S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2020

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

VIACOMCBS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

04-2949533

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1515 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

(212) 258-6000

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

 

 

Christa A. D’Alimonte, Esq.

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary

ViacomCBS Inc.

1515 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

(212) 258-6000

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

 

 

Copies to:

Lisa L. Jacobs

Lona Nallengara

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

 

 

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

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

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee(1)(2)

Debt Securities

               

Preferred Stock

               

Class A Common Stock

               

Class B (non-voting) Common Stock

               

Warrants

               

Total

               

 

 

(1)

An unspecified aggregate initial offering price or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at a currently unspecified price. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities.

(2)

In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

VIACOMCBS INC.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class B Common Stock

Warrants

 

 

We, or one or more selling security holders to be identified in a prospectus supplement, may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings and series, together or separately:

 

   

debt securities;

 

   

preferred stock;

 

   

voting Class A Common Stock;

 

   

non-voting Class B Common Stock; and

 

   

warrants representing rights to purchase any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus.

The debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or preferred stock, and the preferred stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock.

Our voting Class A Common Stock and non-voting Class B Common Stock are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbols “VIACA” and “VIAC,” respectively.

Investing in our securities involves risks that are referenced under the caption “Risk Factors” on page i of this prospectus.

When we offer securities we will provide you with a prospectus supplement or term sheet describing the specific terms of the specific issue of securities, including the offering price of the securities. You should carefully read this prospectus and the prospectus supplements or term sheets relating to the specific issue of securities before you decide to invest in any of these securities.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to one or more purchasers on a delayed or continuous basis. Selling security holders may offer and sell their securities from time to time on terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is March 27, 2020.

 

 

 

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

RISK FACTORS

     i  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     i  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     i  

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     ii  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     iii  

THE COMPANY

     1  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     2  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     3  

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

     14  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     18  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     20  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     22  

LEGAL MATTERS

     23  

EXPERTS

     23  


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RISK FACTORS

Prior to making any investment decision with respect to the securities that we may offer, prospective investors should carefully consider the specific factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that are incorporated by reference herein, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus, in the applicable prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or into the applicable prospectus supplement in light of their particular investment objectives and financial circumstances.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing the “shelf” registration process. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of such offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also contain, with respect to the securities being sold, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, together with the terms of the offering, the compensation of any underwriters and the net proceeds to us. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in such offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the “Securities Act.” You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Incorporation by Reference.”

In this prospectus we use the terms “ViacomCBS,” “we,” “us,” and “our” and similar words to refer to ViacomCBS Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. References to “securities” include any security that we might offer under this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. References to “$” and “dollars” are to United States dollars.

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in the related prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus that we have prepared. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus or that any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of such document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such date.

Some of the market and industry data contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are based on independent industry publications or other publicly available information, while other information is based on internal studies. Although we believe that these independent sources and our internal data are reliable as of their respective dates, the information contained in them has not been independently verified. As a result, you should be aware that the market and industry data contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and beliefs and estimates based on such data, may not be reliable.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbols “VIACA” and “VIAC,” respectively.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC (other than any portion of such filings that are furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),

including filings made after the date of this prospectus and until the offering of the particular securities covered by a prospectus supplement has been completed.

We are “incorporating by reference” specified documents that we have filed with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents that are considered part of this prospectus. Information that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference:

 

  (a)

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (filed February 20, 2020) (the “Form 10-K”);

 

  (b)

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2019 (as amended by our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on February 13, 2020), January  23, 2020, January  31, 2020 (as amended by our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on February 3, 2020) and March 27, 2020 (only with respect to Item 8.01 thereof);

 

  (c)

The Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A of CBS Corporation filed on April 12, 2019 (to the extent incorporated in Part III of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of CBS Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018) (the “CBS Proxy Statement”); and

 

  (d)

The description of our Class A Common Stock and Class  B Common Stock contained in our Form 8-A filed on December 4, 2019, and any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Additional information related to the compensation arrangements of our executive officers can be found in our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-234238) filed on October 17, 2019, as amended (the “Form S-4”), in the “Interests of CBS’ Executive Officers and Directors in the Merger” section where you can find a summary of the employment agreements with each of our executive officers. These summaries are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of each of these agreements, which are filed as exhibits to the Form 10-K. In addition, historical compensation of our executive officers, to the extent they were executive officers of CBS Corporation (“CBS”) or Viacom Inc. (“Viacom”) prior to the Merger (as defined below), can be found in the CBS Proxy Statement and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Viacom on November 14, 2019, respectively.

Information related to certain aspects of our governance structure that were put into place in connection with the Merger can be found under the “Governance Following Completion of the Merger” section of the Form S-4.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

Our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website is www.viacbs.com. Information included on or accessible through our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. You may obtain a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address: ViacomCBS Inc., 1515 Broadway, 52nd Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attn: Investor Relations, Telephone Number: (212) 258-6000.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain both historical and forward-looking statements. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations concerning future results, objectives, plans and goals, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause future results, performance or achievements to differ. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: technological developments, alternative content offerings and their effects in our markets and on consumer behavior; the impact on our advertising revenues of changes in consumers’ content viewership, deficiencies in audience measurement and advertising market conditions; the public acceptance of our brands, programming, films, published content and other entertainment content on the various platforms on which they are distributed; increased costs for programming, films and other rights; the loss of key talent; competition for content, audiences, advertising and distribution in consolidating industries; the potential for loss of carriage or other reduction in or the impact of negotiations for the distribution of our content; the risks and costs associated with the integration of the CBS Corporation and Viacom Inc. businesses and investments in new businesses, products, services and technologies; evolving cybersecurity and similar risks; the failure, destruction or breach of critical satellites or facilities; content theft; domestic and global political, economic and/or regulatory factors affecting our businesses generally; volatility in capital markets or a decrease in our debt ratings; strikes and other union activity; fluctuations in our results due to the timing, mix, number and availability of our films and other programming; losses due to asset impairment charges for goodwill, intangible assets, FCC licenses and programming; liabilities related to discontinued operations and former businesses; potential conflicts of interest arising from our ownership structure with a controlling stockholder; the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and measures taken in response; and other factors described in our news releases and filings with the SEC, including but not limited to our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K incorporated by reference herein, and in the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page i of this prospectus. The forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are made only as of the dates of the respective documents, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 

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THE COMPANY

We are a leading global media and entertainment company that creates content and experiences for audiences worldwide. We operate through the following four segments:

 

   

TV Entertainment. Our TV Entertainment segment creates and acquires programming for distribution and viewing on multiple media platforms, including our broadcast network, through multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”) and virtual MVPDs, and our streaming services, as well as for licensing to third parties both domestically and internationally. TV Entertainment consists of the CBS Television Network, CBS Television Studios®, CBS Television Distribution®, CBS Interactive®, CBS Sports Network®, CBS Television Stations and CBS-branded streaming services CBS All Access® and CBSN®, among others.

 

   

Cable Networks. Our Cable Networks segment creates and acquires programming for distribution and viewing on multiple media platforms, including our cable networks, through MVPDs and virtual MVPDs, and our streaming services, as well as for licensing to third parties both domestically and internationally. Cable Networks consists of our premium subscription cable networks Showtime®, The Movie Channel® and Flix®, and a subscription streaming offering of Showtime; our basic cable networks Nickelodeon®, MTV®, BET®, Comedy Central®, Paramount Network®, Nick Jr.®, VH1®, TV Land®, CMT®, Pop TV and Smithsonian Channel, among others, as well as the international extensions of these brands operated by ViacomCBS Networks International ; international broadcast networks, Network 10®, Channel 5® and Telefe®; and Pluto TV, a leading free streaming TV platform in the United States (“U.S.”).

 

   

Filmed Entertainment. Our Filmed Entertainment segment develops, produces, finances, acquires and distributes films, television programming and other entertainment content in various markets and media worldwide primarily through Paramount Pictures®, Paramount Players, Paramount Animation® and Paramount Television Studios.

 

   

Publishing. Our Publishing segment publishes and distributes Simon & Schuster consumer books domestically and internationally and includes imprints such as Simon & Schuster®, Scribner, Atria Books® and Gallery Books®.

We were organized as a Delaware corporation in 1986. Our principal offices are located at 1515 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. Our telephone number is (212) 258-6000 and our website is www.viacbs.com. Information included on or accessible through our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. On December 4, 2019, Viacom merged with and into CBS, with CBS continuing as the surviving company (the “Merger”), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 13, 2019, as amended on October 16, 2019. At the effective time of the Merger, we changed our name to “ViacomCBS Inc.”

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless indicated otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we expect to use the proceeds, net of transaction costs, from the sale of our securities for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, repayment of borrowings, working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures and discretionary share repurchases. Net proceeds may be temporarily invested pending use. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of securities by any selling security holders.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description of ViacomCBS’ debt securities to be issued under the Indenture (as defined below) summarizes the general terms and provisions of its debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The description set forth below and in any prospectus supplement is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture. ViacomCBS will describe the specific terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions summarized in this description may apply to any series of its debt securities in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. References to “ViacomCBS” in this description are references to ViacomCBS Inc. and not its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

ViacomCBS may issue its debt securities from time to time, in one or more series under a base indenture dated as of March 27, 2020, between ViacomCBS and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, or another trustee named in a prospectus supplement. We refer to this indenture, as may be supplemented from time to time, as the “Indenture.” The trustee under the Indenture is called the “Trustee.”

The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder. The Indenture provides that debt securities may be issued up to an aggregate principal amount authorized by ViacomCBS and may be payable in any currency or currency unit designated by ViacomCBS.

General

ViacomCBS may issue debt securities from time to time and offer its debt securities on terms determined by market conditions at the time of their sale. ViacomCBS may issue debt securities in one or more series with the same or various maturities and at the same or various prices including at par, at a premium, or at a discount. Any debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates will be sold at a discount, which may be substantial, from their stated principal amount. ViacomCBS will describe the material United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any substantially discounted debt securities in a related prospectus supplement.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement for the following terms of the debt securities offered by this registration statement:

 

   

the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the debt securities;

 

   

the percentage of the principal amount (i.e., price) at which ViacomCBS will issue the debt securities;

 

   

the date(s) on which the debt securities will mature;

 

   

the annual interest rate(s) of the debt securities, or the method of determining the rate(s);

 

   

the date(s) on which any interest will be payable, the date(s) on which payment of any interest will commence and the regular record date(s) for the payment of interest;

 

   

the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption(s), including any provisions for sinking, purchase or other similar funds or repayment options;

 

   

the currency unit(s) for which the debt securities may be purchased and in which the principal, any premium and any interest may be payable;

 

   

if the currency unit(s) for which the debt securities may be purchased or in which the principal, any premium and any interest may be payable is at ViacomCBS’ election or the purchaser’s election, the manner in which the election may be made;

 

   

if the amount of payments on the debt securities is determined by an index based on one or more currency units, or changes in the price of one or more securities or commodities, the manner in which the amounts will be determined;

 

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

 

   

the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock, indebtedness or other debt or equity securities of any person, including ViacomCBS;

 

   

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

 

   

a discussion of any material United States federal income tax and other special considerations, procedures and limitations relating to the debt securities; and

 

   

any other specific terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the Indenture.

If ViacomCBS sells any of the debt securities for one or more foreign currencies or foreign currency units or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any series of debt securities will be payable in one or more foreign currencies or foreign currency units, it will describe the restrictions, elections, any material United States federal income tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to the issue of debt securities and the currencies or currency units in the related prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in U.S. dollars.

Unless specified otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and the debt securities will be transferable, at the corporate trust office of the applicable Trustee in New York, New York. However, ViacomCBS may make payment of interest, at its option, by check mailed on or before the payment date to the address of the person entitled to the interest payment or by transfer to an account held by the payee as it appears on the registry books of the Trustee, ViacomCBS or its agents.

Unless specified otherwise in a prospectus supplement, ViacomCBS will issue the debt securities in registered form and in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of any debt securities, but ViacomCBS may, except in specific cases not involving any transfer, require payment of a sufficient amount to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange.

ViacomCBS’ rights and the rights of its creditors, including holders of debt securities, to participate in any distribution of assets of any ViacomCBS subsidiary upon its liquidation, reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that ViacomCBS’ claims as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

Ranking

Any senior debt securities will be senior unsecured obligations of ViacomCBS and will rank equally in right of payment with all of ViacomCBS’ other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

Any senior subordinated debt securities will be senior unsecured subordinated obligations of ViacomCBS and will be subordinated in right of payment to ViacomCBS’ Senior Indebtedness (as defined below).

Any debt securities will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness of ViacomCBS to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt that ViacomCBS or its subsidiaries can incur.

In addition, ViacomCBS conducts its operations through subsidiaries, which generate a substantial portion of ViacomCBS’ operating income and cash flow. As a result, distributions or advances from ViacomCBS’

 

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subsidiaries are a major source of funds necessary to meet ViacomCBS’ debt service and other obligations. Contractual provisions, laws or regulations, as well as a subsidiary’s financial condition and operating requirements, may limit the ability of ViacomCBS to obtain cash required to pay ViacomCBS’ debt service obligations, including payments on the debt securities. The debt securities (whether senior or subordinated obligations of ViacomCBS) will be structurally subordinated to all obligations of ViacomCBS’ subsidiaries including claims with respect to trade payables. This means that holders of the debt securities of ViacomCBS will have a junior position to the claims of creditors of ViacomCBS’ subsidiaries on the assets and earnings of such subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2019, ViacomCBS’ direct and indirect subsidiaries had approximately $44 million of indebtedness, including finance lease obligations.

Global Securities

ViacomCBS may issue debt securities of a series, in whole or in part, in the form of one or more global securities and will deposit them with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. ViacomCBS may issue global securities in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities represented thereby, a global security may only be transferred among the depositary, its nominees and any successors.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement relating to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. It is anticipated that the following provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for the global security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with the depositary. The accounts will be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to the debt securities, or by ViacomCBS if the debt securities are offered and sold directly by it. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the applicable depositary participants or persons that hold interests through these participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by:

 

   

the applicable depositary or its nominee, with respect to interests of depositary participants; and

 

   

the records of depositary participants, with respect to interests of persons other than depositary participants.

So long as the depositary for a global security or its nominee is the registered owner of that global security, the depositary or the nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will:

 

   

not be entitled to have any of the individual debt securities of the series represented by the global security registered in their names;

 

   

not receive, or be entitled to receive, physical delivery of any debt security of that series in definitive form; and

 

   

not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture governing the debt securities.

The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities. Those laws may limit the market for beneficial interests in a global security.

Further Issues

Not all debt securities of any one series need be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened without notice to or the consent of the holders for issuances of additional debt securities of such series.

 

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Payment and Paying Agents

Any payments of principal, premium or interest on individual debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global security representing the debt securities. Neither ViacomCBS, the Trustee, any paying agent, nor the security registrar for the debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the global security for the debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

ViacomCBS expects that the depositary for a series of debt securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of a permanent global security representing any of the debt securities, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security for the debt securities as shown on the records of the depositary or its nominee. ViacomCBS also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through the participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” The payments will be the responsibility of those participants.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

Under the terms of the Indenture, ViacomCBS generally would be permitted to consolidate or merge with or into another entity or sell or convey all or substantially all of ViacomCBS’ respective property and assets to another entity, subject to ViacomCBS meeting all of the following conditions:

 

   

the resulting entity (if other than ViacomCBS) must agree through a supplemental indenture to be legally responsible for the debt securities;

 

   

immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, no Event of Default (as defined below) shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

   

the surviving entity to the transaction (if other than ViacomCBS) must be a corporation, association, company (including a limited liability company) or business or statutory trust organized under the laws of the United States or a state of the United States;

 

   

ViacomCBS must deliver certain certificates and documents to the Trustee; and

 

   

ViacomCBS must satisfy any other requirements specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.

ViacomCBS may merge or consolidate with, or sell all or substantially all of its assets to any of its Subsidiaries. References in this section to the sale or conveyance of “all or substantially all of its property and assets” mean property and assets contributing, in the aggregate, at least 80% of the total consolidated revenues of ViacomCBS.

In the event that ViacomCBS consolidates or merges with another entity or sells all or substantially all of its assets to another entity, the surviving entity shall be substituted for ViacomCBS under the Indenture and ViacomCBS shall be discharged from all of its obligations under the Indenture.

Limitations on Liens

ViacomCBS covenants in the Indenture that it will not create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its properties or assets, without securing the debt securities at least equally and ratably with (or prior to) the secured Indebtedness. The foregoing only applies to Liens that in the aggregate exceed 15% of ViacomCBS’ total consolidated assets as of the end of ViacomCBS’ most recent accounting period preceding the creation or assumption of any such Lien (reduced by the Attributable Debt related to any permitted sale and leaseback

 

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arrangement). See “—Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” below. The restrictions do not apply to Finance Leases or Indebtedness that is secured by:

 

   

Liens existing, in the case of any series of debt securities, on the date such series of debt securities are issued;

 

   

Liens on any property or any Indebtedness of a person existing at the time the person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by acquisition or otherwise, including merger or consolidation);

 

   

Liens in favor of ViacomCBS or its Subsidiaries; and

 

   

Liens existing at the time of acquisition of the assets secured thereby (including acquisition through merger or consolidation) and purchase money Liens.

The restrictions do not apply to extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing types of Liens.

Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

ViacomCBS covenants in the Indenture that neither ViacomCBS nor any Restricted Subsidiary will enter into any arrangement with any person to lease a Principal Property (except for any arrangements that exist on the date debt securities are issued or that exist at the time any person that owns a Principal Property becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) that has been or is to be sold or transferred by ViacomCBS or the Restricted Subsidiary to the person unless:

 

   

the sale and leaseback arrangement involves a lease for a term of not more than three years;

 

   

the sale and leaseback arrangement is entered into between ViacomCBS and any Subsidiary of ViacomCBS or between Subsidiaries of ViacomCBS;

 

   

ViacomCBS or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to incur indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Principal Property involved in the sale and leaseback arrangement at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt with respect to the sale and leaseback arrangement pursuant to the first paragraph under “—Limitations on Liens” above without being required to equally and ratably secure the debt securities;

 

   

the proceeds of the sale and leaseback arrangement are at least equal to the fair market value of the Principal Property (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of ViacomCBS (the “Board of Directors”)) and ViacomCBS applies an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of the sale or the Attributable Debt with respect to the sale and leaseback arrangement within 180 days of such sale to either (or a combination) of (i) the retirement (other than the mandatory retirement, mandatory prepayment or sinking fund payment or by payment at maturity) of long-term debt for borrowed money of ViacomCBS or a Subsidiary of ViacomCBS (other than debt that is subordinated to the debt securities or debt to ViacomCBS or a Subsidiary of ViacomCBS), or (ii) the purchase, construction or development of other comparable property; or

 

   

the sale and leaseback arrangement is entered into within 180 days after the initial acquisition by ViacomCBS or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, of the Principal Property subject to the sale and leaseback arrangement.

The term “Attributable Debt,” with regard to a sale and leaseback arrangement of a Principal Property, is defined in the Indenture as an amount equal to the lesser of: (a) the fair market value of the property (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors); or (b) the present value of the total net amount of rent payments to be made under the lease during its remaining term (including any period for which such lease has been extended and excluding any unexercised renewal or other extension options exercisable by the lessee, and excluding amounts on account of maintenance and repairs, services, taxes and similar charges and contingent rents), discounted at the rate of interest set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease (or, if not practicable to determine such rate, the

 

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weighted average interest rate per annum borne by the debt securities of the applicable series then outstanding), compounded semi-annually. The calculation of the present value of the total net amount of rent payments is subject to adjustments specified in the Indenture.

The term “Principal Property” is defined in the Indenture to include any parcel of real property and related fixtures or improvements (other than telecommunications equipment, including, without limitation, satellite transponders) owned by ViacomCBS or any Restricted Subsidiary and located in the United States, the aggregate book value of which on the date of determination exceeds $1.5 billion, other than any such real property and related fixtures or improvements that are determined in good faith by the Board of Directors not to be of material importance to the total business conducted by ViacomCBS and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. As of the date of this prospectus, neither ViacomCBS nor any of its Subsidiaries own any Principal Property.

Defaults and Remedies

Holders of debt securities will have specified rights if an Event of Default (as defined below) occurs in respect of the debt securities of that series, as described below.

The term “Event of Default” in respect of the debt securities of a particular series means any of the following:

 

   

ViacomCBS does not pay interest on a debt security of such series within 30 days of its due date;

 

   

ViacomCBS does not pay the principal of or any premium on a debt security of such series when due and payable, at its maturity, or upon its acceleration, redemption or otherwise;

 

   

ViacomCBS remains in breach of a covenant or warranty in respect of the Indenture for 60 days after ViacomCBS receives a written notice of default; such notice must be sent by either the Trustee or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such series of outstanding debt securities;

 

   

ViacomCBS files for bankruptcy or other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization specified in the Indenture occur; or

 

   

any other Event of Default that may be specified for the debt securities of such series when such series is created.

If an Event of Default has occurred, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire unpaid principal amount of (and premium, if any), and all the accrued interest on, the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. There is no action on the part of the Trustee or any holder of debt securities required for such declaration if the Event of Default is a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of a series may also waive certain past defaults under the Indenture on behalf of all of the holders of such series of debt securities. A declaration of acceleration of maturity with respect to a series of debt securities may be rescinded and annulled, under specified circumstances, by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series.

Except in cases of default, where the Trustee has special duties, the Trustee is not required to take any action under the Indenture at the request of holders unless the holders offer the Trustee reasonable protection from costs, expenses, claims and liability satisfactory to the Trustee. If a reasonable indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of a series of debt securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the Trustee. The Trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances specified in the Indenture. No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of the right, remedy or Event of Default.

 

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Before holders of a series of debt securities are allowed to bypass the Trustee and bring a lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce their rights or protect their interests relating to the debt securities of such series, the following must occur:

 

   

holders must give the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to such series;

 

   

holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series must make a written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee;

 

   

the holders must offer to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses, claims and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

   

the Trustee must have failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after receipt of the notice, request and offer of indemnity; and

 

   

holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series must not have given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the above request during such 60-day period.

Holders are, however, entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on the debt securities on or after the due date.

Modification of the Indenture

The Indenture provides that ViacomCBS and the Trustee may, without the consent of any holders of debt securities, enter into supplemental indentures for the purposes, among other things, of:

 

   

evidencing the succession of another entity to ViacomCBS and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of ViacomCBS contained in the Indenture and in the debt securities;

 

   

adding to ViacomCBS’ covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred by the Indenture upon ViacomCBS;

 

   

adding additional Events of Default;

 

   

changing or eliminating any provisions of the Indenture so long as there are no holders entitled to the benefit of the provisions;

 

   

establishing the form or terms of any series of debt securities; or

 

   

curing ambiguities or correcting any inconsistencies in the Indenture or making any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, as long as any such action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interest of the holders of debt securities of any series.

With specific exceptions, the Indenture or the rights of the holders of the debt securities may be modified by ViacomCBS and the Trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series affected by the modification then outstanding (all such series voting together as a single class); however, no modification may be made without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security affected, which would, among other things:

 

   

change the maturity of any payment of principal of, or any premium on, or any installment of interest on any debt security;

 

   

change the terms of any sinking fund with respect to any debt security;

 

   

reduce the principal amount of any debt security, or the rate of interest thereon, or any premium on, any debt security upon redemption or repayment at the option of the holder;

 

 

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change any obligation of ViacomCBS to pay additional amounts as contemplated by the Indenture;

 

   

change any place of payment where, or the currency in which, any debt security or any premium or interest is payable;

 

   

impair the right to sue for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any debt security;

 

   

modify the provisions of the Indenture with respect to the mandatory redemption of debt securities or repayment of the debt securities at the option of the holders in a manner adverse to any holder of the debt securities;

 

   

adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any debt security as may be provided pursuant to any supplemental indenture with respect to any series of debt securities;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series required to consent to any supplemental indenture, waive compliance with provisions of the Indenture or specific defaults and their consequences provided for in the Indenture;

 

   

modify any of the provisions in the Indenture relating to certain waivers; or

 

   

modify any of the provisions of the Indenture relating to the subordination of the debt securities in a manner adverse to any holders.

Meetings

The Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of the debt securities of any or all series. Specific terms related to such meetings of the holders are described in the Indenture.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

ViacomCBS may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to a series of the debt securities (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture) (“defeasance”) or (ii) to be released from its obligations with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Indenture (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the Trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or government obligations that through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous senior payments thereon. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, ViacomCBS must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable United States federal income tax law occurring after the date of the Indenture.

ViacomCBS may exercise its defeasance option with respect to the debt securities of any series notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If ViacomCBS exercises its defeasance option, payment of the debt securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an event of default. If ViacomCBS exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the debt securities of such series may not be accelerated by reference to any covenant from which ViacomCBS is released as described under clause (ii) of the immediately preceding paragraph. However, if acceleration were to occur for other reasons, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the money and government obligations in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal and interest then due on the debt securities of such series, in that the required deposit in the defeasance trust is based upon scheduled cash flows rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors.

 

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Discharge of Obligations

ViacomCBS’ obligations under the Indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to a series of debt securities when:

 

   

either (a) all debt securities of that series have been delivered (except destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities which have been replaced or paid and debt securities for which payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or paying agent or segregated and held in trust by ViacomCBS and thereafter repaid to ViacomCBS, or discharged from such trust in accordance with the Indenture) to the Trustee for cancellation, or (b) all such debt securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and payable at maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption and ViacomCBS has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, in trust, an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of maturity or date of redemption, as the case may be;

 

   

ViacomCBS has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by ViacomCBS under the Indenture with respect to such series; and

 

   

ViacomCBS has delivered to the Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel relating to compliance with the conditions set forth in the Indenture.

Notices

Notices to holders of debt securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the security register or in accordance with the procedures of the applicable depositary, if any.

Title

ViacomCBS, the Trustee and any agent of ViacomCBS or the Trustee may treat the registered owner of any registered debt security as the absolute owner thereof (whether or not the debt security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice to the contrary) for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.

Replacement of Debt Securities

ViacomCBS will replace any mutilated debt security at the expense of the holders upon surrender to the Trustee. ViacomCBS will replace debt securities that become destroyed, lost or stolen at the expense of the holder upon delivery to the Trustee of satisfactory evidence of the destruction, loss or theft thereof. In the event of a destroyed, lost or stolen debt security, an indemnity or security satisfactory to ViacomCBS and the Trustee may be required at the expense of the holder of the debt security before a replacement debt security will be issued.

Governing Law

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

Concerning the Trustee

In specific instances, ViacomCBS or the holders of a majority of the then outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of a series issued under the Indenture may remove the Trustee with respect to debt securities of such series and appoint a successor trustee. The Trustee may become the owner or pledgee of any of the debt securities with the same rights, subject to conflict of interest restrictions, it would have if it were not the Trustee.

 

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The Trustee and any successor trustee must be eligible to act as trustee under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and be subject to examination by federal or state authority. Subject to applicable law relating to conflicts of interest, the Trustee may also serve as trustee under other indentures relating to securities issued by ViacomCBS or its affiliated companies and may engage in commercial transactions with ViacomCBS and its affiliated companies. The initial Trustee under the Indenture is Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.

Subordination

In addition to the provisions previously described in this prospectus and applicable to all debt securities, the following description of any senior subordinated debt securities summarizes the additional terms and provisions of such senior subordinated debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The specific terms of ViacomCBS’ senior subordinated debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions summarized below may apply to any series of senior subordinated debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.

Any senior subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to ViacomCBS’ Senior Indebtedness to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any senior subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of ViacomCBS’ Senior Indebtedness. ViacomCBS may not make payment of principal, premium, if any, sinking funds or interest, if any, on any senior subordinated debt securities unless full payment of amounts then due for principal, premium, if any, sinking funds and interest on all Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for.

For purposes of the description of any senior subordinated debt securities, the term “Senior Indebtedness” of ViacomCBS means all Indebtedness of ViacomCBS, except (a) Indebtedness that, pursuant to its terms, is subordinated in right of payment to other Indebtedness and (b) Indebtedness evidenced by an instrument that expressly provides that such Indebtedness is not Senior Indebtedness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness will not include any liability for taxes owed or owing by ViacomCBS or any trade payables.

Certain Definitions

The following definitions are applicable to the Indenture:

“Finance Lease” means any obligation of a person to pay rent or other amounts incurred with respect to real property or equipment (other than in respect of (x) telecommunications equipment including, without limitation, satellite transponders and (y) theme park equipment and attractions) acquired or leased by such person and used in its business that is required to be recorded as a finance lease in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied as in effect from time to time.

“Indebtedness” of any person means, without duplication, (i) any obligation of such person for money borrowed; (ii) any obligation of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (iii) any reimbursement obligation of such person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments which support financial obligations which would otherwise become Indebtedness; (iv) any obligation of such person under Finance Leases; and (v) any obligation of any third party to the extent secured by a Lien on the assets of such person; provided, however, that “Indebtedness” of such person shall not include any obligation of such person (i) to any Subsidiary of such person or to any person with respect to which such person is a Subsidiary or (ii) specifically with respect to the production, distribution or acquisition of motion pictures or other programming rights, talent or publishing rights.

 

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

“Restricted Subsidiary” means a corporation, all of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by ViacomCBS or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by ViacomCBS and one or more of its Subsidiaries, which is incorporated under the laws of a state of the United States, and which owns a Principal Property.

“Subsidiary” of any person means (i) a corporation a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such person, or by such person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof or (ii) any other person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, a partnership or joint venture, in which such person, one or more Subsidiaries thereof, or such person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has at least majority ownership interest entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or other persons performing similar functions).

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

The following description sets forth certain general terms of preferred stock that ViacomCBS may offer. The terms of any series of the preferred stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the preferred stock being offered. The description set forth below and in any prospectus supplement is not complete, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, ViacomCBS’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and the certificate of designations relating to each particular series of the preferred stock, which was or will be filed with the SEC at or before the issuance of the series of preferred stock. You are urged to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws in their entirety. References to “ViacomCBS” in this description are references to ViacomCBS Inc. and not its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

Terms of the Preferred Stock

Under ViacomCBS’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation, ViacomCBS is authorized to issue up to 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. The Board of Directors has the authority, without approval of the stockholders, to cause shares of preferred stock to be issued from time to time in one or more series, with the numbers of shares of each series and the designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, dividend and other special rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations, restrictions, conditions and other characteristics thereof as fixed by the Board of Directors. As of March 27, 2020 there were no shares of ViacomCBS’ preferred stock issued and outstanding.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of each series of preferred stock, including, where applicable, the following:

 

   

the designation, stated value, liquidation preference and number of shares offered;

 

   

the offering price(s);

 

   

the dividend rate(s), or method of calculation, the dividend periods, the date on which dividends shall be payable and whether dividends are cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the date(s) from which dividends begin to accumulate;

 

   

any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

 

   

any conversion or exchange provisions;

 

   

any voting rights;

 

   

whether the preferred stock will be issued in certificated or book-entry form;

 

   

whether the preferred stock will be listed on a national securities exchange;

 

   

information with respect to any book-entry procedures;

 

   

a discussion of any material United States federal income tax and other special considerations, procedures and limitations relating to the preferred stock; and

 

   

any additional rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

The preferred stock will be, when issued against payment, fully paid and nonassessable. Holders will have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities that ViacomCBS may issue. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the shares of each series of preferred stock will rank equally with all other outstanding series of preferred stock issued by ViacomCBS as to payment of dividends, other than with respect to cumulation of dividends, and as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of ViacomCBS. Each series of preferred stock will rank senior to the common stock and any other

 

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stock of ViacomCBS that is expressly made junior to that series of preferred stock. However, the Board of Directors may not cause us to issue any preferred stock, or preferred stock that is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, that, in the aggregate with all other outstanding shares of preferred stock, could elect a majority of the Board of Directors, unless such issuance has been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock, voting separately as a class. The ability of the Board of Directors to provide for the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of ViacomCBS or changes in our management.

ViacomCBS’ rights and the rights of holders of ViacomCBS securities, including the holders of preferred stock, to participate in the distribution of assets of any subsidiary of ViacomCBS upon its liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors and preferred stockholders, except to the extent ViacomCBS may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary or a holder of preferred stock of the subsidiary.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the terms of any preferred stock issued conflict with Article XI of the ViacomCBS amended and restated bylaws during the period ending December 4, 2021, including with respect to any rights of such preferred stock to elect directors.

Dividends and Distributions

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, holders of shares of the preferred stock will be entitled to receive, as, if and when declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cash dividends at the rate set forth in, or calculated in accordance with the formula set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the preferred stock being offered. Dividends on the preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Dividends on the cumulative preferred stock will accumulate from the date of original issue and will be payable as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the applicable dividend period with respect to a dividend payment date. If the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors fails to declare a dividend on any series of noncumulative preferred stock for any dividend period, ViacomCBS will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that period, whether or not dividends on that series of noncumulative preferred stock are declared for any future dividend period.

No dividends will be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the preferred stock of any series ranking, as to dividends, equally with or junior to any other series of preferred stock for any period unless dividends have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set apart for:

 

   

in the case of cumulative preferred stock, all dividend periods terminating on or before the date of payment of full cumulative dividends; or

 

   

in the case of noncumulative preferred stock, the immediately preceding dividend period.

When dividends are not paid in full upon any series of preferred stock, and any other preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends with that series of preferred stock, all dividends declared upon shares of that series of preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends will be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on that series of preferred stock and any other preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of that series of preferred stock and the other preferred stock bear to each other. In the case of noncumulative preferred stock, any accrued dividends described in the immediately preceding paragraph will not include any cumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods.

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series of cumulative preferred stock, for all past dividend periods, or in the case of noncumulative preferred stock, for the immediately preceding dividend period, ViacomCBS may not declare dividends or pay or set aside amounts for payment or other distribution on any of its capital stock ranking junior to or equally with that series of preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, the common stock of ViacomCBS or other capital stock of ViacomCBS ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation. Other than in connection with the distribution or trading of any of its capital stock, ViacomCBS may not redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock ranking junior to or equally with that series of preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, for any consideration or any moneys paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any of its capital stock, except by conversion or exchange for capital stock of ViacomCBS ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the amount of dividends payable for any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months, a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in any period of less than one month.

Liquidation Preference

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ViacomCBS, the holders of the preferred stock will have preference and priority over the common stock of ViacomCBS and any other class of stock of ViacomCBS ranking junior to the preferred stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, for payments out of or distributions of the assets of ViacomCBS or proceeds from any liquidation, of the amount per share set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, to the date of final distribution to such holders. After any liquidating payment, the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to any other payments.

Redemption

If specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock being offered, ViacomCBS may, at its option, at any time or from time to time, redeem that series of preferred stock, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices and on the dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may fix other terms of redemption, if any, of such series including, without limitation, redemption prices payable in shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock or ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock; the terms and amounts of any sinking fund for the purchase or redemption of shares of such series; and any and all other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof pertaining to shares of such series permitted by law.

If less than all outstanding shares of a series of preferred stock is to be redeemed, the selection of the shares to be redeemed shall be determined by lot or pro rata as may be determined to be equitable by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors. From and after the redemption date, unless ViacomCBS is in default in providing for the payment of the redemption price, dividends shall cease to accrue on the shares of that series of preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of the holders shall cease, other than the right to receive the redemption price.

Voting Rights

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the preferred stock will have no voting rights except as required by law.

 

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Conversion or Exchange Rights

The prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock that is convertible or exchangeable will state the terms on which shares of that series are convertible or exchangeable into common stock, another series of preferred stock or debt securities and the terms and conditions, including, without limitation, price and rate of exchange, of such conversion or exchange.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The authorized common stock of ViacomCBS as set forth in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes 55,000,000 shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000,000 shares of ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share. ViacomCBS is registering with the SEC shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, which may be offered by ViacomCBS or one or more selling security holders to be identified in a prospectus supplement. References to “ViacomCBS” in this description are references to ViacomCBS Inc. and not its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

The descriptions set forth below and in any prospectus supplement are not complete, and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, ViacomCBS’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. You are urged to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws in their entirety.

General

All issued and outstanding shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock are identical and the holders of such shares are entitled to the same rights and powers, except as provided in ViacomCBS’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation as described below.

As of February 14, 2020, there were 52,268,438 shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding and 561,471,552 shares of ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding.

Voting Rights. Holders of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share with respect to all matters on which the holders of ViacomCBS common stock are entitled to vote and the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock, voting separately as a class, is necessary to approve (i) any merger or consolidation of ViacomCBS pursuant to which shares of ViacomCBS common stock are converted into or exchanged for any other securities or consideration or (ii) certain transactions relating to Paramount Pictures Corporation and its subsidiaries or other ViacomCBS subsidiaries involved in ViacomCBS’ filmed entertainment business.

Holders of ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock do not have any voting rights, except as required by Delaware law.

Generally, all matters to be voted on by the stockholders of ViacomCBS must be approved by a majority of the aggregate voting power of the shares of capital stock of ViacomCBS having voting power present in person or represented by proxy, except as required or may become required by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws or applicable law.

Dividends. Holders of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock share ratably in any cash dividend declared by the Board of Directors, subject to the rights and preferences of any outstanding preferred stock. The Board of Directors may, at its discretion, declare a dividend of any securities of ViacomCBS or of another entity, to the holders of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock in the form of (i) a ratable distribution of identical securities to the holders of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock or (ii) a distribution of one class or series of securities to the holders of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and another class or series of securities to the holders of ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock, provided that the securities so distributed do not differ in any respect other than (x) differences in their rights (other than voting rights and powers) consistent in all material respects with the differences between ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock and (y) differences in their relative voting rights and powers, with the holders of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock receiving the class or series of such securities having the higher relative voting rights or powers

 

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(without regard to whether such voting rights or powers differ to a greater or lesser extent than the corresponding differences in the voting rights or powers of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock provided in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation).

Conversion. So long as there are at least 5,000 shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock outstanding, each share of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock is convertible at the option of the holder of such share into one share of ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock.

Liquidation Rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of ViacomCBS, all holders of ViacomCBS common stock, regardless of class, are entitled to share ratably in any assets available for distributions to holders of shares of ViacomCBS common stock subject to the preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

Split, Subdivision or Combination. In the event of a split, subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock or ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock, the outstanding shares of the other class of ViacomCBS common stock will be split, subdivided or combined proportionally.

Preemptive Rights. Shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock do not entitle a holder to any preemptive rights enabling a holder to subscribe for or receive shares of stock of any class or any other securities convertible into shares of stock of any class of ViacomCBS. The Board of Directors possesses the power to issue shares of authorized but unissued ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock without further stockholder action, subject to the requirements of applicable law and stock exchanges. The number of authorized shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock could be increased with the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of ViacomCBS Class A Common Stock and without any action by the holders of shares of ViacomCBS Class B Common Stock.

Other Rights. ViacomCBS’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that ViacomCBS may prohibit the ownership and transfer of, or redeem, shares of its capital stock in order to ensure compliance with, or prevent the applicability of limitations imposed by, the requirements of U.S. laws or regulations applicable to specified types of media companies.

Anti-Takeover Provisions of Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, in addition to those relating to the voting rights of our common stock, may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in ViacomCBS ownership or changes in our management. These include provisions that:

 

   

authorize our Board of Directors to provide for the issuance, without stockholder approval, of up to 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock with rights fixed by the Board of Directors, which rights could be senior to those of the common stock;

 

   

limit the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors to a maximum of 13 directors until December 4, 2021, and 20 directors thereafter;

 

   

provide that any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, or by a sole remaining director;

 

   

provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors or by our Chairman of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be called at the written request of the holders of record of at least 50.1% of the aggregate voting power of all outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, acting together as a single class; and

 

   

establish advance notice procedures for stockholders to make nominations of candidates for election as directors or to present any other proposal to be acted upon at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description sets forth certain general terms of warrants that ViacomCBS may offer. ViacomCBS may issue warrants for the purchase of its debt securities or shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any debt securities or shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from such debt securities or shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock. The warrants are to be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into with a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, to be named in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ViacomCBS in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The description set forth below and in any prospectus supplement is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, any warrant agreement pursuant to which warrants may be issued. References to “ViacomCBS” in this description are references to ViacomCBS Inc. and not its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

General

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

 

   

the offering price;

 

   

the currency unit(s) for which warrants may be purchased;

 

   

the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency unit(s) and terms of debt securities which may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the designation, number of shares and terms, as applicable, of the preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the stock warrants and the price at which the shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of debt securities or preferred stock with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each debt security or share of preferred stock;

 

   

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, preferred stock, Class A Common Stock, or Class B Common Stock will be separately transferable;

 

   

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

 

   

whether the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;

 

   

a discussion of any material United States federal income tax and other special considerations, procedures and limitations relating to the warrants; and

 

   

any other terms of the warrants.

Warrants may be exchanged for new warrants of different denominations. If in registered form, the warrants may be presented for registration of transfer. The warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the various securities purchasable upon the exercise of such warrants, including the right to receive payments of principal of, any premium on, or any interest on debt securities purchasable upon the exercise or to enforce the covenants in the applicable indenture or to exercise any rights as stockholders of ViacomCBS, as described below under “—No Rights as Stockholders.” If ViacomCBS maintains the ability to reduce the exercise price of any stock warrant and the right is triggered, it will comply with federal securities laws, including Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable.

 

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Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a principal amount of debt securities or a number of shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock at the exercise price as will in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrant. Warrants may be exercised at the times that are set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. After the close of business on the date on which the warrant expires, or any later date to which ViacomCBS may extend the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Subject to any restrictions and additional requirements that may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, warrants may be exercised by delivery to the warrant agent of the certificate evidencing the warrants properly completed and duly executed and of payment as provided in the prospectus supplement of the amount required to purchase the debt securities or shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise. The exercise price will be the price applicable on the date of payment in full, as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. Upon receipt of the payment and the certificate representing the warrants to be exercised, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, ViacomCBS will, as soon as reasonably practicable, issue and deliver the debt securities or shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by a certificate are exercised, a new certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants.

Additional Provisions

The exercise price payable and the number of shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of each stock warrant will be subject to adjustment in specific events, including the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, or a combination, subdivision or reclassification of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, in each case as applicable. In lieu of adjusting the number of shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of each stock warrant, ViacomCBS may elect to adjust the number of stock warrants. No adjustment in the number of shares purchasable upon exercise of the stock warrants will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% thereof. ViacomCBS may, at its option, reduce the exercise price at any time. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of stock warrants, but ViacomCBS will pay the cash value of any fractional shares otherwise issuable. In case of any consolidation, merger, or sale or conveyance of the property of ViacomCBS as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the holder of each outstanding stock warrant will have the right upon the exercise to the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property, including cash, receivable by a holder of the number of shares of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock into which the stock warrants were exercisable immediately prior thereto.

No Rights as Stockholders

Holders of stock warrants will not be entitled, by virtue of being the holders, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of the directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as its stockholders, with respect to ViacomCBS.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We, or one or more selling security holders to be identified in a prospectus supplement, may offer and sell the securities in any of three ways (or in any combination): (a) through underwriters or dealers; (b) directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser; or (c) through agents. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including but not limited to:

 

   

the name(s) of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them;

 

   

the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us or the selling security holders, as the case may be, and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed.

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

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.

We or one or more selling security holders may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions we or one or more selling security holders pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We also may sell offered securities directly.

We or one or more selling security holders may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from ViacomCBS or one or more selling security holders, as the case may be, at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we or one or more selling security holders, as the case may be, pay for soliciting these contracts.

Dealers, agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us and/or any selling security holders against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the dealers, agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Dealers, agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the securities will be passed upon under United States law for us by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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PART II INFORMATION

NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by ViacomCBS Inc. (“ViacomCBS”) in connection with the sale of the securities being registered hereby. All amounts are estimates except the registration fee.

 

     Amounts to be
paid
 

Registration fee

   $      

Legal fees and expenses

   $       ** 

Blue Sky fees

   $       ** 

Printing

   $       ** 

Trustee fees and expenses

   $       ** 

Rating agency fees

   $       ** 

Accounting fees and expenses

   $       ** 

Miscellaneous

   $       ** 
  

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $       **     
  

 

 

 

 

*

To be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and calculated in connection with an offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

**

Estimated expenses not presently known.

 

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

ViacomCBS is incorporated in the State of Delaware.

Delaware General Corporation Law. Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware General Corporation Law”) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law states that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in

 

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connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 145(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

Section 145(d) of the Delaware General Corporation Law states that any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145. Such determination shall be made with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (4) by the stockholders.

Section 145(f) of the Delaware General Corporation Law states that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

Section 145(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Section 145.

Section 145(j) of the Delaware General Corporation Law states that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except in cases where the director breached his or her duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, the director’s act or omission was not in good faith or which involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, the director willfully or negligently authorized the unlawful payment of a dividend or approved an unlawful stock redemption or repurchase, or where the director obtained an improper personal benefit. ViacomCBS’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that eliminate directors’ personal liability in certain circumstances, including the instances described above.

 

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Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws. ViacomCBS’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provides that ViacomCBS shall indemnify any person who was or is involved in, or is threatened to be involved in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of ViacomCBS, or is or was serving at the request of ViacomCBS as a director, officer or employee (including trustee) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, ViacomCBS shall indemnify an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by the indemnitee, if and only if the Board of Directors authorized the bringing of the action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) in advance of the commencement of the proceeding.

ViacomCBS’ amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that, to the extent that a director, officer or employee of ViacomCBS has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection therewith.

Indemnification Agreements. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the indemnification provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws of ViacomCBS shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any statute, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. Without limiting the foregoing, ViacomCBS is authorized to enter into an agreement with any director, officer or employee of ViacomCBS providing indemnification for such person against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement that result from any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including any action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of ViacomCBS, that arises by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or employee of ViacomCBS, or is or was serving at the request of ViacomCBS as a director, officer or employee of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, to the fullest extent allowed by law, except that no such agreement shall provide for indemnification for any actions that constitute fraud, actual dishonesty or willful misconduct. Pursuant to the foregoing authorization, ViacomCBS has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors.

Liability Insurance. ViacomCBS may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of ViacomCBS, or is or was serving at the request of ViacomCBS as a director, officer or employee of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not ViacomCBS would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the ViacomCBS amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the amended and restated bylaws. ViacomCBS has purchased certain liability insurance for its officers and directors as permitted by Section 145(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index.

 

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Item 17.

Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (i)

to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii)

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

 

  (iii)

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

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

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

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

 

  (4)

that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i)

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

 

  (ii)

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

 

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

 

  (5)

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

 

  (i)

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

 

  (ii)

any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by, or on behalf of, the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii)

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

 

  (iv)

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

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

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

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

 

II-5


Table of Contents

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No

  

Description of Exhibit

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ViacomCBS Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of ViacomCBS Inc., filed on December 4, 2019).
  4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of ViacomCBS Inc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of ViacomCBS Inc., filed on December 4, 2019).
  4.3+    Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2020, between ViacomCBS Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.
  4.4*    Form of Note.
  4.5*    Form of Warrant.
  4.6*    Form of Warrant Agreement.
  5.1+    Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP as to the validity of the securities being registered.
23.1+    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for ViacomCBS Inc.
23.2+    Consent of Shearman & Sterling LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1+    Powers of Attorney.
25.1+    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee.

 

*

Executed versions of these documents will, if applicable, be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein after the issuance of the securities to which they relate.

+

Filed herewith.

 

II-6


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York on March 27, 2020.

 

VIACOMCBS INC.

(Registrant)

By:   /s/ Robert M. Bakish
Name:   Robert M. Bakish
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

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

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Robert M. Bakish

Robert M. Bakish

  

President and Chief Executive Officer; Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  March 27, 2020

/s/ Christina Spade

Christina Spade

  

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  March 27, 2020

/s/ Katherine Gill-Charest

Katherine Gill-Charest

  

Executive Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

  March 27, 2020

*

Shari E. Redstone

   Non-Executive Chair of the Board of Directors   March 27, 2020

*

Candace K. Beinecke

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

*

Barbara M. Byrne

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

*

Brian Goldner

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

*

Linda M. Griego

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

*

Robert N. Klieger

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

*

Judith A. McHale

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

*

Ronald L. Nelson

  

Director

  March 27, 2020


Table of Contents

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

*

Charles E. Phillips, Jr.

   Non-executive Chair of the Board of Directors   March 27, 2020

*

Susan Schuman

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

*

Nicole Seligman

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

*

Frederick O. Terrell

  

Director

  March 27, 2020

 

*By:  

/s/ Christa A. D’Alimonte

  Christa A. D’Alimonte
  Attorney-in-Fact for the Directors
EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

 

 

 

VIACOMCBS INC.,

as Issuer

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Trustee

 

 

Indenture

Dated as of March 27, 2020

 

 

 

 

 


VIACOMCBS INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act

and Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2020

 

Trust Indenture

Act Section

   Indenture
Section

Sec. 310(a)(1)

   607

(a)(2)

   607

(b)

   609

Sec. 312(c)

   701

Sec. 314(a)

   704

(a)(4)

   1008

(c)(1)

   102

(c)(2)

   102

(e)

   102

Sec. 315(b)

   601

Sec. 316(a)(last sentence)

   101 (“Outstanding”)

(a)(1)(A)

   502,512

(a)(1)(B)

   513

(b)

   508

(c)

   104(c)

Sec. 317(a)(1)

   503

(a)(2)

   504

(b)

   1003

Sec. 318(a)

   111

 

Note:

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

PARTIES

     1  

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

     1  

 

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 101. Definitions

     1  

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     12  

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     12  

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders

     13  

SECTION 105. Notices, etc. to Trustee or Company

     14  

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver

     14  

SECTION 107. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     15  

SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns

     15  

SECTION 109. Separability Clause

     15  

SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture

     15  

SECTION 111. Governing Law

     15  

SECTION 112. Legal Holidays

     16  

SECTION 113. No Recourse

     16  

SECTION 114. Waiver of Jury Trial

     16  

SECTION 115. Patriot Act

     16  

SECTION 116. Submission to Jurisdiction

     16  
ARTICLE TWO   
SECURITIES FORMS   

SECTION 201. Forms of Securities

     17  

SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     17  

SECTION 203. Global Securities

     18  

SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities

     19  
ARTICLE THREE   
THE SECURITIES   

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

     19  

SECTION 302. Denominations

     23  

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     23  

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities

     25  

 

Note:

This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

i


SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     26  

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

     29  

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     30  

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners

     31  

SECTION 309. Cancellation

     32  

SECTION 310. Computation of Interest

     32  

SECTION 311. Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities

     32  

SECTION 312. Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent

     35  

SECTION 313. CUSIP Numbers

     36  

ARTICLE FOUR

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     36  

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money

     38  

ARTICLE FIVE

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501. Events of Default

     38  

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     39  

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

     40  

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     41  

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

     41  

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected

     42  

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits

     42  

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

     43  

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     43  

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     43  

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     43  

SECTION 512. Control by Holders

     43  

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults

     44  

SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     44  

SECTION 515. Undertaking for Costs

     44  

ARTICLE SIX

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults

     44  

SECTION 602. Certain Duties, Responsibilities and Rights of Trustee

     45  

SECTION 603. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

     47  

SECTION 604. May Hold Securities

     47  

SECTION 605. Money Held in Trust

     48  

SECTION 606. Compensation, Indemnification and Reimbursement

     48  

 

ii


SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     48  

SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

     49  

SECTION 609. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     49  

SECTION 610. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     50  

SECTION 611. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     51  

SECTION 612. Appointment of Authenticating Agent

     52  

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders

     53  

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

     54  

SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee

     54  

SECTION 704. Reports by Company

     54  

SECTION 705. Calculation of Original Issue Discount

     55  

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

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

     55  

SECTION 802. Successor Person Substituted

     56  

ARTICLE NINE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

     56  

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

     57  

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     58  

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     59  

SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

     59  

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

     59  

SECTION 907. Effect on Senior Indebtedness

     59  

ARTICLE TEN

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest

     59  

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency

     59  

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

     60  

SECTION 1004. Corporate Existence

     61  

SECTION 1005. Maintenance of Principal Properties

     61  

SECTION 1006. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims

     62  

SECTION 1007. Additional Amounts

     62  

SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance

     63  

 

iii


SECTION 1009. Limitation on Liens

     63  

SECTION 1010. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

     63  

SECTION 1011. Waiver of Certain Covenants

     64  

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article

     64  

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

     64  

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

     65  

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption

     65  

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price

     66  

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date

     67  

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part

     67  

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article

     68  

SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

     68  

SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

     68  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article

     69  

SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities

     69  

SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option

     70  

SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable

     70  

SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part

     71  

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 1401. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     71  

SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge

     71  

SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance

     72  

SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     72  

SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     74  

SECTION 1406. Reinstatement

     75  

 

iv


ARTICLE FIFTEEN

 

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called

     75  

SECTION 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings

     75  

SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings

     75  

SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action

     76  

SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings

     77  

SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings

     77  

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate

     78  

SECTION 1602. Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities

     78  

SECTION 1603. No Payment on Subordinated Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness

     80  

SECTION 1604. Payments on Securities Permitted

     80  

SECTION 1605. Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination

     80  

SECTION 1606. Notices to Trustee

     80  

SECTION 1607. Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness

     81  

SECTION 1608. Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness

     81  

SECTION 1609. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

     82  

SECTION 1610. Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

     82  

SECTION 1611. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness

     82  

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of March 27, 2020, between VIACOMCBS INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 1515 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”) having its Corporate Trust Office at 60 Wall Street, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10005.

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured senior or subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may or may not be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such times and to have such other provisions as provided in this Indenture.

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding 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 a series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular and, pursuant to Section 301, any such item may, with respect to any particular series of Securities, be amended, or modified or specified as being inapplicable;

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

(3) except as otherwise herein expressly provided, all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles”


with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America at the date of such computation;

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

(5) words importing any gender include the other genders; and

(6) the words “including,” “includes” and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” if not already stated thereby.

Certain terms, used principally in Article Three, are defined in that Article.

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

Additional Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1007.

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” means any Security Registrar, co-Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent.

Agent Members” has the meaning specified in Section 305.

Attributable Debt” means, with regard to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction with respect to any Principal Property, the lesser of: (a) the fair market value of such property (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company); or (b) the present value of the total net amount of rent required to be paid under such lease during the remaining term thereof (including any period for which such lease has been extended and excluding any unexercised renewal or other extension options exercisable by the lessee, and excluding amounts on account of maintenance and repairs, services, taxes and similar charges and contingent rents), discounted at the rate of interest set forth or implicit in the terms of such lease (or, if not practicable to determine such rate, the weighted average interest rate per annum borne by the Securities of the applicable series then Outstanding) compounded semi-annually. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall be the lesser of the net amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the amount of the penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or the net amount determined assuming no such termination.

 

2


Authenticating Agent” means any Person appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 612 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made on the same or on different days of the week in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

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

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

Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or its successor.

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

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

Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by one Officer of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.

Conversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 311(d).

Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country which issued such Currency and by a central bank or other public institution of or within the international banking community for the settlement of transactions, (ii) the Euro both within the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Union or (iii) any

 

3


currency unit (or composite currency) other than the Euro for the purposes for which it was established.

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office on the date of execution of this Indenture is located at 60 Wall Street, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10005, or such other office or address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by written notice to the Company.

corporation” includes corporations, associations, companies (including limited liability companies) and business or statutory trusts.

Currency” means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units, including, without limitation, the Euro, issued by the government of one or more countries or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Default Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 502.

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

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 permanent Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 301, which, if located in the United States, must be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and if any time there is more than one such Person, “U.S. Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Depositary located in the United States with respect to the Securities of such series.

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

Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit” has the meaning specified in Section 311(g).

Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 311(f).

Election Date” has the meaning specified in Section 311(h).

Euro” means the basic unit of currency among participating European Union countries, as revised or replaced from time to time.

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. as operator of Euroclear System, and any successor thereto.

 

4


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

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Exchange Date” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

Exchange Rate Agent” means, with respect to Securities of or within any series, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, a New York Clearing House bank, designated pursuant to Section 301 or Section 312.

Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate setting forth (i) the applicable Market Exchange Rate and (ii) the Dollar or Foreign Currency amounts of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any (on an aggregate basis and on the basis of a Security having the lowest denomination principal amount determined in accordance with Section 302 in the relevant Currency), payable with respect to a Security of any series on the basis of such Market Exchange Rate, signed by the Treasurer, any Vice President or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company.

Federal Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time.

Finance Lease” means any obligation of a Person to pay rent or other amounts incurred with respect to real property or equipment (other than in respect of (i) telecommunications equipment including, without limitation, satellite transponders and (ii) theme park equipment and attractions) acquired or leased by such Person and used in its business that is required to be recorded as a finance lease in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied as in effect from time to time.

Foreign Currency” means any Currency other than Currency of the United States.

Global Security” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 204 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

Government Obligations” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, securities which are (i) direct obligations of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount

 

5


received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

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

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (i) any obligation of such Person for money borrowed, (ii) any obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar instruments, (iii) any reimbursement obligation of such Person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments which support financial obligations which would otherwise become Indebtedness, (iv) any obligation of such Person under Finance Leases and (v) any obligation of any third party to the extent secured by a Lien on the assets of such Person; provided, however, that “Indebtedness” of such Person shall not include any obligation of such Person (i) to any Subsidiary of such Person or to any Person with respect to which such Person is a Subsidiary or (ii) specifically with respect to the production, distribution or acquisition of motion pictures or other programming rights, talent or publishing rights.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity at the rate prescribed in such Original Issue Discount Security, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1007, includes such Additional Amounts.

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

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

 

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Market Exchange Rate” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, (i) for any conversion involving a currency unit on the one hand and Dollars or any Foreign Currency on the other, the exchange rate between the relevant currency unit and Dollars or such Foreign Currency calculated by the method specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of the relevant series, (ii) for any conversion of Dollars into any Foreign Currency, the noon (New York City time) buying rate for such Foreign Currency for cable transfers quoted in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (iii) for any conversion of one Foreign Currency into Dollars or another Foreign Currency, the spot rate at noon local time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Dollars or Foreign Currency into which conversion is being made could be purchased with the Foreign Currency from which conversion is being made from major banks located in either New York City, London or any other principal market for Dollars or such purchased Foreign Currency, in each case determined by the Exchange Rate Agent. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, in the event of the unavailability of any of the exchange rates provided for in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Exchange Rate Agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in New York City, London or another principal market for the Currency in question, or such other quotations as the Exchange Rate Agent shall deem appropriate. Unless otherwise specified by the Exchange Rate Agent, if there is more than one market for dealing in any Currency by reason of foreign exchange regulations or otherwise, the market to be used in respect of such Currency shall be that upon which a non-resident issuer of securities designated in such Currency would purchase such Currency in order to make payments in respect of such securities.

Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment, notice of exchange or conversion or otherwise.

Notice of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Section 501.

Officer” means the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or the Controller of the Company.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer of the Company in his or her capacity as such Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, or who may be an employee of the Company.

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

 

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

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

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

(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1402 and 1403, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen; and

(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company as set forth in an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 301, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction,

 

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notice, consent or waiver or upon any such determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

Participant” means a Person who has an account with a Depositary.

Paying Agent” means any Person (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provision, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.

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

Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities are payable as specified as contemplated by Sections 301 and 1002.

Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 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.

Principal Property” means any parcel of real property and related fixtures or improvements (other than telecommunications equipment, including, without limitation, satellite transponders) owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and located in the United States, the aggregate book value of which on the date of determination exceeds $1.5 billion, other than any such real property and related fixtures or improvements, which, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

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

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

Registered Security” means any Security registered in the Security Register.

 

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Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to this Indenture.

Repayment Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to this Indenture.

Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any Vice President, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Subsidiary” means a corporation all of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more of its Subsidiaries, which is incorporated under the laws of a State of the United States, and which owns a Principal Property.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Person; provided, however, that with respect to any series of Securities, “Sale and Leaseback Transaction” shall not include such arrangements that were existing on the original issue date of such series of Securities, or at the time any Person owning a Principal Property becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by acquisition or otherwise, including through merger or consolidation).

Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

Senior Indebtedness” of any Person means all Indebtedness of such Person, except (a) Indebtedness that pursuant to its terms is subordinated in right of payment to other Indebtedness and (b) Indebtedness evidenced by an instrument that expressly provides that such Indebtedness is not Senior Indebtedness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness will not include any liability for taxes owed or owing by such Person or any trade payables.

 

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Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

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

Subsidiary” of any Person means (i) a corporation a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof, or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, a partnership or joint venture, in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries thereof, or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of the determination thereof, has at least majority ownership interest entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or other Persons performing similar functions).

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture 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; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

United States Person” means a “U.S. person” as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act, as amended.

Valuation Date” has the meaning specified in Section 311(c).

Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”.

Voting Stock” means stock of the class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of a corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

 

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Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Indenture, 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 Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions 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, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 1008) shall include:

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

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

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

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

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion as 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 an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the opinion, certificate or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations 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 as to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the

 

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exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations as to such matters are erroneous.

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

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or in exchange for the Securities of any such series). Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments (or on behalf of whom such instrument or instruments are signed). Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

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

(c) The principal amount and serial numbers (if any) of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or

 

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after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

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

SECTION 105. Notices, etc. to Trustee or Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

(1) the Trustee, by any Holder or by the Company, shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished (including through electronic transmission), filed or mailed, first class postage prepaid, in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration,

(2) the Company, by any Holder, shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) 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 Indenture, to the attention of its Treasurer (with a copy to the General Counsel), or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company, or

(3) the Company, by the Trustee, shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and (i) 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 Indenture, to the attention of its Treasurer (with a copy to the General Counsel), or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company or (ii) sent to the Company electronically at legalnotices@viacbs.com to the attention of its Treasurer (with a copy to the General Counsel), or at any other e-mail address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company; provided that no delivery failure notification with respect to any such e-mail is received by the sender within 24 hours of the time of sending.

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to

 

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each such Holder affected by such event, at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice; provided that in the case of any Global Security, a notice or communication sent to Holders in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary shall be sufficiently given. 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 . Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

If by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 107. 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 108. 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 109. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security 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 110. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 111. Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. THIS INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE TRUST

 

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INDENTURE ACT THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE PART OF THIS INDENTURE AND SHALL, TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE, BE GOVERNED BY SUCH PROVISIONS.

SECTION 112. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of any Security other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section), payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Repayment Date or Redemption Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Repayment Date, Redemption Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.

SECTION 113. No Recourse. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any director, officer, employee, or stockholder as such, past, present or future, of the Company or any of its Affiliates or any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any of its Affiliates or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the Securities.

SECTION 114. Waiver of Jury Trial

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

SECTION 115. Patriot Act

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The Company agrees that it will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

SECTION 116. Submission to Jurisdiction

 

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Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture and the Securities of any series and each party hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York state or federal court. Each party hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent they may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITIES FORMS

SECTION 201. Forms of Securities. The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or, subject to Section 303, set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case in accordance with Section 301 and 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 the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.

The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article.

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Unless otherwise specified in an Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture in accordance with Section 301, Securities shall be initially issued as permanent Global Securities.

SECTION 202. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication. Subject to Section 612, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated: ____________________

 

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

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee
By:    
  Authorized Officer

SECTION 203. Global Securities. If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (8) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Global Securities shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver and redeliver any permanent Global Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order.

The provisions of Section 305(b) shall initially apply to any Security represented by a Global Security.

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee or the Security Registrar the Global Security together with written instructions with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

Notwithstanding any provisions of Section 201 or 307 to the contrary, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any permanent Global Security shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent Global Security the Holder of such permanent Global Security in registered form.

 

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SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall, in addition to the provisions contained in Sections 202 and 203, bear a legend in substantially the following form:

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Company (as defined below) or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. 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, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness as provided in Article Sixteen.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established (i) in one or more Board Resolutions or (ii) pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officer’s Certificate, or (iii) in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (15) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of the series and set forth in such Securities of the series when issued from time to time):

(1) the form and title of the Securities of the series including CUSIP and/or ISIN numbers (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other series of Securities);

 

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(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the 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 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the principal of the Securities of the series shall be payable;

(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable, the right, if any, of the Company to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

(5) the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and, if different than the location specified in Section 105, the place or places where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

(6) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;

(7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(8) if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(9) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;

 

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(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, upon redemption of the Securities of the series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity, upon surrender for repayment at the option of the Holder, or which the Trustee shall be entitled to claim pursuant to Section 504 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

(11) if other than Dollars, the Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be made or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 311;

(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(13) whether the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more Currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which (including the Election Date), and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are to be paid, in each case in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 311;

(14) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

(15) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

(16) whether such Securities of any series are to be issuable initially as a temporary Global Security and whether beneficial owners of interests in any such temporary Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305;

(17) the date as of which any temporary Global Security representing Outstanding Securities shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

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(18) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered 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, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary Global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304; and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a permanent Global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 307;

(19) the applicability, if any, of Sections 1402 and/or 1403 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article Fourteen that shall be applicable to the Securities of the Series.

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

(21) whether, under what circumstances and the Currency in which the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1007 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States Person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);

(22) the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent, if any;

(23) if the Securities of the series are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

(24) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;

(25) whether the Securities of such series are subject to subordination in right of payment to other Indebtedness of the Company and the terms of such subordination; and

(26) any other terms, conditions, rights and preferences (or limitations on such rights and preferences) relating to the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions (subject to Section 303) and set forth in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. Not all Securities of any one series need be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

 

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If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, a copy of an appropriate record of such action(s) shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the issuance of the first Security of such series.

With respect to the Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Board Resolution (or action taken pursuant thereto), Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture referred to above may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms for particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company in accordance with other procedures specified in a Company Order as contemplated by the third paragraph of Section 303.

SECTION 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued as a Global Security (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 thereof.

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by one of its Officers. The signature of any of these Officers on the Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized Officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

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

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series, executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that, in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agents, promptly confirmed in writing) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If any Security shall be represented by a permanent Global Security, then, for purposes of this Section and Section 304, the notation of a beneficial owner’s interest therein upon original issuance of such Security or upon exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security shall be deemed to be delivery in connection with its original issuance of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent Global Security. If not all the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution, or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Securities and determining the

 

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terms of particular Securities of such series, such as interest rate, stated maturity, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue.

In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating in effect (subject to customary exceptions):

(a) that the form or forms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) that the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and

(c) that such Securities, when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation on all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and to general principles of equity and to such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude do not materially affect the rights of Holders of such Securities;

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate and deliver any such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee will not be required to authenticate Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency if the Trustee reasonably believes that it would be unable to perform its duties with respect to such Securities.

With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any such Securities, on the form and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Section 201 and 301 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and

 

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the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

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 309 together with a written statement stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, 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 304. Temporary Securities. (a) 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 which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Such temporary Securities may be represented by a Global Security.

Except in the case of temporary Global Securities (which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraphs), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. 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.

(b) Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, this Section 304(b) shall govern the exchange of temporary Global Securities.

Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary Global Security (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date such temporary Global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary Global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary Global Security shall be in registered form or as a permanent Global Security, or any

 

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combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof.

SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) The Company or the Trustee shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to collectively as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities; provided, however, that there shall be only one Security Register per series of Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed as the “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, having a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent Global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent Global Security is entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent Global Security shall have been given, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee or the Security Registrar definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, in accordance with instructions given by the Company to the Trustee or the Security Registrar and

 

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the Depositary, such permanent Global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent Global Security to be exchanged which, shall be in the form of Registered Securities; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date if the Security for which exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such permanent Global Security shall be returned by the Trustee or the Security Registrar to the Depositary or such other depositary referred to above in accordance with the Company’s instructions. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent Global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent Global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1107 or 1305 not involving any transfer.

If at any time the Depositary for any permanent Global Securities of any series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such permanent Global Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such permanent Global Securities shall no longer be eligible under applicable law, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary eligible under applicable law with respect to such permanent Global Securities. If a successor

 

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Depositary eligible under applicable law for such Global Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of the Company Order, Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel for the authentication and delivery of definitive Registered Securities of such series and tenor, will authenticate and deliver such definitive Registered Securities of such series and tenor, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent Global Securities, in exchange for such permanent Global Securities.

The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that any permanent Global Securities of any series shall no longer be maintained in global form. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of the Company Order, Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel for the authentication and delivery of definitive Registered Securities of such series and tenor, will authenticate and deliver, definitive Registered Securities of such series and tenor in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent Global Securities, in exchange for such permanent Global Securities.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of that series to be redeemed under Section 1103 or 1203 and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part, or (iii) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

(b) Regarding book-entry provisions for Global Securities:

(i) Each Global Security initially shall (A) be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or the nominee of such Depositary and (B) be delivered to the Trustee, as custodian for such Depositary.

Members of, or Participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under such Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute 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 the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Security.

(ii) Transfers of a Global Security shall be limited to transfers of such Global Security in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Transfers of interests in one Global Security to parties who will hold the interests through the

 

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same Global Security will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with the rules and operating procedures of the applicable Depositary. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” of Euroclear and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to interests in the Global Securities that are held by Agent Members through Euroclear and Clearstream.

(iii) Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Securities that is transferred to a person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Security will, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in such Global Security and become an interest in such other Global Security and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Security for so long as it remains such an interest.

(iv) In connection with any transfer of a portion of the interests in a Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (iii) of this Section 305(b), the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest in such Global Security to be transferred.

(v) In connection with the transfer of the Global Securities, in whole, to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (ii) of this Section 305(b), the Global Securities shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

(vi) The registered holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Senior Notes.

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with, in proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be required by the Trustee to save it or any agent of it harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions 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 and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall, subject to the following paragraph, execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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

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

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

The provisions of this Section 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 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, interest, if any, on any Registered Security 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 such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest, if any, on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 308, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

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

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 days after such notice is received by the Trustee), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections

 

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311(b), 311(d) and 311(e)) 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 on or 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 given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose name the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

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

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Registered 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 such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. The Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar shall be entitled to deal with any Depositary, and any nominee thereof, that is the Holder of any such Global Security for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Security (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Security) as the sole Holder of such Global Security and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of any such Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for the records of any such Depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such Global Security, for any transactions between such

 

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Depositary and any participant in such Depositary or between or among any such Depositary, any such participant and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Global Security, 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 any depositary, as a Holder, with respect to such Global Security or impair, as between such depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such Global Security.

SECTION 309. Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee. All Securities so surrendered or delivered to the Trustee shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures and, if requested by the Company, certification of their disposal delivered to the Company, unless by Company Order the Company shall timely direct that cancelled Securities be returned to it.

SECTION 310. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, interest, if any, on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 311. Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities. (a) Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, with respect to Registered Securities of any series not permitting the election provided for in paragraph (b) below or the Holders of which have not made the election provided for in paragraph (b) below, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Registered Security of such series will be made in the Currency in which such Registered Security is payable. The provisions of this Section 311 may be modified or superseded with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301.

(b) It may be provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to Registered Securities of any series that Holders shall have the option, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, to

 

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receive payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Registered Securities in any of the Currencies which may be designated for such election by delivering to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities a written election with signature guarantees and in the applicable form established pursuant to Section 301, not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the applicable payment date. If a Holder so elects to receive such payments in any such Currency, such election will remain in effect for such Holder or any transferee of such Holder until changed by such Holder or such transferee by written notice to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities (but any such change must be made not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the next payment date to be effective for the payment to be made on such payment date and no such change of election may be made with respect to payments to be made on any Registered Security of such series with respect to which an Event of Default has occurred or with respect to which the Company has deposited funds pursuant to Article Four or Fourteen or with respect to which a notice of redemption has been given by the Company or a notice of option to elect repayment has been sent by such Holder or such transferee). Any Holder of any such Registered Security who shall not have delivered any such election to the Trustee of such series of Registered Securities not later than the close of business on the applicable Election Date will be paid the amount due on the applicable payment date in the relevant Currency as provided in Section 311(a). The Trustee for each such series of Registered Securities shall notify the Exchange Rate Agent as soon as practicable after the Election Date of the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities for which Holders have made such written election.

(c) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, not later than the fourth Business Day after the Election Date for each payment date for Registered Securities of any series, the Exchange Rate Agent will deliver to the Company a written notice specifying the Currency in which Registered Securities of such series are payable, the respective aggregate amounts of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Registered Securities to be paid on such payment date, specifying the amounts in such Currency so payable in respect of the Registered Securities as to which the Holders of Registered Securities of such series shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above. If the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301 and if at least one Holder has made such election, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, on the second Business Day preceding such payment date the Company will deliver to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate in respect of the Dollar or Foreign Currency payments to be made on such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar or Foreign Currency amount receivable by Holders of Registered Securities who have elected payment in a Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above shall be determined by the Company on the basis of the applicable Market Exchange Rate in effect on the second Business Day (the “Valuation Date”) immediately preceding each payment date, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(d) If a Conversion Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Currency in which any of the Securities are denominated or payable other than pursuant to an election provided for pursuant to paragraph (b) above, then with respect to each date for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the applicable Securities denominated or payable in

 

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such Foreign Currency occurring after the last date on which such Foreign Currency was used (the “Conversion Date”), the Dollar shall be the Currency of payment for use on each such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar amount to be paid by the Company to the Trustee and by the Trustee or any Paying Agent to the Holders of such Securities with respect to such payment date shall be, in the case of a Foreign Currency other than a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or, in the case of a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, in each case as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent in the manner provided in paragraph (f) or (g) below.

(e) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the Holder of a Registered Security denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above, and a Conversion Event occurs with respect to such elected Currency, such Holder shall receive payment in the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election; and if a Conversion Event occurs with respect to the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election, such Holder shall receive payment in Dollars as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 311.

(f) The “Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and shall be obtained for each subsequent payment date by converting the specified Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Conversion Date.

(g) The “Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) below shall be the sum of each amount obtained by converting the Specified Amount of each Component Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate for such Component Currency on the Valuation Date with respect to each payment.

(h) For purposes of this Section 311, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

A “Component Currency” shall mean any Currency which, on the Conversion Date, was a component currency of the relevant currency unit.

A “Specified Amount” of a Component Currency shall mean the number of units of such Component Currency or fractions thereof which were represented in the relevant currency unit, on the Conversion Date. If after the Conversion Date the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If after the Conversion Date two or more Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the respective Specified Amounts of such Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such single Currency equal to the sum of the respective Specified Amounts of such consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single Currency, and such amount shall thereafter be a Specified Amount and such single Currency shall thereafter be a Component Currency. If after the Conversion Date any Component Currency shall be divided into two or more currencies, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be replaced by amounts of such two or more currencies, having an aggregate Dollar Equivalent value at the Market

 

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Exchange Rate on the date of such replacement equal to the Dollar Equivalent value of the Specified Amount of such former Component Currency at the Market Exchange Rate immediately before such division and such amounts shall thereafter be Specified Amounts and such currencies shall thereafter be Component Currencies. If, after the Conversion Date of the relevant currency unit, a Conversion Event (other than any event referred to above in this definition of “Specified Amount”) occurs with respect to any Component Currency of such currency unit and is continuing on the applicable Valuation Date, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall, for purposes of calculating the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, be converted into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate in effect on the Conversion Date of such Component Currency.

Election Date” shall mean the Regular Record Date for the applicable series of Registered Securities or at least 16 days prior to Maturity, as the case may be, or such other prior date for any series of Registered Securities as specified pursuant to clause (13) of Section 301 by which the written election referred to in Section 311(b) may be made.

All decisions and determinations of the Exchange Rate Agent regarding the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, the Market Exchange Rate and changes in the Specified Amounts as specified above shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities and all Holders of such Securities denominated or payable in the relevant Currency. The Exchange Rate Agent shall promptly give written notice to the Company and the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities of any such decision or determination.

In the event that the Company determines in good faith that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and the Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided for in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date. In the event the Company so determines that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to any currency unit in which Securities are denominated or payable, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date and the Specified Amount of each Component Currency on the Conversion Date. In the event the Company determines in good faith that any subsequent change in any Component Currency as set forth in the definition of Specified Amount above has occurred, the Company will similarly give written notice to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and the Exchange Rate Agent. The Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities shall be fully justified and protected in relying and acting upon information received by it from the Company and the Exchange Rate Agent and shall not otherwise have any duty or obligation to determine the accuracy or validity of such information independent of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent.

SECTION 312. Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent. (a) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a

 

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Currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent. The Company will cause the Exchange Rate Agent to make the necessary foreign exchange determinations at the time and in the manner specified pursuant to Section 301 for the purpose of determining the applicable rate of exchange and, if applicable, for the purpose of converting the issued Currency into the applicable payment Currency for the payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, pursuant to Section 311.

(b) No resignation of the Exchange Rate Agent and no appointment of a successor Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to this Section shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Exchange Rate Agent as evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Company and the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities accepting such appointment executed by the successor Exchange Rate Agent.

(c) If the Exchange Rate Agent shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Exchange Rate Agent for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Exchange Rate Agent or Exchange Rate Agents with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Exchange Rate Agent may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, at any time there shall only be one Exchange Rate Agent with respect to the Securities of any particular series that are originally issued by the Company on the same date and that are initially denominated and/or payable in the same Currency).

SECTION 313. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP”, “CINS” or “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall indicate the respective “CUSIP”, “CINS” or “ISIN” numbers of the Securities in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall advise the Trustee as promptly as practicable in writing of any change in the CUSIP, CINS or ISIN numbers.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. Except as set forth below, this Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto, any surviving rights of tender for repayment at the option of the Holders and any right to receive Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1007) and the Trustee, upon

 

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receipt of a Company Order and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when

(1) either

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all Securities of such series

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

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

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

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 612 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 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture, Officer’s Certificate or a Board Resolution establishing such series of Securities or is in the form of Security for such series:

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

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

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

(4) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up

 

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or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

(5) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, or sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

(6) any other Event of Default provided pursuant to Section 301 or 901 with respect to Securities of that series.

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), or (6) of Section 501 with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare immediately due and payable, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders) the unpaid principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of (and premium, if any) and accrued interest in respect of any Security then Outstanding in that series (the “Default Amount”). Upon any such declaration, the Default Amount shall become immediately due and payable on all Outstanding Securities of that series. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 502, if an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or (5) of Section 501 occurs, then the Default Amount shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

At any time after 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 provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

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

(A) all overdue interest, if any, on all Outstanding Securities of that series,

 

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(B) all unpaid principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Outstanding Securities of that series which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, and interest on such unpaid principal at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

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

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

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if

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

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

then 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, if any, and interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

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

 

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enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities 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, premium, if any, or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any), or such portion of the principal amount of any series of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities as may be specified in the terms of such series, and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606.

Subject to Article Eight and Section 902 and unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

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SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee 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 on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, 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 (including any predecessor Trustee) under Section 606;

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

Third: To the payment of the balance, if any, to the Person or Persons designated in writing by the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct in a final, non-appealable judgment.

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment, as provided herein (including, if applicable, Article Fourteen) or in such Security, of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest, if any, on, such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holders on the Repayment Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 512. Control by Holders. With respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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 which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

 

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(3) the Trustee may refuse to take any action which, in the opinion of counsel to the Trustee, is unduly prejudicial to other Holders of Securities of such series not consenting or would subject the Trustee to personal liability.

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Section 502, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to Securities of such series and its consequences, except a default

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

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

Upon any such waiver, any 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 Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 514. Waiver of 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 stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 515. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 515 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by the Company, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 508 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the

 

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manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, notice of such Default hereunder known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, 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, if any, on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities 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 determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.

SECTION 602. Certain Duties, Responsibilities and Rights of Trustee.

(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, that (i) notwithstanding Section 315(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated in the certificates or opinions referred to therein, and (ii) except during the continuance of an Event of Default, no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

(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 bad faith or willful misconduct, except that

(1) this Section 602(c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Section 602(a) above;

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.

(d) Subject to the provisions of Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

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(1) 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, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein), and any resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(3) 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 a Board Resolution, an Opinion of Counsel and/or an Officer’s Certificate;

(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the written 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;

(5) 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 of Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee in good faith shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times during normal business hours to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

(8) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

 

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(9) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder;

(10) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities or communications services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use commercially reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;

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

(12) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 602.

SECTION 603. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except for 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, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 604. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar, any Authenticating Agent 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 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent or such other agent.

 

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SECTION 605. 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 or for the investment thereof.

SECTION 606. Compensation, Indemnification and Reimbursement. The Company agrees:

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

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

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, claim, liability or expense incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its own part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts 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.

As security for the performance of such obligations of the Company, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on particular Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or (5), the expenses (including reasonable charges and expense of its counsel) of and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the termination of this Indenture for any reason and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such

 

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corporation 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.

SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

SECTION 609. 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 in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610.

(b) Subject to Section 609(a) hereof, 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.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by (i) the Company, by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, provided that contemporaneously therewith (x) the Company immediately appoints a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series meeting the requirements of Section 607 hereof and (y) the terms of Section 610 hereof are complied with in respect of such appointment (the Trustee being removed hereby agreeing to execute the instrument contemplated by Section 610(b) hereof, if applicable, under such circumstances) and provided, further, that no Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and then be continuing at such time or (ii) Act of the Holders of not less than a majority in 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 the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act 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 607 and shall fail to resign 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

(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, by or pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated,

 

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petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of a notice of resignation or the delivery of an Act of removal, the Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) 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 or pursuant to a Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series). If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and 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, or the retiring Trustee, may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

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

SECTION 610. 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, subject nevertheless to its claim provided for in Section 606.

 

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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 as co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject nevertheless to its claim provided for in Section 606. Whenever there is a successor Trustee with respect to one or more (but less than all) series of securities issued pursuant to this Indenture, the terms “Indenture” and “Securities” shall have the meanings specified in the provisos to the respective definitions of those terms in Section 101 which contemplate such situation.

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

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

SECTION 611. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such

 

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successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any successor Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee. In all such cases such certificates shall have the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

SECTION 612. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents which may be an Affiliate or Affiliates of the Company 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 and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, in the manner provided for in Section 106. 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. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $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, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

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

An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by

 

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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 for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall promptly give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, in the manner provided for in Section 106. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

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

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:

Dated:                                     

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

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Trustee
By    
  as Authenticating Agent
By    
  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders. Every Holder, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that none of the Company or the Trustee or any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such

 

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information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

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

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

SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, within 60 days after March 15 of each year commencing with the first March 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders of Securities, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such March 15.

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

SECTION 704. Reports by Company. The Company shall:

(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company files with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (which filing with the Trustee will be satisfied to the extent that any such filing by the Company with the Commission is publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto)), provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed pursuant to the EDGAR system (or its successor), and

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations (which filing with the Trustee will be satisfied to the extent that any such filing by the Company with the Commission is publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR

 

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system (or any successor thereto)), provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed pursuant to the EDGAR system (or its successor).

The Trustee shall transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

SECTION 705. Calculation of Original Issue Discount. Upon reasonable request of the Trustee, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods), if any, accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms. The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into another corporation, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property and assets to another Person unless: (i) immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (ii) the surviving Person in such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or Person to whom such property and assets are sold or conveyed (if other than the Company) is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, and such Person (if other than the Company) through a supplemental indenture assumes payment of the principal of (premium, if any, on) and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of the applicable series and the performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to the Company, and (iii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and such supplemental indenture comply with the applicable provisions of the Indenture and that all conditions precedent therein provided for relating to such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance have been complied with. The Company may consolidate or merge with or into, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property and assets to, any Subsidiary of the Company. For purposes of this Section, “sell or convey all or substantially all of its property and assets” shall mean property and assets contributing in the aggregate at least 80% of the Company’s total consolidated revenues as reported in the Company’s last available periodic financial report (quarterly or annual, as the case may be) filed with the Commission.

 

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SECTION 802. Successor Person Substituted. Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other Person or any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company to any Person in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale or conveyance 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 sale or conveyance, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 801), shall be discharged of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and may be dissolved or liquidated.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Unless otherwise specified in Section 902, without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form reasonably 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 contained herein and in the Securities; or

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

(3) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default, such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

(4) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

 

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(5) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of Section 1009 or otherwise; or

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

(7) 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; or

(8) to cure any ambiguity, to 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 Indenture; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

(9) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect.

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (all such series voting together as a single class), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to 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 which affect such series of Securities 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 such series affected thereby,

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or any installment of principal of or interest on any Security, or change the terms of any sinking fund with respect to any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest, if any, thereon, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or repayment thereof at the option of the Holder, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts contemplated by Section 1007 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or upon the redemption thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable,

 

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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 or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, respectively) or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the mandatory redemption of Securities or repayment of the Securities at the option of the Holder in a manner adverse to any Holder of any Securities, or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 301 herein, or

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver with respect to such series 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 513 or Section 1011, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture which affect such series cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder of a Security with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 610(b) and 901(8), or

(4) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the subordination of Securities in a manner adverse to any Holders.

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.

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

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

SECTION 903. 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

 

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to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904. 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 905. 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 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

SECTION 907. Effect on Senior Indebtedness. No supplemental indenture shall materially adversely affect the rights of any holder of Senior Indebtedness under Article Sixteen without the consent of such holder.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay, in the Currency or Currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series), the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for such 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, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.

 

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The Company will give prompt notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation; 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 accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby designates as a Place of Payment for each series of Securities the office or agency of the Trustee, and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Paying Agent and as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a Currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent.

SECTION 1003. Money for Securities 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 (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 311(b), 311(d) and 311(e)) sufficient to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of such series so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to or on each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities (other than the Trustee) to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent

 

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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) and interest, if any, on Securities of such 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 the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series; and

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

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 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 sums.

Except as provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series, and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, 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 an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment, 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 1004. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if its Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business.

SECTION 1005. Maintenance of Principal Properties. The Company will cause all Principal Properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of a

 

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Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the maintenance of any of such properties or prevent or restrict the sale, abandonment or other disposition of any of such properties if such action is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole.

SECTION 1006. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (a) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and (b) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith.

SECTION 1007. Additional Amounts. If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts to any Holder who is not a United States Person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge (“Additional Amounts”), the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series such Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on, or in respect of, any Security of a series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of a series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal (and premium, if any) is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are not United States Persons without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of the series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officer’s Certificate shall specify by

 

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country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section; provided that this sentence shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance. (a) 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 so long as any Security is Outstanding hereunder, an Officer’s Certificate, stating that in the course of the performance by the signatory of his or her duties as such officer of the Company, they would normally obtain knowledge of any Default by the Company in the performance or fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, and stating whether or not they have obtained knowledge of any such Default existing on the date of such statement and, if so, specifying each such Default of which the signatory has knowledge and the nature thereof.

(b) The Company will, so long as any of the Securities of any series are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, as promptly as practicable upon any officer listed in (a) above becoming aware of any Default, Event of Default or default in the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default, Event of Default, default or event of default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and the status thereof.

SECTION 1009. Limitation on Liens. The Company shall not create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets, without securing the Securities of any applicable series equally and ratably with (or prior to) such secured Indebtedness; provided, however, that the foregoing shall apply only to Liens which in the aggregate exceed 15% of the Company’s total consolidated assets as of the end of the Company’s most recent accounting period preceding the creation or assumption of any such Lien (reduced by any Attributable Debt with respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction permitted under Section 1010 below). With respect to any series of Securities, this restriction will not apply to Finance Leases or to Indebtedness secured by (a) Liens existing on the original issue date of such series of Securities, as applicable, and Liens on property of, or Indebtedness of, any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by acquisition or otherwise, including through merger or consolidation), (b) Liens in favor of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, (c) Liens existing at the time of acquisition of the assets secured thereby (including acquisition through merger or consolidation) and purchase money Liens, and (d) any extension, renewal, replacement or refunding of any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (c), inclusive.

SECTION 1010. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction with respect to any Principal Property unless (a) such Sale and Leaseback Transaction involves a lease for a term of not more than three years; (b) such Sale and Leaseback

 

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Transaction is between the Company and a Subsidiary of the Company or between Subsidiaries of the Company; (c) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to incur indebtedness secured by a Lien on such Principal Property involved in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction pursuant to the first sentence of the “Limitations on Liens” covenant in Section 1009 above without being required to equally and ratably secure the Securities of any applicable series pursuant to such covenant; (d) the proceeds of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value of such Principal Property (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) and the Company applies an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of such sale or the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction within 180 days of such sale to either (or a combination) of (i) the retirement (other than the mandatory retirement, mandatory prepayment or sinking fund payment or by payment at maturity) of debt for borrowed money of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company that matures more than 12 months after its creation (other than debt that is subordinated to the Securities or debt to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) or (ii) the purchase, construction or development of other comparable property; or (e) such Sale and Leaseback Transaction is entered into within 180 days after the initial acquisition by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, of the Principal Property subject to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction

SECTION 1011. Waiver of Certain Covenants. With respect to the Securities of any series, the Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition specified pursuant to Section 301 as being subject to this Section 1011, if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such 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 wavier shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 1103. In the case of any

 

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redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee 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 in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary or by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem appropriate; provided that such method complies with the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Securities are then listed, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 301.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, 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 which has been or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 106 not less than 10 nor more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, but failure to give such notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for redemption of any other such Security or portion thereof.

Any notice that is sent to the Holders of Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, all notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price (if known) or the formula pursuant to which the Redemption Price is to be determined if the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time the notice is given,

 

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(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

(4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

(5) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106 will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

(6) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

(8) any applicable conditions precedent (including a corporate transaction) and the procedures for notice to the Trustee and Holders of any failure or delay to satisfy such conditions, and

(9) such other matters as the Company shall deem desirable or appropriate.

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.

Notice of any redemption of Securities in connection with a corporate transaction that is pending (including an equity offering, an incurrence of Indebtedness or a change of control) may, at the Company’s discretion, be given subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the transaction. If such redemption is so subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or otherwise waived by the Redemption Date. The Company shall notify Holders of any such rescission as soon as practicable after the Company determines that it will not be able to satisfy or otherwise waive such conditions precedent. Once notice of redemption is mailed or sent, subject to the satisfaction of any conditions precedent provided in the notice of redemption, the Securities called for redemption will become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the applicable Redemption Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if

 

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applicable, as provided in Sections 311(b), 311(d) and 311(e)) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 311(b), 311(d) and 311(e)) (together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal thereof (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a temporary Global Security or permanent Global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new temporary Global Security or permanent Global Security, respectively. However, if less than all the Securities of any series with differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing thereof at least 5 days prior to the relevant redemption date.

 

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ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article. Retirement of Securities of any series pursuant to any sinking fund shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. Subject to Section 1203, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (1) deliver to the Trustee Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company and/or (2) receive credit for the principal amount of Securities of such series which have been previously delivered to the Trustee by the Company or for Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of the same series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided, however, that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 311(b), 311(d) and 311(e)) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering or crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 (which Securities will, if not previously delivered, accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make a permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the

 

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Company to deliver such certificate, the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Securities as provided in Section 1202 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Not more than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

Prior to any sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee or a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) in cash a sum equal to the principal (and premium, if any) and any interest that will accrue to the date fixed for redemption of Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 1203.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a sinking fund for any series of Securities, if at any time the amount of cash to be paid into such sinking fund on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date, together with any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payment or payments for such series, does not exceed in the aggregate $100,000, the Trustee, unless requested by the Company, shall not give the next succeeding notice of the redemption of Securities of such series through the operation of the sinking fund. Any such unused balance of moneys deposited in such sinking fund shall be added to the sinking fund payment for such series to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date or, at the request of the Company, shall be applied at any time or from time to time to the purchase of Securities of such series, by public or private purchase, in the open market or otherwise, at a purchase price for such Securities (excluding accrued interest and brokerage commissions, for which the Trustee or any Paying Agent will be reimbursed by the Company) not in excess of the principal amount thereof.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article. Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301) in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities. Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at the Repayment Price thereof, together with interest,

 

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if any, thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before the Repayment Date it will deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 311(b), 311(d) and 311(e)) sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.

SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option. Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire Repayment Price of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the portion of the Repayment Price of such Security to be repaid, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the Repayment Price of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. Any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable. If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, the Repayment Price of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, in the case of Registered Securities, installments of interest, if any, whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable (but without interest thereon, unless the Company shall default in the payment thereof) 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 307.

 

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If the principal amount of any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, such principal amount (together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to such Repayment Date) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part. Upon surrender of any Registered Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid. If a temporary Global Security or permanent Global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new temporary Global Security or a new permanent Global Security, respectively.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1401. Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, the provisions of this Article Fourteen shall apply to each series of Securities, and the Company may, at its option, effect defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1402, or covenant defeasance of or within a series under Section 1403 in accordance with the terms of such Securities and in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series and subject to Sections 1405 and 1406, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1405 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (A) and (B) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 1007, and such obligations as shall be ancillary thereto, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities and other provisions in respect of the Trustee hereunder including, without limitation, Section 606, the last sentence of Section 1007, and the penultimate

 

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paragraph of Section 1405 and (D) this Article Fourteen. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 1402 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1403 with respect to such Securities. Following a defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 801 and 802, Section 1006 and Sections 1008 through 1011, and, if specified pursuant to Section 301, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed not to be “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 501(3) or Section 501(6) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. Following a covenant defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default solely by reference to such Sections specified above in this Section 1403.

SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions precedent or, as specifically noted below, subsequent, to application of either Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 607 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or (B) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities on the Stated Maturity (or Redemption Date, if applicable) of such principal (and premium, if any) or installment of

 

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interest on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Securities of such series, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 1102 hereof, a notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of such Outstanding Securities at a future date in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series and Article Eleven hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

(2) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as paragraphs (4) and (5) of Section 501 are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(3) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not (A) cause the Trustee for the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act or otherwise for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company or (B) result in the trust arising from such deposit to constitute, unless it is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(4) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(5) In the case of an election under Section 1402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and such defeasance had not occurred.

(6) In the case of an election under Section 1403, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

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(7) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 1402 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1403 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1405, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of such Outstanding Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 301, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 1404(1) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 311(b) or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(1) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs as contemplated in Section 311(d) or 311(e) or by the terms of any Security in respect of which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(1) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable Market Exchange Rate for such Currency in effect on the third Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof.

Anything in this Article Fourteen to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 1404 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of

 

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the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1406. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 1405 with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and such Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 1402 or 1403, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 1405; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called. A meeting of Holders of Securities of any and all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

SECTION 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings. (a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in The City of New York or in London as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided for in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 33 1/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication or mailing of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in The City of New York or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more

 

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Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action. The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that, if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction, or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1504, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction, or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal

 

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amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:

(i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

(ii) the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under this Indenture.

SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(c) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by such holder (determined as specified in the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101); provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

(d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by

 

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written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate. In the event a series of Securities (“Subordinated Securities”) is, pursuant to Section 301, designated as subordinated in accordance with the terms set out in this Article Sixteen, then except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 301, the Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, shall thereby covenant and agree, and each Holder of Subordinated Securities of such series, by his or her acceptance thereof, likewise shall covenant and agree, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Subordinated Securities of such series shall be expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.

SECTION 1602. Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities. Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Subordinated Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):

(a) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon before the Holders of the Subordinated Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Securities; and

(b) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Subordinated Securities or

 

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the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and

(c) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Subordinated Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instrument evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of Subordinated Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness (to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to such Holders have been applied to the payment of Senior Indebtedness) to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Subordinated Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Subordinated Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Subordinated Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Sixteen are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of Subordinated Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Subordinated Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Subordinated Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Subordinated Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Subordinated Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Subordinated Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Subordinated Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Sixteen of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such

 

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remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 602, shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereof and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Subordinated Securities or the Company, or any other Person, moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Sixteen.

If the Trustee or any Holder of Subordinated Securities does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to above prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim in such proceeding, then the holder of any Senior Indebtedness is hereby authorized, and has the right, to file an appropriate claim or claims for or on behalf of such Holder of Subordinated Securities.

SECTION 1603. No Payment on Subordinated Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness. No payment by the Company on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities shall be made unless full payment of amounts then due for principal (and premium, if any), sinking funds and interest on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

SECTION 1604. Payments on Securities Permitted. Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Subordinated Securities shall (a) affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in Sections 1602 and 1603, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities or (b) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys or assets deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any fact prohibiting the making of such payment more than two Business Days prior to the date fixed for such payment.

SECTION 1605. Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination. Each Holder of Subordinated Securities by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article Sixteen and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

SECTION 1606. Notices to Trustee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other

 

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than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any fact which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys or assets to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee) written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects conclusively to presume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys or assets may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys or assets the notice provided for in this Section 1606, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys or assets and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Sixteen, 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 Sixteen 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 1607. Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Sixteen in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in Section 613 or elsewhere in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article Sixteen shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 506 or 606.

SECTION 1608. Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness. Any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee. No compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or

 

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affect any of the provisions of this Article Sixteen or of the Securities relating to the subordination thereof.

SECTION 1609. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee 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 insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, 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 to holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.

SECTION 1610. Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. Amounts and Government Obligations deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Articles Four and Fourteen and not, at the time of such deposit, prohibited to be deposited under Sections 1602 or 1603, shall not be subject to this Article Sixteen.

SECTION 1611. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee 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. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

*    *    *    *    *

This Indenture 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 Indenture. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.

 

VIACOMCBS INC.
By:   /s/ James C. Morrison
  Name: James C. Morrison
  Title: Senior Vice President, Treasurer

Attest:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Trustee

By:   /s/ Bridgett Casasnovas
  Name: Bridgett Casasnovas
  Title: Vice President

 

By:   /s/ Annie Jaghatspanyan
  Name: Annie Jaghatspanyan
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

LOGO

599 LEXINGTON AVENUE

NEW YORK, NY 10022-6069

+1.212.848.4000

March 27, 2020

The Board of Directors

ViacomCBS Inc.

1515 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

ViacomCBS Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to ViacomCBS Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”) being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) relating to the offering from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by the Company or one or more selling security holders of (i) one or more series of debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”), (ii) shares of the Company’s class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), (iii) shares of the Company’s class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”), (iv) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”) and (v) warrants of the Company (the “Warrants” and, together with the Debt Securities, the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, the “Securities”). The offering of the Securities will be as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented by one or more supplements to the Prospectus.

The Debt Securities will be issued in one or more series pursuant to an indenture, dated as of March 27, 2020 between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Indenture”). The Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”), each to be entered into between the Company and a financial institution identified therein as the warrant agent (each, a “Warrant Agent”). The Indenture, any Warrant Agreement, any Debt Securities and any Warrants are hereinafter referred to as the “Opinion Documents.”

In that connection, we have reviewed originals or copies of the following documents:

(a) The Registration Statement; and


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(b) The Indenture.

We have also reviewed originals or copies of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws of the Company, as amended through the date hereof, such other records of the Company, certificates of public officials and officers of the Company and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In our review of the Indenture and other documents, and otherwise for the purposes of this opinion, we have assumed:

(a) The genuineness of all signatures.

(b) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.

(c) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.

(d) That each of the Opinion Documents is or will be the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, other than the Company, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms.

(e) That the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Opinion Documents do not and will not:

(i) except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it; or

(ii) result in any conflict with or breach of any agreement or document binding on it.

(f) That, except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, no authorization, approval, consent or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company of any Opinion Document or, if any such authorization, approval, consent, action, notice or filing is required, it has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and is in full force and effect.

We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.

Generally Applicable Law” means the federal law of the United States of America, and the law of the State of New York (including in each case the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto), that a New York lawyer exercising customary


The Board of Directors    March 27, 2020
Page 3   

 

professional diligence would reasonably be expected to recognize as being applicable to the Company, the Opinion Documents or the transactions governed by the Opinion Documents, and, for purposes of assumption paragraphs (e) and (f) above and our opinions in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 below, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing definition of Generally Applicable Law, the term “Generally Applicable Law” does not include any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to the Company, the Opinion Documents or such transactions solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any party to any of the Opinion Documents or any of its affiliates due to the specific assets or business of such party or such affiliate.

Based upon the foregoing and upon such other investigation as we have deemed necessary and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Company (a) has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform the Indenture and (b) has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture.

2. The Indenture has been duly executed and has been delivered by the Company, and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

3. When (i) the Debt Securities have been duly authorized, (ii) the final terms thereof have been duly established and approved and (iii) the Debt Securities have been duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the consideration therefor duly approved by the Company, the Debt Securities will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

4. When (i) the final terms of the Preferred Stock have been duly established and approved by the Company in conformity with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (ii) certificates representing the Preferred Stock have been duly executed by the Company and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the consideration therefor duly approved by the Company, and (iii) all corporate action necessary for issuance of the Preferred Stock has been taken, including the adoption and filing of a certificate of designations relating thereto, the Preferred Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

5. When (i) the final terms of issuance and sale of the applicable shares of Common Stock have been duly approved by the Company in conformity with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (ii) all corporate action necessary for


The Board of Directors    March 27, 2020
Page 4   

 

issuance of the Common Stock has been taken, and (iii) such shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the consideration therefor duly approved by the Company, such shares of Common Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

6. When (i) the Warrants and the applicable Warrant Agreement have been duly authorized, (ii) the final terms of the Warrants have been duly established and approved, (iii) certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed by the Company and countersigned by the applicable Warrant Agent in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof and (iv) the applicable Warrant Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and duly authorized, executed and delivered by the applicable Warrant Agent, the Warrants will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the applicable Warrant Agreement, and the applicable Warrant Agreement will be the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

Our opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:

(a) Our opinions in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 above are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers).

(b) Our opinions in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 above are also subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c) Our opinions are limited to Generally Applicable Law, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.

This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose without our prior written consent.

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as Trustee under the Indenture, may rely on paragraph 2 above as if it were addressed to the Trustee, subject to the assumptions and qualifications stated herein.

This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact, that may occur after the date of this opinion letter and which might affect the opinions expressed herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus.


The Board of Directors    March 27, 2020
Page 5   

 

In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Shearman & Sterling LLP

LN/BDB/DY/MJ

LLJ

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of ViacomCBS Inc. of our report dated February 20, 2020 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in ViacomCBS Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

March 27, 2020

EX-24.1

Exhibit 24.1

VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Candace K. Beinecke

Candace K. Beinecke


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Barbara M. Byrne

Barbara M. Byrne


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Brian Goldner

Brian Goldner


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Linda M. Griego

Linda M. Griego


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Robert N. Klieger

Robert N. Klieger


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Judith A. McHale

Judith A. McHale


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Ronald L. Nelson

Ronald L. Nelson


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Charles E. Phillips, Jr.

Charles E. Phillips, Jr.


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Shari Redstone

Shari Redstone


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Susan Schuman

Susan Schuman


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Nicole Seligman

Nicole Seligman


VIACOMCBS INC.

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned director of VIACOMCBS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby constitutes and appoints Christa A. D’Alimonte to be his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign or cause to be signed electronically (1) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and any amendments thereto, (2) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”), and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and (3) any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with the Form S-3 or any amendment(s) thereto, registering, in each case, for offer and sale the securities of the Company specified in the Form S-3 and any and all documents relating to such securities, in each case to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and/or any national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of February, 2020.

 

/s/ Frederick O. Terrell

Frederick O. Terrell
EX-25.1

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

(formerly BANKERS TRUST COMPANY)

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

NEW YORK   13-4941247

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or

organization if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification no.)

60 WALL STREET

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

  10005
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Attention: Mirko Mieth

Legal Department

60 Wall Street, 36th Floor

New York, New York 10005

(212) 250 – 1663

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

VIACOMCBS INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   04-2949533

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1515 Broadway

New York, New York

  10036
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture securities)

 

 

 


Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee.

 

  (a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name

  

Address

Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District)    New York, NY
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    Washington, D.C.
New York State Banking Department    Albany, NY

 

  (b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

Item 3. -15. Not Applicable

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 1 -

   Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated August 31, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 25, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated December 18, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 3, 1999; and Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated March 14, 2002, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.

Exhibit 2 -

   Certificate of Authority to commence business, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.

Exhibit 3 -

   Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.

Exhibit 4 -

   Existing By-Laws of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, approved March 29, 2019.

Exhibit 5 -

   Not applicable.

Exhibit 6 -

   Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of the Act, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.

Exhibit 7 -

   A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

Exhibit 8 -

   Not Applicable.

Exhibit 9 -

   Not Applicable.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on this 24th day of March, 2020.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

        By:  

/s/ Kathryn Fischer

  Name: Kathryn Fischer
 

Title:    Vice President


AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS

OF

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.01. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Company”) shall be held in the City of New York within the State of New York within the first four months of the Company’s fiscal year, on such date and at such time and place as the board of directors of the Company (“Board of Directors” or “Board”) may designate in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

Section 1.02. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Company may be called by the Board of Directors or by the President, and shall be called by the President or by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of record of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, at such times. If for a period of thirteen months after the last annual meeting, there is a failure to elect a sufficient number of directors to conduct the business of the Company, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting for the election of directors within two weeks after the expiration of such period; otherwise, holders of record of ten percent (10%) of the shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote in an election of directors may, in writing, demand the call of a special meeting at the office of the Company for the election of directors, specifying the date and month thereof, but not less than two nor more than three months from the date of such call. At any such special meeting called on demand of stockholders, the stockholders attending, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote in an election of directors shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing directors, but not for the transaction of any other business.

Section 1.03. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, place and purpose of every meeting of stockholders shall be delivered personally or mailed not less than 10 nor more than 50 days before the date of such meeting (or any other action) to each stockholder of record entitled to vote, at his post office address appearing upon the records of the Company or at such other address as shall be furnished in writing by him to the Secretary of the Company for such purpose. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law or by these By-Laws. Any meeting may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present in person or by proxy, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.

Section 1.04. Quorum. The holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of the stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Company’s Organization Certificate or by these By-Laws, constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders; if there be no such quorum, the holders of a majority of such shares so present or represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall have been obtained.

Section 1.05. Organization of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, if he is not present, by the President or, if he is not present, by a chairman to be chosen at the meeting. The Secretary of the Company, or in his absence an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, if present.

 

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Section 1.06. Voting. At each meeting of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Company’s Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, every holder of record of stock entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of such stock standing in his name on the records of the Company. Elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast thereat and, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Company’s Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, all other action shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.

At all elections of directors, the voting shall be by ballot or in such other manner as may be determined by the stockholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote at such election.

Section 1.07. Action by Consent. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Company’s Organization Certificate, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if, prior to such action, a written consent or consents thereto, setting forth such action, is signed by all the holders of record of shares of the stock of the Company, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

ARTICLE II

DIRECTORS

Section 2.01. Chairman of the Board. Following the election of the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, the elected Board shall appoint one of its members as Chairman. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.02. Lead Independent Director. Following the election of the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, the elected Board may appoint one of its independent members as its Lead Independent Director. When the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Lead Independent Director, if there be one, shall preside.

Section 2.03. Director Emeritus. The Board of Directors may from time to time elect one or more Directors Emeritus. Each Director Emeritus shall be elected for a term expiring on the date of the regular meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting. No Director Emeritus shall be considered a “director” for purposes of these By-Laws or for any other purpose.

Section 2.04. Powers, Number, Quorum, Term, Vacancies, Removal. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Company’s Organization Certificate or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

The number of directors may be changed by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or by a vote of the holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, but at all times the Board of Directors must consist of not less than seven nor more than thirty directors. No more than one-third of the directors shall be active officers or employees of the Company. At least one-half of the directors must be citizens of the United States at the time of their election and during their continuance in office.

 

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Except as otherwise required by law, rule or regulation, or by the Company’s Organization Certificate, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or a majority of the directors constituting such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as applicable. Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone or video, or other similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting. Whether or not a quorum shall be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time; notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment, but if the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced, no additional notice shall be required to be given to the directors present at the time of adjournment.

Directors shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified. Director vacancies not exceeding one-third of the whole number of the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and the directors so elected shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.

Any one or more of the directors of the Company may be removed either with or without cause at any time by a vote of the holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, and thereupon the term of the director or directors who shall have been so removed shall forthwith terminate and there shall be a vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors, to be filled by a vote of the stockholders as provided in these By-Laws.

Section 2.05. Meetings, Notice. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place either within or without the State of New York, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board, or as may be specified in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee shall be held as often as may be required under applicable law, and special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of two directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President, by oral, telegraphic or written notice duly served on or sent or mailed to each director not less than two days before such meeting. Any meeting may be held without notice, if all directors are present, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.

Section 2.06. Compensation. The Board of Directors may determine, from time to time, the amount of compensation, which shall be paid to its members. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to allow a fixed sum and expenses for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board, or of any committee of the Board. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to provide for and pay to directors rendering services to the Company not ordinarily rendered by directors, as such, special compensation appropriate to the value of such services, as determined by the Board from time to time.

ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

Section 3.01. Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board who shall be appointed annually by resolution adopted by the majority of the entire Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. In his absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, such other member of the Executive Committee as the Executive Committee from time to time may designate shall preside at such meetings.

 

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Section 3.02. Audit and Fiduciary Committee. There shall be an Audit and Fiduciary Committee appointed annually by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors which shall consist of such number of independent directors, as may from time to time be fixed by the Audit and Fiduciary Committee charter adopted by the Board of Directors.

Section 3.03. Other Committees. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint any other Committees as may seem necessary, and from time to time to suspend or continue the powers and duties of such Committees. Each Committee appointed pursuant to this Article shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.04. Limitations. No committee shall have the authority as to the following matters: (i) the submission to stockholders of any action that needs stockholders’ authorization under New York Banking Law; (ii) the filling of vacancies in the Board of Directors or in any such committee; (iii) the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board of Directors or on any committee; (iv) the amendment or repeal of these By-Laws, or the adoption of new by-laws; (v) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its terms shall not be so amendable or repealable; or (vi) the taking of action which is expressly required by any provision of New York Banking Law to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or by a specified proportion of the directors.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 4.01. Titles and Election. The officers of the Company, who shall be chosen by the Board of Directors within twenty-five days after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall be a President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and a General Auditor. The Board of Directors from time to time may elect one or more Managing Directors, Directors, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, and may define their powers and duties. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.

Section 4.02. Terms of Office. Each officer shall hold office for the term for which he is elected or appointed, and until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified.

Section 4.03. Removal. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.04. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 4.05. Vacancies. If the office of any officer or agent becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the Board of Directors may choose a successor, who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

 

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Section 4.06. President. The President shall have general authority to exercise all the powers necessary for the President of the Company. In the absence of the Chairman and the Lead Independent Director, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders. The President shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the president of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.07. Chief Executive Officer. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise the powers and perform the duties usual to the chief executive officer and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall have general management and control of the affairs and business of the Company; he shall appoint and discharge employees and agents of the Company (other than officers elected by the Board of Directors); he shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect; he shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the chief executive officer of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.08. Chief Risk Officer. The Chief Risk Officer shall have the responsibility for the risk management and monitoring of the Company. The Chief Risk Officer shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to his office and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.09. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibility for reporting to the Board of Directors on the financial condition of the Company, preparing and submitting all financial reports required by applicable law, and preparing annual financial statements of the Company and coordinating with qualified third party auditors to ensure such financial statements are audited in accordance with applicable law.

Section 4.10. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys, and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the directors whenever they may require it an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company.

Section 4.11. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of proceedings in records or books to be kept for that purpose. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the secretary of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have and be the custodian of the stock records and all other books, records and papers of the Company (other than financial) and shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law are properly kept and filed.

 

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Section 4.12. General Auditor. The General Auditor shall be responsible, through the Audit and Fiduciary Committee, to the Board of Directors for the determination of the program of the internal audit function and the evaluation of the adequacy of the system of internal controls. Subject to the Board of Directors, the General Auditor shall have and may exercise all the powers and shall perform all the duties usual to such office and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed or assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or vested in him by law or by these By-Laws. He shall perform such other duties and shall make such investigations, examinations and reports as may be prescribed or required by the Audit and Fiduciary Committee. The General Auditor shall have unrestricted access to all records and premises of the Company and shall delegate such authority to his subordinates. He shall have the duty to report to the Audit and Fiduciary Committee on all matters concerning the internal audit program and the adequacy of the system of internal controls of the Company which he deems advisable or which the Audit and Fiduciary Committee may request.

Section 4.13. Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents. If chosen, the Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents, in the order of their seniority, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, exercise all of the powers and duties of the President. Such Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and they shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to their respective offices and as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President.

Section 4.14. Duties of Officers may be Delegated. In case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Company, or for any other reason that the Board may deem sufficient, the Board may delegate, for the time being, the powers or duties, or any of them, of such officer to any other officer.

ARTICLE V

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS

Section 5.01. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding (other than one by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor), whether civil or criminal, including an action by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the Company served in any capacity at the request of the Company, by reason of the fact that such person, his or her testator or intestate, was a director or officer of the Company, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which such person reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 5.02. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person, his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,

 

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against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, or in connection with an appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, except that no indemnification under this Section 5.02 shall be made in respect of (a) a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or (b) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action was brought, or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction, determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement amount and expenses as the court deems proper.

Section 5.03. Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company only if authorized in the specific case (i) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding upon a finding that the director or officer has met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be; or (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, (x) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be, has been met by such director or officer; or (y) by the stockholders upon a finding that the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be. A person who has been successful on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in Sections 5.01 or 5.02, shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in such section.

Section 5.04. Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 5.03, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Company or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Company or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 5.04 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be.

Section 5.05. Serving an Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of the Company. For the purpose of this Article V, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be considered fines; and action taken or omitted by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of such person’s duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such person to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

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Section 5.06. Indemnification upon Application to a Court. Notwithstanding the failure of the Company to provide indemnification and despite any contrary resolution of the Board or stockholders under Section 5.03, or in the event that no determination has been made within ninety days after receipt of the Company of a written claim therefor, upon application to a court by a director or officer, indemnification shall be awarded by a court to the extent authorized in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02. Such application shall be upon notice to the Company. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 5.03 nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct.

Section 5.07. Expenses Payable in Advance. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount (i) if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this Article V, (ii) where indemnification is granted, to the extent expenses so advanced by the Company or allowed by a court exceed the indemnification to which such person is entitled and (iii) upon such other terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate. Any such advancement of expenses shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding, or (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, (x) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel or (y) by the stockholders and, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to revoke at any time any approval previously granted in respect of any such request for the advancement of expenses or to, in its sole and absolute discretion, impose limits or conditions in respect of any such approval.

Section 5.08. Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses granted pursuant to, or provided by, this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a director or officer seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled whether contained in the Company’s Organization Certificate, these By-Laws or, when authorized by the Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, (i) a resolution of stockholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, or (iii) an agreement providing for such indemnification, provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled. Nothing contained in this Article V shall affect any rights to indemnification to which corporate personnel other than directors and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

Section 5.09. Insurance. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance (in a single contract or supplement thereto, but not in a retrospective rated contract): (i) to indemnify the Company for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors and officers under the provisions of this Article V, (ii) to indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Article V and applicable law, and (iii) to indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Article V, provided the contract of insurance covering such directors and officers provides, in a manner acceptable to the New York Superintendent of Financial Services, for a retention amount and for co-insurance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such insurance shall be subject to the provisions of, and the Company shall comply with the requirements set forth in, Section 7023 of the New York State Banking Law.

 

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Section 5.10. Limitations on Indemnification and Insurance. All indemnification and insurance provisions contained in this Article V are subject to any limitations and prohibitions under applicable law, including but not limited to Section 7022 (with respect to indemnification, advancement or allowance) and Section 7023 (with respect to insurance) of the New York State Banking Law and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (with respect to administrative proceedings or civil actions initiated by any federal banking agency). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, no indemnification, advancement or allowance shall be made (i) to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled, or (ii) in any circumstance where it appears (a) that the indemnification would be inconsistent with a provision of the Company’s Organization Certificate, these By-Laws, a resolution of the Board or of the stockholders, an agreement or other proper corporate action, in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the threatened or pending action or proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or (b) if there has been a settlement approved by the court, that the indemnification would be inconsistent with any condition with respect to indemnification expressly imposed by the court in approving the settlement.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, but subject to any requirements of applicable law, (i) except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 5.06), the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his testators intestate) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Company, (ii) with respect to indemnification or advancement of expenses relating to attorneys’ fees under this Article V, counsel for the present or former director or officer must be reasonably acceptable to the Company (and the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, establish a panel of approved law firms for such purpose, out of which the present or former director or officer could be required to select an approved law firm to represent him), (iii) indemnification in respect of amounts paid in settlement shall be subject to the prior consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld), (iv) any and all obligations of the Corporation under this Article V shall be subject to applicable law, (v) in no event shall any payments pursuant to this Article V be made if duplicative of any indemnification or advancement of expenses or other reimbursement available to the applicable director or officer (other than for coverage maintained by such person in his individual capacity), and (vi) no indemnification or advancement of expenses shall be provided under these By-Laws to any person in respect of any expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to the extent incurred by such person in his capacity or position with another entity (including, without limitation, an entity that is a stockholder of the Company or any of the branches or affiliates of such stockholder), except as expressly provided in these By-Laws in respect of such person’s capacity and position as a director or officer of the Company or such person is a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

Section 5.11. Indemnification of Other Persons. The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses (whether pursuant to an adoption of a policy or otherwise) to employees and agents of the Company (whether similar to those conferred in this Article V upon directors and officers of the Company or on other terms and conditions authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors), as well as to employees of direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company and to other persons (or categories of persons) approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 5.12. Repeal. Any repeal or modification of this Article V shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE VI

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 6.01. Certificates. The interest of each stockholder of the Company shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The certificates of stock shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President or a Managing Director or a Director or a Vice President and by the Secretary, or the Treasurer, or an Assistant Secretary, or an Assistant Treasurer, sealed with the seal of the Company or a facsimile thereof, and countersigned and registered in such manner, if any, as the Board of Directors may by resolution prescribe. Where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the Company or its employee, or registered by a registrar other than the Company or its employee, the signature of any such officer may be a facsimile signature. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

Section 6.02. Transfer. The shares of stock of the Company shall be transferred only upon the books of the Company by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Company or its agents may reasonably require.

Section 6.03. Record Dates. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not less than 10 nor more than 50 days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders, or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the distribution or allotment of any rights, or the date when any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or to receive any distribution or allotment of such rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, and in such case only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Company after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.

Section 6.04. Lost Certificates. In the event that any certificate of stock is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of a new certificate of the same tenor and for the same number of shares in lieu thereof. The Board may in its discretion, before the issuance of such new certificate, require the owner of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate or the legal representative of the owner to make an affidavit or affirmation setting forth such facts as to the loss, destruction or mutilation as it deems necessary and to give the Company a bond in such reasonable sum as it directs to indemnify the Company.

 

- 10 -


ARTICLE VII

CHECKS, NOTES, ETC.

Section 7.01. Checks, Notes, Etc. All checks and drafts on the Company’s bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, may be signed by the President or any Managing Director or any Director or any Vice President and may also be signed by such other officer or officers, agent or agents, as shall be thereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 8.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall be from January 1 to December 31, unless changed by the Board of Directors.

Section 8.02. Books. There shall be kept at such office of the Company as the Board of Directors shall determine, within or without the State of New York, correct books and records of account of all its business and transactions, minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders, Board of Directors and committees, and the stock book, containing the names and addresses of the stockholders, the number of shares held by them, respectively, and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof, and in which the transfer of stock shall be registered, and such other books and records as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

Section 8.03. Voting of Stock. Unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Board of Directors, all stock owned by the Company, other than stock of the Company, shall be voted, in person or by proxy, by the President or any Managing Director or any Director or any Vice President of the Company on behalf of the Company.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

Section 9.01. Amendments. The vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall be necessary at any meeting of stockholders to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws. These By-Laws may also be amended or repealed, or new by-laws adopted, at any meeting of the Board of Directors by the vote of at least a majority of the entire Board, provided that any by-law adopted by the Board may be amended or repealed by the stockholders in the manner set forth above.

Any proposal to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws shall be stated in the notice of the meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders or in the waiver of notice thereof, as the case may be, unless all of the directors or the holders of record of all of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote are present at such meeting.

 

- 11 -


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

00623

New York, NY 10005

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System   OMB Number 7100-0036
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation   OMB Number 3064-0052
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency   OMB Number 1557-0081
  Approval expires July 31, 2022
  Page 1 of 87
 

 

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council

 

 

 

LOGO      

 

Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income for

a Bank with Domestic Offices Only—FFIEC 041

 

 

 

Report at the close of business December 31, 2019

This report is required by law: 12 U.S.C. § 324 (State member banks); 12 U.S.C. §1817 (State nonmember banks); 12 U.S.C. §161 (National banks); and 12 U.S.C. §1464 (Savings associations).

        20191231      

    (RCON 9999)

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the term “bank” in this report form refers to both banks and savings associations.

This report form is to be filed by banks with domestic offices only and total consolidated assets of less than $100 billion, except those banks that file the FFIEC 051.

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Each bank’s board of directors and senior management are responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective system of internal control, including controls over the Reports of Condition and Income. The Reports of Condition and Income are to be prepared in accordance with federal regulatory authority instructions. The Reports of Condition and Income must be signed by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the reporting bank (or by the individual performing an equivalent function) and attested to by not less than two directors (trustees) for state nonmember banks and three directors for state member banks, national banks, and savings associations.

I, the undersigned CFO (or equivalent) of the named bank, attest that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting

schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that the Reports of Condition and Income have been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true and correct.

 

 

Director (Trustee)

 

 

 

Signature of Chief Financial Officer (or Equivalent)

 

 

01/30/2020

Date of Signature

 

 

Director (Trustee)

 

Director (Trustee)

 

 

 

Submission of Reports

Each bank must file its Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) data by either:

 

(a)

Using computer software to prepare its Call Report and then submitting the report data directly to the FFIEC’s Central Data Repository (CDR), an Internet-based system for data collection (https://cdr.ffiec.gov/cdr/), or

 

(b)

Completing its Call Report in paper form and arranging with a software vendor or another party to convert the data into the electronic format that can be processed by the CDR. The software vendor or other party then must electronically submit the bank’s data file to the CDR.

For technical assistance with submissions to the CDR, please contact the CDR Help Desk by telephone at (888) CDR-3111, by fax at (703) 774-3946, or by e-mail at CDR.Help@ffiec.gov.

 

FDIC Certificate Number   

623

 

               
   (RSSD 9050)   

To fulfill the signature and attestation requirement for the Reports of Condition and Income for this report date, attach your bank’s completed signature page (or a photocopy or a computer generated version of this page) to the hard-copy record of the data file submitted to the CDR that your bank must place in its files.

The appearance of your bank’s hard-copy record of the submitted data file need not match exactly the appearance of the FFIEC’s sample report forms, but should show at least the caption of each Call Report item and the reported amount.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

Legal Title of Bank (RSSD 9017)   

New York

City (RSSD 9130)   

NY

   10005                                                 

State Abbreviation (RSSD 9200)

 

   Zip Code (RSSD 9220)

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)

 

  

 8EWQ2UQKS07AKK8ANH81

  (Report only if your institution already has an LEI.) (RCON 9224)

 

 

The estimated average burden associated with this information collection is 53.72 hours per respondent and is expected to vary by institution, depending on individual circumstances. Burden estimates include the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data in the required form, and completing the information collection, but exclude the time for compiling and maintaining business records in the normal course of a respondent’s activities. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an organization (or a person) is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions for reducing this burden should be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503, and to one of the following: Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20551; Legislative and Regulatory Analysis Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, DC 20219; Assistant Executive Secretary, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, DC 20429.

 

12/2019

06/2012


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

00623

New York, NY 10005

  

FFIEC 041

Page 17 of 87

RC-1

Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Banks

and Savings Associations for December 31, 2019

  

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter.

Schedule RC—Balance Sheet

 

Dollar Amounts in Thousands

     RCON      Amount      

Assets

             

1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):

             

a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)

           0081        48,000     1.a.

b. Interest-bearing balances(2)

           0071        10,409,000     1.b.

2. Securities:

             

a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A)(3)

           JJ34        0     2.a.

b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)

           1773        0     2.b.

c. Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading(4)

           JA22        6,000    

3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

             

a. Federal funds sold

           B987        0     3.a.

b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell(5,6)

           B989        13,739,000     3.b.

4. Loans and lease financing receivables (from Schedule RC-C):

             

a. Loans and leases held for sale

           5369        0     4.a.

b. Loans and leases held for investment

     B528        11,818,000           4.b.

c. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     3123        9,000           4.c.

d. Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance (item 4.b minus 4.c)(7)

           B529        11,809,000     4.d.

5. Trading assets (from Schedule RC-D)

           3545        0     5.

6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

           2145        18,000     6.

7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)

           2150        3,000     7.

8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

           2130        0     8.

9. Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

           3656        0     9.

10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)

           2143        19,000     10.

11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)(6)

           2160        1,534,000     11.

12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)

           2170        37,585,000     12.

Liabilities

             

13. Deposits:

             

a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E)

           2200        24,904,000     13.a.

(1) Noninterest-bearing(8)

     6631        9,607,000           13.a.(1)

(2) Interest-bearing

     6636        15,297,000           13.a.(2)

b. Not applicable

             

14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

             

a. Federal funds purchased(9)

           B993        788,000     14.a.

b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (10)

           B995        0     14.b.

15. Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)

           3548        0     15.

16. Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness) (from Schedule RC-M)

           3190        370,000     16.

17. and 18. Not applicable

             

19. Subordinated notes and debentures(11)

           3200        0     19.

20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)

           2930        1,935,000     20.

21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)

           2948        27,997,000     21.

22. Not applicable

             

 

1.

Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.

2.

Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.

3.

Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016-13 should report in item 2.a amounts net of any applicable allowance for credit losses, and item 2.a should equal Schedule RC-B, item 8, column A, less Schedule RI-B, Part II, item 7, column B.

4.

Item 2.c is to be completed only by institutions that have adopted ASU 2016-01, which includes provisions governing the accounting for investments in equity securities. See the instructions for further detail on ASU 2016-01.

5.

Includes all securities resale agreements, regardless of maturity.

6.

Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016-13 should report in items 3.b and 11 amounts net of any applicable allowance for credit losses.

7.

Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016-13 should report in item 4.c the allowance for credit losses on loans and leases.

8.

Includes noninterest-bearing demand, time, and savings deposits.

9.

Report overnight Federal Home Loan Bank advances in Schedule RC, item 16, “Other borrowed money.”

10.

Includes all securities repurchase agreements, regardless of maturity.

11.

Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.

 

12/2019

06/2012


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

00623

New York, NY 10005

 

  

 

FFIEC 041

Page 18 of 87

RC-2

       

Schedule RC—Continued

 

Dollar Amounts in Thousands

     RCON      Amount      

Equity Capital

             

      Bank Equity Capital

             

23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

           3838        0     23.

24. Common stock

           3230        2,127,000     24.

25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

           3839        931,000     25.
26.   a. Retained earnings            3632        6,531,000     26.a.

b. Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)

           B530        (1,000   26.b.

c. Other equity capital components(2)

           A130        0     26.c.
27.   a. Total bank equity capital (sum of items 23 through 26.c)            3210        9,588,000     27.a.

b. Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

           3000        0     27.b.

28. Total equity capital (sum of items 27.a and 27.b)

           G105        9,588,000     28.

29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)

           3300        37,585,000     29.

Memoranda

 

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.

 

             

1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 2018

   RCON      Number    
   6724      NA     M.1.

 

1a =

An integrated audit of the reporting institution’s financial statements and its internal control over financial reporting conducted in accordance with the standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the institution

1b =

An audit of the reporting institution’s financial statements only conducted in accordance with the auditing standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the institution

2a =

An integrated audit of the reporting institution’s parent holding company’s consolidated financial statements and its internal control over financial reporting conducted in accordance with the standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the institution separately)

2b =

An audit of the reporting institution’s parent holding company’s consolidated financial statements only conducted in accordance with the auditing standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the institution separately)

 

3 =

This number is not to be used

 

4 =

Directors’ examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by state-chartering authority)

5 =

Directors’ examination of the bank performed by other external auditors (may be required by state-chartering authority)

6 =

Review of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

7 =

Compilation of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

8 =

Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)

9 =

No external audit work

 

 

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.        

2. Bank’s fiscal year-end date (report the date in MMDD format)

   RCON      Date    
   8678      NA     M.2.

 

1. 

Includes, but is not limited to, net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, accumulated net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, and accumulated defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan adjustments.

2. 

Includes treasury stock and unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares.

 

06/2012