforded to the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement
and the Trust Indenture Act;
(v) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on
any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the
Depositor; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated
from other funds held by it except in relation to the Payment Account
maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 and except to
the extent otherwise required by law;
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(vi) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring
the compliance by the Administrators or the Depositor with their
respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall the Property
Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of any other Issuer
Trustee, the Administrators or the Depositor; and
(vii) no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the
Property Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or
in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Property Trustee
shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such
funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of
this Trust Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(e) The Administrators shall not be responsible for monitoring the
compliance by the Issuer Trustee or the Depositor with their respective duties
under this Trust Agreement, nor shall either Administrator be liable for the
default or misconduct of any other Administrator, the Issuer Trustees or the
Depositor.
SECTION 8.2. Certain Notices.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee, the Property
Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section
10.8, notice of such Event of Default to the Holders and the Administrators,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived.
Within five Business Days after the receipt of notice of the Depositor's
exercise of its right to defer the payment of interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, the Property Trustee shall
transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of
such exercise to the Holders and the Administrators, unless such exercise shall
have been revoked.
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.1:
(a) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in acting
or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel,
certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of
auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
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document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by
the proper party or parties;
(b) any direction or act of the Depositor contemplated by this Trust
Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;
(c) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording,
filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or
continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any
re-recording, refiling or reregistration thereof;
(d) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its own choosing
(which counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may
include any of its employees) and the advice of such 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 and in accordance
with such advice, such counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its
Affiliates, and may include any of its employees; the Property Trustee shall
have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of
this Trust Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction;
(e) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or
direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such
Holders shall have offered to the Property Trustee security or indemnity
satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; provided that,
nothing contained in this Section 8.3(f) shall be taken to relieve the Property
Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to
exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement;
(f) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation
into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond,
debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document,
unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Property
Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit;
(g) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any of its duties hereunder either directly or by or
through its agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or
attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(h) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property
Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to
enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Property
Trustee (i) may request
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instructions from the Holders (which instructions may only be given by the
Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as
would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the terms of the Trust
Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action), (ii) may refrain from
enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such
instructions are received, and (iii) shall be fully protected in acting in
accordance with such instructions; and
(i) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement, the
Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is
discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty
or obligation on any Issuer Trustee or Administrator to perform any act or acts
or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in
any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to any Issuer Trustee or
Administrator shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer Trust, and the Issuer Trustees
and the Administrators do not assume any responsibility for their correctness.
The Issuer Trustees and the Administrators shall not be accountable for the use
or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities.
Except as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in
Article I, the Administrators, any Issuer Trustee or any other agent of any
Issuer Trustee or the Issuer Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may
become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and, subject to Sections 8.8 and
8.13, may otherwise deal with the Issuer Trust with the same rights it would
have if it were not an Administrator, Issuer Trustee or such other agent.
SECTION 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.
The Depositor, as borrower, agrees:
(a) to pay to the Issuer Trustees from time to time reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation
shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust);
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(b) to reimburse the Issuer Trustees upon request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Issuer Trustees in
accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement (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 their
negligence or willful misconduct; and
(c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and
hold harmless (i) each Issuer Trustee, (ii) each Administrator, (iii) any
Affiliate of any Issuer Trustee, (iv) any officer, director, shareholder,
employee, representative or agent of any Issuer Trustee, and (v) any employee or
agent of the Issuer Trust, (referred to herein as an "Indemnified Person") from
and against any loss, damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense or claim of any
kind or nature whatsoever incurred by such Indemnified Person arising out of or
in connection with the creation, operation or termination of the Issuer Trust or
any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good
faith on behalf of the Issuer Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by this Trust Agreement, except that no Indemnified Person
shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim
incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
The provisions of this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Trust Agreement.
No Issuer Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any Trust Property as
a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.6.
The Depositor, any Administrator and any Issuer Trustee may engage in or
possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description,
independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the
Issuer Trust, and the Issuer Trust and the Holders of Trust Securities shall
have no rights by virtue of this Trust Agreement in and to such independent
ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such
venture, even if competitive with the business of the Issuer Trust, shall not be
deemed wrongful or improper. Neither the Depositor, any Administrator, nor any
Issuer Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or other
opportunity to the Issuer Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that,
if presented to the Issuer Trust, could be taken by the Issuer Trust, and the
Depositor, any Administrator or any Issuer Trustee shall have the right to take
for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend
to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Issuer
Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with
the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor, or may act as depository for,
trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities
or other obligations of the Depositor or its Affiliates.
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SECTION 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of
Trustees and Administrators.
(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that is
a national or state chartered bank and eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining
authority, then for the purposes of this Section, 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 Property Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this
Article. At the time of appointment, the Property Trustee must have securities
rated in one of the three highest rating categories by a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrators hereunder.
Each Administrator shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of
age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to
bind that entity. An employee, officer or Affiliate of the Depositor may serve
as an Administrator.
(c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee. The Delaware Trustee
shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a
resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity with its principal
place of business in the State of Delaware and that otherwise meets the
requirements of applicable Delaware law that shall act through one or more
persons authorized to bind such entity.
SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests.
(a) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest
within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by,
and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust
Agreement.
(b) The Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture shall be deemed to be
sufficiently described in this Trust Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of
the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any
time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act or of
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any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property may at the time be
located, the Property Trustee shall have power to appoint, and upon the written
request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Administrators shall for
such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery, and
performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint,
one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as
co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust
Property, or to the extent required by law to act as separate trustee of any
such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the
instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the capacity
aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable,
subject to the other provisions of this Section. Any co-trustee or separate
trustee appointed pursuant to this Section shall either be (i) a natural person
who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the United States or (ii) a
legal entity with its principal place of business in the United States that
shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.
Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any
co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such
co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and
all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered
by the Depositor.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms,
namely:
(a) The Trust Securities shall be executed by one or more
Administrators, and the Trust Securities shall be executed and delivered and all
rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody of
securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be
deposited or pledged with, the Property Trustees specified hereunder, shall be
exercised, solely by the Property Trustee and not by such co-trustee or separate
trustee.
(b) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby conferred or
imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by such
appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the
Property Trustee and such co-trustee or separate trustee jointly, as shall be
provided in the instrument appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee,
except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any
particular act is to be performed, the Property Trustee shall be incompetent or
unqualified to perform such act, in which event such rights, powers, duties and
obligations shall be exercised and performed by such co-trustee or separate
trustee.
(c) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing
executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may accept the
resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this
Section, and, in case a Debenture
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Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall have
power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any such co-trustee or separate
trustee without the concurrence of the Depositor. Upon the written request of
the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the
execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary
or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor to any
co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in the
manner provided in this Section.
(d) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally
liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee or any other
trustee hereunder.
(e) The Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason of any act of a
co-trustee or separate trustee.
(f) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be deemed
to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee.
SECTION 8.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
No resignation or removal of any Issuer Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee")
and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become
effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in
accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11.
Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, a Relevant Trustee may
resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders. The Relevant
Trustee shall appoint a successor by requesting from at least three Persons
meeting the eligibility requirements its expenses and charges to serve as the
Relevant Trustee on a form provided by the Administrators, and selecting the
Person who agrees to the lowest expenses and charges. If the instrument of
acceptance by the successor Trustee required by Section 8.11 shall not have been
delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice
of resignation, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Issuer
Trust, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Relevant Trustee.
The Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be removed at any time
by Act of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual
capacity and on behalf of the Issuer Trust) (i) for cause (including upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default described in subparagraph (f) of the
definition thereof with respect to the Relevant Trustee), or (ii) if a Debenture
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at any time.
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If any Issuer Trustee shall resign, it shall appoint its successor. If a
resigning Issuer Trustee shall fail to appoint a successor, or if an Issuer
Trustee shall be removed or become incapable of acting as Issuer Trustee, or if
any vacancy shall occur in the office of any Issuer Trustee for any cause, the
Holders of the Capital Securities, by Act of the Holders of record of not less
than 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities then
Outstanding delivered to such Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a
successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Issuer Trustee shall
comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor
Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of the Capital
Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11, any
Holder, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, or any other
Issuer Trustee, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of an Issuer Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all
Holders in the manner provided in Section 10.8 and shall give notice to the
Depositor and to the Administrators. Each notice shall include the name of the
successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it
is the Property Trustee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, in the event any Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or
becomes, in the opinion of the Holders of the Common Securities, incompetent or
incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may
be filled by the Property Trustee following the procedures regarding expenses
and charges set forth above (with the successor in each case being a Person who
satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrators or Delaware Trustee, as
the case may be, set forth in Section 8.7).
SECTION 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee,
the retiring Relevant Trustee and each such successor Relevant Trustee with
respect to the Trust Securities shall execute, acknowledge and deliver an
amendment hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such
appointment and which (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or
desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant
Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant
Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities and the Issuer Trust, and (b) shall
add to or change any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Issuer Trust by
more than one Relevant Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in
such amendment shall constitute such Relevant co-trustees and upon the execution
and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring
Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each
such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance,
shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
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retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Issuer Trust or any successor
Relevant Trustee such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds
thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect
to the Trust Securities and the Trust.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Issuer Trust
shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in
and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and
trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may
be.
No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the
time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and
eligible under this Article.
SECTION 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business.
Any Person into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may
be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Relevant
Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all
the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of
such Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided that such Person shall be otherwise
qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of
any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
SECTION 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or
Issuer Trust.
If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the
Depositor (or any other obligor upon the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee
shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the
collection of claims against the Depositor (or any such other obligor) as is
required by the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 8.14. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other similar judicial
proceeding relative to the Issuer Trust or any other obligor upon the Trust
Securities or the property of the Issuer Trust or of such other obligor, the
Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on the Trust
Securities shall then be due and payable and irrespective of whether the
Property Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuer Trust for the payment
of any past due Distributions) shall be entitled and empowered, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
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(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any Distributions
owning and unpaid in respect of the Trust Securities and to file such other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Property Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and
counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or
other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by
each Holder to make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event the
Property Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Holders, to pay to the Property Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its
agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Property Trustee.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or compensation affecting
the Trust Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the
Property Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
SECTION 8.15. Reports by Property Trustee.
(a) Not later than January 31 of each year commencing with January 31,
1998, the Property Trustee shall transmit to all Holders in accordance with
Section 10.8, and to the Depositor, a brief report dated as of the immediately
preceding December 31 with respect to:
(i) its eligibility under Section 8.7 or, in lieu thereof, if to
the best of its knowledge it has continued to be eligible under said
Section, a written statement to such effect; and
(ii) any change in the property and funds in its possession as
Property Trustee since the date of its last report and any action taken
by the Property Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder which
it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially
affects the Trust Securities.
(b) In addition the Property Trustee shall transmit to Holders such
reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this Trust
Agreement as may be
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required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner
provided pursuant thereto as set forth in Section 10.10 of this Trust Agreement.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with the Depositor.
SECTION 8.16. Reports to the Property Trustee.
The Depositor and the Administrators on behalf of the Issuer Trust shall
provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as
required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form,
in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture
Act, as set forth in Section 10.10 of this Trust Agreement. The Depositor and
the Administrators shall annually file with the Property Trustee a certificate
specifying whether such Person is in compliance with all the terms and covenants
applicable to such Person hereunder.
SECTION 8.17. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Each of the Depositor and the Administrators on behalf of the Issuer
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate
to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act as
set forth in Section 10.10 of this Trust Agreement. Any certificate or opinion
required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust
Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 8.18. Number of Issuer Trustees.
(a) The number of Issuer Trustees shall be two. The Property Trustee and
the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person.
(b) If an Issuer Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason, a vacancy
shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with an Issuer Trustee appointed in
accordance with Section 8.10.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy,
incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of an Issuer Trustee shall not
operate to annul the Issuer Trust.
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SECTION 8.19. Delegation of Power.
(a) Any Administrator may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or
her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
2.7(a) or making any governmental filing; and
(b) The Administrators shall have power to delegate from time to time to
such of their number the doing of such things and the execution of such
instruments either in the name of the Issuer Trust or the names of the
Administrators or otherwise as the Administrators may deem expedient, to the
extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the
provisions of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 8.20. Appointment of Administrators.
(a) The Administrators shall be appointed by the Holders of a Majority
in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities and may be removed by the Holders
of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities or may resign at
any time. Upon any resignation or removal, the Depositor shall appoint a
successor Administrator. Each Administrator shall sign an agreement agreeing to
comply with the terms of this Trust Agreement. If at any time there is no
Administrator, the Property Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of Trust
Securities for at least six months may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of one or more Administrators.
(b) Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrators shall occur,
until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrator in
accordance with this Section 8.20, the Administrators in office, regardless of
their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement), shall
have all the powers granted to the Administrators and shall discharge all the
duties imposed upon the Administrators by this Trust Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, in the event any Administrator or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural
person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities, incompetent, or incapacitated, the
vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the
remaining Administrators, if there were at least two of them prior to such
vacancy, and by the Depositor, if there were not two such Administrators
immediately prior to such vacancy (with the successor in each case being a
Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrators or Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, set forth in Section 8.7).
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ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 9.1. Termination Upon Expiration Date; Termination Upon Tax
Event.
(a) Unless earlier terminated, the Issuer Trust shall automatically
terminate on ________ __, 2028 (the "Expiration Date"), following the
distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with Section 9.4.
SECTION 9.2. Early Termination.
The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early
Termination Event":
(a) the occurrence of the appointment of a receiver or other similar
official in any liquidation, insolvency or similar proceeding with respect to
the Depositor or all or substantially all of its property, or a court or other
governmental agency shall enter a decree or order and such decree or order shall
remain unstayed and undischarged for a period of 60 days, unless the Depositor
shall transfer the Common Securities as provided by Section 5.11, in which case
this provision shall refer instead to any such successor Holder of the Common
Securities;
(b) the written direction to the Property Trustee from the Holder of the
Common Securities at any time to terminate the Issuer Trust and to distribute
the Junior Subordinated Debentures to Holders in exchange for the Capital
Securities (which direction, subject to Section 9.4(a), is optional and wholly
within the discretion of the Holders of the Common Securities);
(c) the redemption of all of the Capital Securities in connection with
the redemption of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures; and
(d) the entry of an order for dissolution of the Issuer Trust by a court
of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.3. Termination.
The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Issuer Trustees,
the Administrators and the Issuer Trust created and continued hereby shall
terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the
Property Trustee to Holders of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder
upon the liquidation of the Issuer Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, or upon the
redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.2, (b) the
payment of any expenses owed by the Issuer Trust, and (c) the
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discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrators, including the
performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Issuer Trust or
the Holders.
SECTION 9.4. Liquidation.
(a) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of
Section 9.2 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Issuer Trust shall be
liquidated by the Property Trustee as expeditiously as the Property Trustee
determines to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, to each Holder a
Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures, subject to Section 9.4(d). Notice
of liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, mailed not later than 15 nor more than 45 days prior to the
Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address
appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date;
(ii) state that, from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust
Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust Securities
Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like
Amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by
which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for Junior Subordinated
Debentures, or if Section 9.4(d) applies receive a Liquidation Distribution, as
the Administrators or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate.
(b) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, in order to effect
the liquidation of the Issuer Trust and distribution of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to Holders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for
such distribution (which shall be not more than 30 days prior to the Liquidation
Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of
a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem
appropriate to effect the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures in
exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates.
(c) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, after the Liquidation
Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii)
the Clearing Agency for the Capital Securities or its nominee, as the registered
holder of the Global Capital Securities Certificate, shall receive a registered
global certificate or certificates representing the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution with respect to Capital
Securities held by the Clearing Agency or its nominee, and, (iii) any Trust
Securities Certificates not held by the Clearing Agency for the Capital
Securities or its nominee as specified in clause (ii) above will be deemed to
represent Junior
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Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the stated
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities represented thereby and bearing
accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid
Distributions on such Trust Securities until such certificates are presented to
the Securities Registrar for transfer or reissuance.
(d) If, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9.4,
whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures is
not practical, or if any Early Termination Event specified in clause (c) of
Section 9 occurs, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Issuer Trust
shall be dissolved, wound-up or terminated, by the Property Trustee in such
manner as the Property Trustee determines. In such event, on the date of the
dissolution, winding-up or other termination of the Issuer Trust, Holders will
be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Issuer Trust available for
distribution to Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the
Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the aggregate of
Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions
thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation
Distribution"). If, upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination, the
Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Issuer Trust has
insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation
Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable
by the Issuer Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis
(based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holders of the Common Securities will be
entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such dissolution,
winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of
Capital Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a priority over the Common
Securities as provided in Section 4.3.
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of
the Issuer Trust.
The Issuer Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or
be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to, any entity, except pursuant to this Section
9.5. At the request of the Holders of the Common Securities, and with the
consent of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities, the Issuer Trust may merge with or into, consolidate,
amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws
of any State; provided, however, that (i) such successor entity either (a)
expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Issuer Trust with respect to the
Capital Securities or (b) substitutes for the Capital Securities other
securities having substantially the same terms as the Capital Securities (the
"Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities have the same
priority as the Capital Securities with respect to distributions and payments
upon
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liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) a trustee of such successor entity
possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee is appointed to
hold the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (iii) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the
Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (iv) such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the
Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect,
(v) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the
Issuer Trust, (vi) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Issuer Trustee has received an
Opinion of Counsel from independent counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights preferences
and privileges of the holders of the Capital Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect, and (b) following such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither
the Issuer Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act and (vii) the Depositor or
any permitted transferee to whom it has transferred the Common Securities
hereunder own all of the Common Securities of such successor entity and
guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor
Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer Trust shall not, except with the
consent of holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities,
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Issuer Trust or the successor
entity to be taxable as a corporation for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Holders.
Except as set forth in Section 9.2, the death or incapacity of any
person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall
not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal
representatives or heirs of such person or any Holder for such person, to claim
an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a
partition or winding-up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise
affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of
them.
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Any merger or similar agreement shall be executed by the Administrators on
behalf of the Trust.
SECTION 10.2. Amendment.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
Property Trustee and the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Common Securities, without the consent of any Holder of the Capital Securities
(i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may
be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions
with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement,
provided, however, that such amendment shall not adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of any Holder or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add
to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary
to ensure that the Issuer Trust will not be taxable as a corporation for United
States Federal income tax purposes at any time that any Trust Securities are
Outstanding or to ensure that the Issuer Trust will not be required to register
as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
(b) Except as provided in Section 10.2(c) hereof, any provision of this
Trust Agreement may be amended by the Property Trustee and the Holders of a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities with (i) the consent of
Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities
and (ii) receipt by the Issuer Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Issuer Trustees
in accordance with such amendment will not cause the Issuer Trust to be taxable
as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes or affect the
Issuer Trust's exemption from status of an "investment company" under the
Investment Company Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust
Agreement, without the consent of each affected Holder (such consent being
obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6 hereof), this Trust Agreement may
not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the
Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution
required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date or
(ii) restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any
such payment on or after such date.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no
Issuer Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust
Agreement which would cause the Issuer Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the
exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act or be taxable as a corporation for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
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(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary,
without the consent of the Depositor and the Administrators, this Trust
Agreement may not be amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation
on the Depositor or the Administrators.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the
Administrators or the Property Trustee shall promptly provide to the Depositor a
copy of such amendment.
(g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be
required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement which affects its
own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement. The Property
Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers'
Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance
with this Trust Agreement.
(h) Any amendments to this Trust Agreement shall become effective when
notice of such amendment is given to the holders of the Trust Securities.
SECTION 10.3. Separability.
In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust Securities
Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected
or impaired thereby.
SECTION 10.4. Governing Law.
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE
HOLDERS, THE ISSUER TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR, THE ISSUER TRUSTEES AND THE
ADMINISTRATORS WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES
SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE.
SECTION 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day.
If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day
that is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but
may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (except as
otherwise provided in Sections 4.2(d)), with the same force and effect as though
made on the date fixed for such payment, and no Distributions shall accumulate
on such unpaid amount for the period after such date.
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SECTION 10.6. Successors.
This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Issuer Trust, the Administrators
and any Issuer Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in
connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is
permitted under Article VIII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee
agrees in writing to perform the Depositor's obligations hereunder, the
Depositor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 10.7. Headings.
The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands.
Any report, notice, demand or other communication that by any provision
of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or
upon any Holder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit
thereof, first class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery
or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder
of Capital Securities, to such Holder as such Holder's name and address may
appear on the Securities Register; and (b) in the case of the Holder of Common
Securities or the Depositor, to First Empire State Corporation, One M&T Plaza,
Buffalo, New York 14240, Attention: Office of the Secretary, facsimile no.:
(716) 842-5376 or to such other address as may be specified in a written notice
by the Depositor to the Property Trustee. Such notice, demand or other
communication to or upon a Holder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission.
Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Depositor shall be
deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the
writing by the Depositor.
Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this
Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the
Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrators, or
the Issuer Trust shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is
published by the Issuer Trust) as follows: (a) with respect to the Property
Trustee to Bankers Trust Company, Four Albany Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY
10006, Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group Corporate Market Services;
(b) with respect to the Delaware Trustee to Bankers Trust (Delaware), 1001
Jefferson Street, Suite 550, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attention: ___________;
and (c) with respect to the Administrators, to them at the address above for
notices to the Depositor, marked "Attention: Office of the Secretary". Such
notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Issuer Trust or the
Property Trustee shall
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be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of
the writing by the Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee, or such Administrator.
SECTION 10.9 Agreement Not to Petition.
Each of the Issuer Trustees, the Administrators and the Depositor agree
for the benefit of the Holders that, until at least one year and one day after
the Issuer Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall
not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Issuer Trust under
any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law (including,
without limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively,
"Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding
against the Issuer Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. In the event the Depositor
takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the Property Trustee agrees, for
the benefit of Holders, that at the expense of the Depositor, it shall file an
answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of
such petition by the Depositor against the Issuer Trust or the commencement of
such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agreed in writing not
to take such action and should be estopped and precluded therefrom and such
other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Issuer Trustee or the Issuer Trust
may assert. If any Issuer Trustee or Administrator takes action in violation of
this Section 10.9, the Depositor agrees, for the benefit of the Holders, that at
the expense of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court
or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by such Person against
the Depositor or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that such
Person has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be estopped and
precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Issuer
Trustee or the Issuer Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.9
shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
(a) Trust Indenture Act; Application. (i) This Trust Agreement is
subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a
part of this Trust Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by
such provisions; (ii) if and to the extent that any provision of this Trust
Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by ss.ss. 310
to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control; (iii) for purposes of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee, to
the extent permitted by applicable law and/or the rules and regulations of the
Commission, shall be the only Issuer Trustee which is a trustee for the purposes
of the Trust Indenture Act; and (iv) the application of the Trust Indenture Act
to this Trust Agreement shall not affect the nature of the Capital Securities
and the Common Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust.
(b) Lists of Holders of Capital Securities. (i) Each of the Depositor
and the Administrators on behalf of the Trust shall provide the Property Trustee
with such
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information as is required under ss. 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided in ss. 312(a) and (ii) the Property Trustee
shall company with its obligations under ss.ss. 310(b), 311 and 312(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
(c) Reports by the Property Trustee. Within 60 days after [May 15] of
each year, the Property Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Trust
Securities such reports as are required by ss. 313 of the Trust Indenture Act,
if any, in the form, in the manner and at the times provided by ss. 313 of the
Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee shall also comply with the
requirements of ss. 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(d) Periodic Reports to Property Trustee. Each of the Depositor and the
Administrators on behalf of the Issuer Trust shall provide to the Property
Trustee, the Commission and the Holders of the Trust Securities, as applicable,
such documents, reports and information as required by ss. 314(a)(1) - (3) (if
any) of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificates required by ss.
314(a)(4) and (c) of the Trust Indenture Act (provided that any certificate to
be provided pursuant to ss.314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be
provided within 120 days of the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer Trust.
(e) Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Each of the
Depositor and the Administrators on behalf of the Issuer Trust shall provide to
the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent,
if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement which relate to any of the matters
set forth in ss. 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion
required to be given pursuant to ss. 314(c) shall comply with ss. 314(e) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
(f) Disclosure of Information. The disclosure of information as to the
names and addresses of the Holders of Trust Securities in accordance with ss.
312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such
information was derived, shall not be deemed to be a violation of any existing
law or any law hereafter enacted which does not specifically refer to ss. 312 of
the Trust Indenture Act, nor shall the Property Trustee be held accountable by
reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under ss. 312(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee and
Indenture.
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN
BY OR ON BEHALF OF A HOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR
FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE
BY THE HOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST SECURITY
OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT, THE GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
AND THE INDENTURE, AND
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THE AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT AND THE INDENTURE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE ISSUER
TRUST, SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST
AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE ISSUER TRUST
AND SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.
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FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION,
as Depositor
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Property Trustee
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee and not
in its individual capacity
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
Subscribed to and Accepted by,
as the Initial Administrators:
_____________________________
[Name]
_____________________________
[Name]
Exhibit A
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST of First Empire Capital Trust I (the "Trust"),
dated January __, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by Bankers Trust
Company, a New York banking corporation, and Bankers Trust (Delaware), a
Delaware banking corporation, as trustees, to form a business trust under the
Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. ss. 3801 et seq.).
1. Name. The name of the business trust formed hereby is "First Empire
Capital Trust I".
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and address of the trustee of the Trust in
the State of Delaware is:
Bankers Trust (Delaware)
1001 Jefferson Street
Suite 550
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective on
January __, 1997.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustees of the
Trust, have executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first written
above.
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
not in its individual capacity,
but solely as trustee
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE)
not in its individual capacity,
but solely as trustee
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
Exhibit B
[INSERT FORM OF CERTIFICATE DEPOSITARY AGREEMENT]
Exhibit C
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT TO THE
DEPOSITOR OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE DEPOSITOR
IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND
SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT
Certificate Number Number of Common Securities
C-__
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
First Empire Capital Trust I
___% Common Securities
(liquidation amount $25 per Common Security)
First Empire Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Issuer Trust"), hereby certifies that
First Empire State Corporation (the "Holder") is the registered owner of
_________ (_____) common securities of the Issuer Trust representing undivided
beneficial interests in the Issuer Trust and has designated the ____% Common
Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) (the "Common
Securities"). Except in accordance with Section 5.11 of the Trust Agreement (as
defined below) the Common Securities are not transferable and any attempted
transfer hereof other than in accordance therewith shall be void. The
designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and
the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be
subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement
of the Issuer Trust, dated as of January ___, 1997, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Trust Agreement") among First Empire State Corporation,
as Depositor, Bankers Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Bankers Trust
(Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and the Holders of Trust Securities, including
the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. The
Issuer Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without
charge upon written request to the Issuer Trust at its principal place of
business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the
Trust Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrators of the Issuer Trust has
executed this certificate this ___ day of ______________, ____.
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
By:_________________________________
Name:
Administrator
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Securities Registrar
By: ________________________
Name:
Authorized Officer
Exhibit D
[IF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE IS TO BE A GLOBAL CAPITAL
SECURITIES CERTIFICATE, INSERT -- This Capital Securities Certificate is a
Global Capital Securities Certificate within the meaning of the Trust Agreement
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a
nominee of a Depositary. This Capital Security Certificate is exchangeable for
Capital Securities Certificates registered in the name of a person other than
the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the
Trust Agreement and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary
to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the
Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, except in the limited
circumstances described in the Trust Agreement.
Unless this Capital Security Certificate is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depositary Trust Company, a New York Corporation ("DTC"),
to First Empire Capital Trust I or its agent for registration of transfer,
exchange or payment, and any Capital Security Certificate issued is registered
in the name of such nominee as is requested by an authorized representative of
DTC (and any payment is made to such entity as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO A PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof,
has an interest herein.]
NO EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OR OTHER PLAN OR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT
SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS
AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS
AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH, A "PLAN"), NO ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE
"PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY (A "PLAN ASSET
ENTITY"), AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN, MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD
THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASE
OR HOLDING IS COVERED BY THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION ("PTCE") 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1
OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR
HOLDING AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER RELYING ON ANY EXEMPTION
OTHER THAN PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14, HAS COMPLIED WITH
ANY REQUEST BY THE DEPOSITOR OR THE ISSUER TRUST FOR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR
OTHER EVIDENCE WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICABILITY OF SUCH EXEMPTION. ANY
PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE OR ANY INTEREST
HEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING HEREOF
THAT EITHER (A) THE PURCHASER AND HOLDER ARE NOT A PLAN OR A PLAN ASSET ENTITY
AND IS NOT PURCHASING SUCH SECURITIES ON BEHALF OF OR WITH "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY
PLAN, OR (B) THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES IS COVERED BY
THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF PROVIDED BY PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR
ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION.
Certificate Number Number of Capital Securities
P-__
CUSIP NO. __________
Certificate Evidencing Capital Securities
of
First Empire Capital Trust I
___% Capital Securities
(liquidation amount $25 per Capital Security)
First Empire Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Issuer Trust"), hereby certifies that
___________________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner of)___________(_____)
capital securities of the Trust representing a preferred undivided beneficial
interest in the assets of the Issuer Trust and has designated the First Empire
Capital Trust I % Capital Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Capital
Security) (the "Capital Securities"). The Capital Securities are transferable on
the books and records of the Issuer Trust, in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form
for transfer as provided in Section 5.5 of the Trust Agreement (as defined
below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and
other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities are set forth in, and this
certificate and the Capital Securities represented hereby are issued and shall
in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement of the Issuer Trust, dated as of January , 1997, as the
same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), among First
Empire State Corporation, as Depositor, Bankers Trust Company, as Property
Trustee, Bankers Trust (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and the Holders of Trust
Securities, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as
set forth therein. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee
Agreement entered into by First Empire State Corporation, a New York
corporation, and Bankers Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, dated as of
January , 1997 (the "Guarantee Agreement"), to the extent provided therein. The
Issuer Trust will furnish a copy of the Issuer Trust Agreement and the Guarantee
Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Issuer Trust
at its principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrators of the Issuer Trust has
executed this certificate this day of , .
FIRST EMPIRE CAPITAL TRUST I
By:_________________________________
Name:
Administrator
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Securities Registrar
By: ________________________
Name:
Authorized Officer
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital
Security to:
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax
identification number)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Issuer
Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:__________________
Signature:______________________________________________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital
Security Certificate)
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution
(banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to
S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
Exhibit 4.4
Draft of January 15, 1997
================================================================================
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
(as Guarantor)
and
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
(as Trustee)
dated as of
January ____, 1997
================================================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions........................................ 2
ARTICLE II. TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application................... 5
Section 2.2. List of Holders.................................... 6
Section 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee................... 6
Section 2.4. Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee.............. 6
Section 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions
Precedent 6
Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.......................... 7
Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice........................... 7
Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests.............................. 7
ARTICLE III. POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee
Trustee............................................ 7
Section 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee................ 9
Section 3.3. Indemnity.......................................... 11
Section 3.4. Expenses........................................... 11
ARTICLE IV. GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility..................... 11
Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation
of the Guarantee Trustee........................... 12
ARTICLE V. GUARANTEE
Section 5.1. Guarantee.......................................... 13
Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand........................ 13
Section 5.3. Obligations Not Affected........................... 13
Section 5.4. Rights of Holders.................................. 14
Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment............................... 15
Section 5.6. Subrogation........................................ 15
Section 5.7. Independent Obligations............................ 15
ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
Section 6.1. Subordination...................................... 16
Section 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.............................. 16
ARTICLE VII. TERMINATION
Section 7.1. Termination........................................ 16
ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns............................. 16
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Section 8.2. Amendments......................................... 17
Section 8.3. Notices............................................ 17
Section 8.4. Benefit............................................ 18
Section 8.5. Interpretation..................................... 18
Section 8.6. Governing Law...................................... 19
Section 8.7. Counterparts....................................... 19
- ii -
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of January ____, 1997 is executed
and delivered by FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION, a New York corporation (the
"Guarantor") having its principal office at One M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York
14240 and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the
"Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from
time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of First Empire
Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer Trust").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the
"Trust Agreement"), dated as of January ____, 1997, among First Empire State
Corporation, as Depositor, Bankers Trust Company, as Property Trustee (the
"Property Trustee"), Bankers Trust (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee (the
"Delaware Trustee") (collectively, the "Issuer Trustees") and the Holders from
time to time of preferred undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets
of the Issuer Trust, the Issuer Trust is issuing $5,000,000 aggregate
Liquidation Amount (as defined herein) of its _____% Capital Securities,
Liquidation Amount $25 per capital security (the "Capital Securities"),
representing preferred undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of
the Issuer Trust and having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Capital Securities will be issued by the Issuer Trust
and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the
Issuer Trust's Common Securities (as defined herein), will be used to purchase
the Junior Subordinated Debentures due _________ ____, 2027 (as defined in the
Trust Agreement) (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures") of the Guarantor which
will be deposited with Bankers Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the
Trust Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Capital Securities
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Capital Securities the Guarantee
Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of Capital
Securities by each Holder, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges
shall benefit the Guarantor, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Guarantor executes and delivers this
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Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the
Capital Securities.
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below
shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings.
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
"Additional Amounts" has the meaning specified in the Trust
Agreement.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Capital Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust.
"Distributions" means preferential cumulative cash distributions
accumulating from January ____, 1997 and payable quarterly in arrears on the
_____ day of _________, _________, _________ and _________ of each year,
commencing _________ ____, 1997, at the annual rate of _____% of the Liquidation
Amount.
"Event of Default" means (i) a default by the Guarantor in any of
its payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement, or (ii) a default by the
Guarantor in any other obligation hereunder that remains unremedied for 30 days.
"Guarantee Agreement" means this Guarantee Agreement, as modified,
amended or supplemented from time to time.
-2-
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust: (i) any accrued and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the
Capital Securities, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price, with respect to the
Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer Trust to the extent that
the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, and
(iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of
the Issuer Trust, unless Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the
Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment to the extent the
Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand available to make such payment at such
time and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer Trust remaining available for
distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer Trust (in either case, the
"Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means Bankers Trust Company, until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant
to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Guarantor" shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph
of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer Trust, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the
Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of
January ____, 1997, between First Empire State Corporation and Bankers Trust
Company, as trustee, as may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to
time.
"Issuer Trust" shall have the meaning specified in the first
paragraph of this Guarantee Agreement.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
-3-
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Capital
Security.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities" means,
except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Capital Securities representing
more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding
Capital Securities issued by the Issuer Trust.
"Like Amount" means (a) with respect to a redemption of Capital
Securities, Capital Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the
principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously
redeemed in accordance with the Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to
pay the Redemption Price of such Capital Securities, (b) with respect to a
distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Capital Securities
in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior Subordinated
Debentures are distributed, and (c) with respect to any distribution of
Additional Amounts to Holders of Capital Securities, Junior Subordinated
Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities in respect of which such distribution is made.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President or a
Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Associate Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person, and delivered
to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to
compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement
shall include:
(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
that such officer has read the covenant or condition and the definitions
relating thereto;
(b) a statement that such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(c) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
-4-
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual,
corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Capital Security to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to the Trust
Agreement; provided that each Junior Subordinated Debenture Redemption Date and
the stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be a Redemption
Date for a Like Amount of Capital Securities.
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning specified in the Trust
Agreement.
"Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Guarantee
Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any
managing director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant
treasurer, assistant secretary or any other officer of the Guarantee Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of
this Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer
to whom such matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
"Senior Indebtedness" shall have the meaning specified in the
Indenture.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement,
dated January ____, 1997, executed by First Empire State Corporation, as
Depositor, Bankers Trust (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and Bankers Trust
Company, as Property Trustee.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15
U.S.C. ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended.
-5-
ARTICLE II. TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
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 provision of the Trust Indenture Act
shall control. 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 2.2. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantor will furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Guarantee Trustee:
(i) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after January 15 and
July 15 in each year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may
reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such January
15 and July 15; and
(ii) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request
in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such
request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days
prior to the time such list is furnished.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with the requirements of
Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Not later than January 31 of each year, commencing January 31, 1998,
the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports, if any, as are
required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner
provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall
also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, and the
Holders such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by
Section 314 of the Trust
-6-
Indenture Act, in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence
of compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section
314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be
given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of
Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall
cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to
have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or
impair any right consequent therefrom.
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence
of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Holders, notices of all Events of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless
such Events of Default have been cured before the giving of such notice;
provided that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee
Payment, the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if
and so long as the Board of Directors, the executive committee or a trust
committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in
good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of
the Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
any Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer charged with the
administration of this Guarantee Agreement shall have received written notice of
such Event of Default.
-7-
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.
The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in
this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso
contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III. POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee
for the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer
this Guarantee Agreement to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her
rights pursuant to Section 5.4(iv) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as
Successor Guarantee Trustee hereunder. The right, title and interest of the
Guarantee Trustee, as such, hereunder shall automatically vest in any Successor
Guarantee Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment hereunder, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be
effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered
pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the
Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall be obligated to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.1), and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee
Trustee. If an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived
pursuant to Section 2.6), the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same
degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to
relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its
-8-
own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) Prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee Agreement
(including pursuant to Section 2.1), and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to
Section 2.1); and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth
of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon
any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming
to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any such
certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture
Act are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the
Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error
of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect
to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this
Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require
the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the
exercise of any of its rights or powers if the Guarantee Trustee shall have
reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or
-9-
liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it.
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Guarantee 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 reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate unless otherwise prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved
or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take any action
hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and
conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly delivered by the
Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and
the advice or written opinion of such legal counsel with respect to legal
matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith
and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such legal counsel may be legal
counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may be one of its
employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any
court of competent jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at
the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided
to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity as would satisfy a
reasonable
-10-
person in the position of the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses
(including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred
by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable
advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee.
(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent,
order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further
inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
through its agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
responsible for any negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of any such
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions
with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action
hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders,
(B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action
until such instructions are received and (C) shall be fully protected in acting
in accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to
impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or
acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it
in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee
Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law,
to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and
authority.
SECTION 3.3. Indemnity.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee,
arising out of or in
-11-
connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or
charge on any Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this
Guarantee Agreement.
SECTION 3.4. Expenses.
The Guarantor shall from time to time reimburse the Guarantee
Trustee for its expenses and costs (including reasonable attorneys' or agents'
fees) incurred in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
ARTICLE IV. GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000, and shall be a corporation meeting the requirements of Section
310(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section and
to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and
surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible
to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign
in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions
of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and no
appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Article shall
become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the Successor Guarantee
Trustee by written instrument executed by the Successor Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Holders and the Guarantee Trustee.
(b) Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, a Guarantee
Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders.
The Guarantee Trustee shall appoint a successor by requesting from at least
three Persons meeting the eligibility requirements such Person's expenses and
charges to serve as the Guarantee Trustee, and selecting the Person who agrees
to the lowest expenses and charges. If the instrument of acceptance by the
Successor Guarantee Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Guarantee
Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the
Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee may be removed for cause at any time by
Act (within the meaning of Section 6.8 of the Trust Agreement) of the Holders of
at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities, delivered
to the Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If a resigning Guarantee Trustee shall fail to appoint a
successor, or if a Guarantee Trustee shall be removed or become incapable of
acting as Guarantee Trustee, or if any vacancy shall occur in the office of any
Guarantee Trustee for any cause, the Holders of the Capital Securities, by Act
of the Holders of record of not less than 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the Capital Securities then outstanding delivered to such Guarantee Trustee,
shall promptly appoint a successor Guarantee Trustee. If no Successor Guarantee
Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of the Capital Securities
and such appointment accepted by the Successor Guarantee Trustee, any Holder, on
behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
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ARTICLE V. GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full
to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts
theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust), as and when due,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer
Trust may have or assert, except the defense of payment. The Guarantor's
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the
required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer Trust
to pay such amounts to the Holders. The Guarantor shall give prompt written
notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event it makes any direct payment
hereunder.
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee
Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment,
demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the
Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust or any other Person before proceeding
against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice
of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason
of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer Trust of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be
performed or observed by the Issuer Trust;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust of all
or any portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment
of Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures as so provided in the Indenture),
Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the
terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of
any other obligation
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under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Capital Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy
conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any
action on the part of the Issuer Trust granting indulgence or extension of any
kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of
any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit
of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt
of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer Trust or any of the
assets of the Issuer Trust;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby
or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than
payment of the underlying obligation), it being the intent of this Section 5.3
that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and
unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee
Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the
benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this
Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement;
and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Guarantor to enforce its rights under this
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Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust or any other Person.
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment.
This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of
the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer Trust) or upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures
to Holders as provided in the Trust Agreement.
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of the
Holders against the Issuer Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders
by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way
of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases
as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, at the time of any such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any
amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence,
the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay
over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer Trust with respect to the Capital
Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee
Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections
(a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination.
This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of
the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor to the extent and in the manner set forth
in the Indenture with
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respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and the provisions of Article
XIII of the Indenture will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder do not
constitute Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor.
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement
shall rank pari passu with any similar guarantee agreements issued by the
Guarantor on behalf of the holders of preferred or capital securities issued by
the Issuer Trust and with any other security, guarantee or other obligation that
is expressly stated to rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor
under this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VII. TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination.
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force
and effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Capital
Securities, (ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
Holders in exchange for all of the Capital Securities or (iii) full payment of
the amounts payable in accordance with Article IX of the Trust Agreement upon
liquidation of the Issuer Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee
Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any Holder is required to repay any sums paid with respect to
Capital Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital
Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger
or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article VIII of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the
Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its
-17-
obligations hereunder, and any purported assignment that is not in accordance
with these provisions shall be void.
SECTION 8.2. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely
affect the rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will
be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior
approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 8.3. Notices.
Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to
be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such
notice, and delivered, telecopied (confirmed by delivery of the original) or
mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or telecopy number set
forth below or such other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such
other Person as the Guarantor may give notice to the Holders:
First Empire State Corporation
One M&T Plaza
Buffalo, New York 14246
Facsimile No.: (716) 842-5376
Attention: Office of the Secretary
(b) if given to the Issuer Trust, in care of the Guarantee Trustee,
at the Issuer Trust's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below or
such other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such other Person
as the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer Trust may give notice to the
Holders:
c/o First Empire State Corporation
One M&T Plaza
Buffalo, New York 14246
Facsimile No.: (716) 842-5376
Attention: Office of the Secretary
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with a copy to:
Bankers Trust Company
Four Albany Street - 4th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Facsimile No.: (212) 250-6961
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group;
Corporate Market Services
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee:
Bankers Trust Company
Four Albany Street - 4th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Facsimile No.: (212) 250-6961
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group
Corporate Market Services
(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books
and records of the Issuer Trust.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when
received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class
mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused
delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice
was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered
on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 8.4. Benefit.
This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders
and is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
SECTION 8.5. Interpretation.
In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not
defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in
Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same
meaning throughout;
-19-
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee
Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended
from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless
otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee
Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall
include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 8.6. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
SECTION 8.7. Counterparts.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
-20-
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.
FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Guarantee Trustee
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
-21-
Exhibit 12.1
Computation of Actual Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges and Ratio of
Earnings to Fixed Charges
(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Year Ended December 31,
--------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
EARNINGS:
Net income $151,103 131,036 117,295 101,992 97,937
Interest on short-term borrowings 59,442 84,225 73,888 58,459 38,388
Interest on long-term borrowings & capital leases 14,227 11,157 8,297 8,158 590
Rental expense* 4,452 4,384 4,443 4,017 3,672
Income tax 97,866 80,137 77,188 71,531 64,801
-------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Earnings before interest on borrowings, rents,
expense, & taxes (a) 327,090 320,919 279,079 242,157 205,826
Interest on deposits 392,739 346,348 199,051 205,256 284,622
-------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Earnings before interest on borrowings, rental
expense, taxes, & deposit interest (b) 719,829 367,267 478,130 447,413 490,248
Preferred dividends (c) 900 3,600 3,600 3,600 3,900
-------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Earnings before interest on borrowings, rental
expense, taxes, deposit interest & preferred
dividends (d) $720,729 670,867 481,730 451,013 483,848
FIXED CHARGES:
Interest on short-term borrowings 159,442 84,225 73,868 58,458 38,385
Interest on long-term borrowings 14,227 11,157 6,287 6,158 592
Rental expense* 4,452 4,364 4,443 4,017 3,872
-------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Fixed charges before interest on deposits &
preferred dividends (e) 76,122 99,748 84,598 68,634 42,848
Interest on deposits 392,739 346,348 199,051 205,256 284,622
-------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Fixed charges before preferred dividends (f) 470,860 448,094 283,649 273,890 327,470
Preferred dividends (g) 900 3,600 3,600 3,600 3,600
-------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total fixed charges (h) $471,760 $49,684 287,249 277,490 331,070
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES RATIOS:
Excluding interest on deposits and preferred
dividends (a)/(e) 4.19% 3.22 3.50 3.53 4.80
Including interest on deposits, excluding
preferred dividends (b)/(f) 1.53 1.50 1.69 1.63 1.50
Including preferred dividends, excluding
interest on deposits [(a)+(c))]/[(e)+(g)] 4.15 3.14 3.21 3.40 4.50
Including preferred dividends and interest
on deposits (d)/(h) 1.53 1.49 1.66 1.63 1.49
* Rental expense shown above represents the portfolio of all rent expenses
deemed representative of the interest factor.
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Regisgration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated
January 10, 1996, except as to note 9, which is as of February 13, 1996, which
appears on page 54 of the First Empire State Corporation Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995. We also consent to the reference to
us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
- --------------------------------------
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Buffalo, New York
January 16, 1997
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW BY ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First Empire State Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New York, hereby constitutes and appoints Gary S. Paul,
Richard A. Lammert and Steven L. Kaplan, and each of them (with full power to
each of them to act alone), his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her name, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, in any hand and all capacities, to
sign, execute and affix his or her seal to and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory authority) a
Registration Statement on any appropriate form and all amendments or supplements
(including post-effective amendments) thereto with all exhibits and any and all
documents required to be filed with respect thereto, relating to the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of trust capital
securities, debt securities and guarantees, and grants to each of them full
power and authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite
and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the
same as fully and to all intents and purposes as he himself or she herself might
or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has hereunto
set his or her hand and seal, as of the date specified.
Dated: January 16, 1997 /s/ Brent D. Baird
---------------------------------------
Brent D. Baird
Dated: January 15, 1997 /s/ John H. Benisch
---------------------------------------
John H. Benisch
Dated: January 14, 1997 /s/ C. Angela Bontempo
---------------------------------------
C. Angela Bontempo
Dated: January 15, 1997 /s/ Robert T. Brady
---------------------------------------
Robert T. Brady
Dated: January 15, 1997 /s/ Patrick J. Callan
---------------------------------------
Patrick J. Callan
Dated: January 15, 1997 /s/ Richard E. Garman
---------------------------------------
Richard E. Garman
Dated: January 15, 1997 /s/ James V. Glynn
---------------------------------------
James V. Glynn
Dated: January 15, 1997 /s/ Raymond D. Stevens, Jr.
---------------------------------------
Raymond D. Stevens, Jr.
Dated: January 15, 1997 /s/ Herbert J. Washington
---------------------------------------
Herbert J. Washington
Dated: January 15, 1997 /s/ John L. Wehle, Jr.
---------------------------------------
John L. Wehle, Jr.
Dated: January 14, 1997 /s/ Robert G. Wilmers
---------------------------------------
Robert G. Wilmers
