Exhibit 4.6
FORM OF
SENIOR INDENTURE
by and between
CHINA RITAR POWER
CORP.
as Issuer,
and
_____________________,
as Trustee
Dated as of
______________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
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SECTION 1.01
Definitions
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1
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SECTION 1.02
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
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3
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SECTION 1.03
Rules of Construction
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4
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ARTICLE
II THE SECURITIES
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SECTION 2.01
Unlimited in Amount, Issuable in Series
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4
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SECTION 2.02
Form and Dating
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6
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SECTION 2.03
Execution and Authentication
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6
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SECTION 2.04
Registrar and Paying Agent
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7
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SECTION 2.05
Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust
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7
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SECTION 2.06
Holder Lists
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7
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SECTION 2.07
General Provisions Relating to Transfer and Exchange
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8
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SECTION 2.08
Book-Entry Provisions for Global Securities
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8
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SECTION 2.09
Replacement Securities
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9
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SECTION 2.10
Outstanding Securities
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10
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SECTION 2.11
Treasury Securities
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10
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SECTION 2.12
Temporary Securities
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10
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SECTION 2.13
Cancellation
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10
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SECTION 2.14
CUSIP Numbers
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10
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SECTION 2.15
Defaulted Interest
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11
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SECTION 2.16
Special Record Dates
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11
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ARTICLE
III REDEMPTION
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SECTION 3.01
Notices to Trustee
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11
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SECTION 3.02
Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed
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11
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SECTION 3.03
Notice of Redemption
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11
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SECTION 3.04
Effect of Notice of Redemption
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12
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SECTION 3.05
Deposit of Redemption Price
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12
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SECTION 3.06
Securities Redeemed in Part
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12
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SECTION 3.07
Holder's Right to Require Redemption
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13
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SECTION 3.08
Procedure for Requiring Redemption
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13
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ARTICLE
IV COVENANTS
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SECTION 4.01
Payment of Securities
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13
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SECTION 4.02
Maintenance of Office or Agency
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13
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SECTION 4.03
Reports
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14
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SECTION 4.04
Compliance Certificate
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14
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SECTION 4.05
Taxes
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14
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SECTION 4.06
Corporate Existence
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14
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ARTICLE
V MERGER, ETC.
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SECTION 5.01
When Company May Merge, etc.
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14
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SECTION 5.02
Successor Corporation Substituted
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15
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ARTICLE
VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
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SECTION 6.01
Events of Default
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15
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SECTION 6.02
Acceleration
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16
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SECTION 6.03
Other Remedies
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17
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SECTION 6.04
Waiver of Past Defaults
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17
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SECTION 6.05
Control by Majority
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17
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SECTION 6.06
Limitation on Suits
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17
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SECTION 6.07
Rights of Holders To Receive Payment and to Demand
Conversion
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18
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SECTION 6.08
Collection Suit by Trustee
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18
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SECTION 6.09
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
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18
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SECTION 6.10
Priorities
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18
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SECTION 6.11
Undertaking for Costs
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19
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Page
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SECTION 6.12
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
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19
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SECTION 6.13
Restoration of Positions
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19
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SECTION 6.14
Liability of Stockholders, Officers, Directors and
Incorporators
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19
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SECTION 7.01
Duties of Trustee
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19
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SECTION 7.02
Rights of Trustee
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20
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SECTION 7.03
Individual Rights of Trustee
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21
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SECTION 7.04
Money Held in Trust
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21
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SECTION 7.05
Trustee’s Disclaimer
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21
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SECTION 7.06
Notice of Defaults
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22
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SECTION 7.07
Reports by Trustee to Holders
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22
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SECTION 7.08
Compensation and Indemnity
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22
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SECTION 7.09
Replacement of Trustee
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22
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SECTION 7.10
Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.
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23
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SECTION 7.11
Eligibility; Disqualification
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23
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SECTION 7.12
Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company
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24
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ARTICLE
VIII DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
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SECTION 8.01
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
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24
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SECTION 8.02
Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification
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24
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SECTION 8.03
Legal Defeasance
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25
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SECTION 8.04
Covenant Defeasance
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26
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SECTION 8.05
Repayment to Company
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27
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SECTION 8.06
Reinstatement
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27
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ARTICLE
IX AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
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SECTION 9.01
Without Consent of Holders
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27
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SECTION 9.02
With Consent of Holders
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28
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SECTION 9.03
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
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29
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SECTION 9.04
Revocation and Effect of Consents
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29
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SECTION 9.05
Notation on or Exchange of Securities
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29
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SECTION 9.06
Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc.
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29
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ARTICLE
X CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
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SECTION 10.01
Provisions Relating to Conversion or Exchange of
Securities
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29
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ARTICLE XI
SINKING OR PURCHASE FUNDS
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SECTION 11.01
Provisions Relating to Sinking or Purchase Funds
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30
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ARTICLE
XII MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 12.01
Trust Indenture Act Controls
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30
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SECTION 12.02
Notices
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30
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SECTION 12.03
Communication by Holders with Other Holders
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31
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SECTION 12.04
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
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31
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SECTION 12.05
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion
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31
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SECTION 12.06
Rules by Trustee and Agents
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31
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SECTION 12.07
Legal Holidays
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31
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SECTION 12.08
Duplicate Originals
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32
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SECTION 12.09
Governing Law
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32
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SECTION 12.10
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
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32
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SECTION 12.11
Successors
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32
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SECTION 12.12
Severability
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32
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SECTION 12.13
Counterpart Originals
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32
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SECTION 12.14
Submission to Jurisdiction
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32
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SECTION 12.15
Waiver of Jury Trial
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32
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SECTION 12.16
Force Majeure
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32
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SECTION 12.16
Supplemental Indentures Contract
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33
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SECTION 12.18
Table of Contents, Headings, etc
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33
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SECTION 12.19
When Treasury Securities Disregarded
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33
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CROSS-REFERENCE
TABLE*
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Trust
Indenture Act Section
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Indenture Section
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310
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(a)(1)
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7.11
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(a)(2)
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7.11
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(a)(3)
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n/a
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(a)(4)
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n/a
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(a)(5)
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7.11
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(b)
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7.03;
7.11
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(c)
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n/a
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311
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(a)
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7.12
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(b)
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7.12
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(c)
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n/a
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312
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(a)
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2.06
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(b)
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12.03
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(c)
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12.03
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313
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(a)
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7.07
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(b)(1)
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n/a
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(b)(2)
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7.07;
7.08
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(c)
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7.07;
12.02
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(d)
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7.07
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314
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(a)(1), (2),
(3)
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4.03;12.05
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(a)(4)
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4.04
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(b)
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n/a
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(c)(1)
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12.04
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(c)(2)
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12.04
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(c)(3)
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n/a
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(d)
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n/a
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(e)
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12.05
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(f)
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n/a
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315
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(a)
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7.01(b)
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(b)
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7.06;
12.02
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(c)
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7.01(a)
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(d)
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7.01(c)
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(e)
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6.11
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316
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(a)(last
sentence)
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2.11
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(a)(1)(A)
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6.05
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(a)(1)(B)
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6.04
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(a)(2)
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n/a
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(b)
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6.07
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(c)
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9.04
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Trust
Indenture Act Section
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Indenture Section
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317
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(a)(1)
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6.08
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(a)(2)
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6.09
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(b)
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2.04
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318
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(a)
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12.01
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(b)
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n/a
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(c)
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12.01
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“n/a” means not
applicable.
SENIOR INDENTURE (this “Indenture”),
dated as of ________, by and between China Ritar Power Corp. a
Nevada corporation (the “Company”), as issuer, and
______________, a ____________, as trustee (the
“Trustee”).
RECITALS
The Company has
duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to
provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes
or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more
series (the “Securities”), up to such principal amount
as may from time to time be authorized in or pursuant to one or
more resolutions of the Board of Directors or by supplemental
indenture.
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 ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities, as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY
REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01
Definitions.
“Affiliate” means, when used with
reference to the Company or another Person, any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect
common control with, the Company or such other Person, as the case
may be. For the purposes of this definition, “control”
when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct or cause the direction of management or 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 of the foregoing.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying
Agent, authenticating agent or co-Registrar.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of
the U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of
debtors.
“Board of Directors” means, with
respect to any Person, the Board of Directors of such Person or any
duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a
resolution certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of
such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of
such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof and to be in
full force and effect on the date of such certification, and
delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means a day that is
not a Legal Holiday.
“Company” means the party named as
the Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture until one or
more successor corporations shall have become such pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means such
successors.
“Consolidated” or
“consolidated” means, when used with reference to any
amount, such amount determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, after the elimination of intercompany
items.
“Corporate Trust Office” means
the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its
corporate services business shall be principally administered,
which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located
at ______________.
“Custodian” means any receiver,
trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official
under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means any event which is,
or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of
Default.
“Depositary” means The Depository
Trust Company, its nominees and their respective
successors.
“DTC Participants” has the meaning
specified in Section 2.08.
“ERISA” means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any
successor statute.
“Event of Default” has the meaning
specified in Section 6.01.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor
statute.
“GAAP” means generally accepted
accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements
of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
statements by such other entity as have been approved by a
significant segment of the accounting profession, which are
applicable from time to time.
“Global Securities” means a Security
issued to evidence all or a part of any series of Securities that
is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee to a depositary or pursuant to such depositary’s
instructions, all in accordance with this Indenture and pursuant to
Section 2.01, which shall be registered as to principal and
interest in the name of such depositary or its nominee.
“Holder” means the Person in whose
name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s
books.
“Indenture” means this Indenture, as
amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.
“Issue Date” means the date of
original issuance of the initial Securities pursuant to this
Indenture.
“Legal Holiday” has the meaning
specified in Section 12.07.
“Officer” of any Person means the
Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President, any Senior Vice President, any Executive Vice
President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or the
Controller of such Person.
“Officers’ Certificate” means
a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an
Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Controller of
any Person.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written
opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or
counsel to the Company.
“Paying Agent” has the meaning
specified in Section 2.04.
“Person” means an individual,
partnership, corporation, business trust, joint stock company,
trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental
authority or other entity of whatever nature.
“Physical Securities” means
permanent certificated Securities in registered form, issued in
accordance with Section 2.08 and the terms of any indenture
supplemental hereto.
“Redemption Date” means, with
respect to any Securities to be redeemed, the date fixed for such
redemption pursuant to this Indenture.
“Redemption Price” means the
redemption price fixed in accordance with the terms of the
Securities, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date
fixed for redemption.
“Register” has the meaning specified
in Section 2.04.
“Registrar” has the meaning
specified in Section 2.04.
“Responsible Officer” shall mean,
when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the
corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice
president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant
treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who
customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the
Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to
whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such
person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the
administration of this Indenture.
“SEC” means the Securities and
Exchange Commission and any government agency succeeding to its
functions.
“Securities” means the securities
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor
statute.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any
Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant
subsidiary” within the meaning of Article 1 of
Regulation S-X of the Securities Act as in effect on the date
of this Indenture.
“Subsidiary” of any Person
means:
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(i)
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a corporation a
majority of whose capital stock with voting power, under ordinary
circumstances, to elect directors is at the time, directly or
indirectly, owned by such Person or by such Person and a subsidiary
or subsidiaries of such Person or by a subsidiary or subsidiaries
of such Person; or
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(ii)
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any other
Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person or such
Person and a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or a
subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Persons, at the time, directly
or indirectly, owns at least a majority voting interest under
ordinary circumstances.
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“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as in effect on the date of this Indenture;
provided , however , that in the event the TIA is
amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent
required by such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so
amended, or any successor statute.
“Trustee” means the party named as
such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and
thereafter, means the successor.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the
payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the
United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally
guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United
States of America and which in either case, are non-callable at the
option of the issuer thereof.
SECTION 1.02
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture
Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of
the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a
part of this Indenture. In addition, the provisions of Sections 310
to and including 317 of the TIA that impose duties on any person
are incorporated by reference in, and form a part of, this
Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture
have the following meanings:
“indenture securities” means the
Securities;
“indenture security holder” means a
Holder;
“indenture to be qualified” means
this Indenture;
“indenture trustee” or
“institutional trustee” means the Trustee;
and
“obligor” on the Securities means
the Company and any other obligor on the indenture
securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that
are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute
or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such
definitions.
SECTION 1.03
Rules of Construction.
Unless the context
otherwise requires:
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(i)
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a term has the
meaning assigned to it;
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(ii)
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an accounting
term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in
accordance with GAAP;
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(iii)
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“or” is not exclusive;
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(iv)
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“including” means including without
limitation;
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(v)
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words in the
singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular; and
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(vi)
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provisions
apply to successive events and transactions.
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ARTICLE II
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01
Unlimited in Amount, Issuable in Series,
Denomination
The aggregate
principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be
issued in one or more series in denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof. Prior to the issuance of Securities of a
series, the Company and the Trustee will execute an indenture
supplemental hereto which will set forth as to the Securities of
that series, to the extent applicable:
(a) The title
and ranking of such Securities;
(b) The
aggregate principal amount of such Securities and any limit on such
aggregate principal amount that may be issued;
(c) The
denomination of such Securities, if other than $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof;
(d) The price
(expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at
which such Securities will be issued and, if other than the
principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount
thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity
thereof;
(e) The date
or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, on
which the Securities will mature and the amounts to be paid upon
maturity of the Securities;
(f) The rate
or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method by which
such rate or rates shall be determined, at which such Securities
will bear interest, if any, the date or dates, or the method for
determining such date or dates, from which any such interest will
accrue, the dates on which any such interest will be payable, the
record dates for such interest payment dates, or the method by
which such dates shall be determined, the persons to whom such
interest shall be payable, and the basis upon which interest shall
be calculated, if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months;
(g) The
right, if any, of the Company to defer payment of interest and the
maximum length of any such deferral period;
(h) The place
or places where the principal of, and premium and interest, if any,
on such Securities will be payable, where such Securities may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where
notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of such
Securities and this Indenture may be served;
(i) The date
or dates, if any, after which, and the price or prices at which,
and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may,
pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be
redeemed, as a whole or in part, by the Company;
(j) The
obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase
such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision
or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods
within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and
conditions upon which such Securities will be redeemed, repaid or
purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to such
obligation;
(k) The terms, if
any, on which the Securities of such series are convertible into,
or exchangeable for, shares of common stock, preferred stock or
other securities of the Company, including any mandatory conversion
or exchange provisions and any provisions intended to prevent
dilution of those conversion or exchange rights;
(l) Whether
such Securities will be secured or unsecured and the terms relating
thereto;
(m) The
restrictions, if any, on the transfer, sale or other assignment of
the Securities;
(n) If other
than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which such
Securities are denominated and payable, which may be a foreign
currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite
currency or currencies, and the terms and conditions relating
thereto;
(o) Whether
the principal of, or premium and interest, if any, on the
Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the
Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies, currency
unit or units or composite currency or currencies other than that
in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable,
the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions
upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of,
and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for,
determining the exchange rate between the currency or currencies,
currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which
such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the
currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite
currency or currencies in which such Securities are to be so
payable;
(p) Whether
the amount of payments of principal of, or premium and interest, if
any, on such Securities may be determined with reference to an
index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may,
but need not be, based on the yield on or trading price of other
securities, including United States Treasury securities, or on a
currency, currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency
or currencies) and the manner in which such amounts shall be
determined;
(q) 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 described
herein;
(r) Whether
and under what circumstances the Company will pay any additional
amounts on such Securities in respect of any tax, assessment or
governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the
option to redeem such Securities in lieu of making such
payment;
(s) Whether
Securities of the series are to be issuable as registered
securities, bearer securities (with or without coupons) or both,
any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of
bearer securities and the terms upon which bearer securities of the
series may be exchanged for registered securities of the series and
vice versa (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations),
whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially
in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series
are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons
and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such
permanent Global Security may exchange such interests for
Securities of such series and of like tenor or any authorized form
and denomination and the circumstances under which any such
exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in the
indenture, and, if registered securities of the series are to be
issuable as a Global Security, the identity of the depositary for
such series;
(t) The date
as of which any bearer securities of the series and any temporary
Global Security representing outstanding Securities of the series
shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the
first Security of the series to be issued;
(u) 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, the manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest
on any bearer security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise
than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining
thereto as they severally mature, 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 the indenture;
(v) The
applicability, if any, of the legal defeasance and covenant
defeasance provisions of this Indenture to the Securities of the
series;
(w) Whether
such Securities will be issued in certificated or book entry form,
and if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in
definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a
temporary security of such series) only upon receipt of certain
certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other
conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates,
documents or conditions;
(x) Whether
the Securities will be listed for trading on an exchange and the
identity of such exchange, and whether any underwriters will act as
market makers for the Securities; and
(y) Any other
terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on,
the Securities of such series, including any restrictions on the
transfer, sale or other assignment of the Securities.
SECTION 2.02
Form and Dating.
The Securities of
each series will be substantially in the form established by an
indenture supplemental hereto relating to the Securities of that
series. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements
required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. The Company will
approve the form of the Securities and any notation, legend or
endorsement thereon. Each Security will be dated as of the date of
its authentication pursuant to Section 2.03.
SECTION 2.03
Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall
sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile
signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer
holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the
Security shall be valid nevertheless.
A Security shall
not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the
Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall,
upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the
Company, authenticate for original issue Securities in aggregate
principal amount specified in such order.
The Trustee may
appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Securities. Unless limited by the terms of
such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate
Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this
Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication
by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an
Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company.
SECTION 2.04
Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall
maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for
registration of transfer or for exchange (the “
Registrar ”) and an office or agency where
Securities may be presented for payment (the “ Paying
Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the
Securities (the “ Register ”) and of
their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more
co-Registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents for the
Securities. The term “Paying Agent” includes any
additional paying agent and the term “Registrar”
includes any additional registrar. The Company may change any
Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any
Holder.
The Company shall
enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a
party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the
TIA and implement the terms of this Indenture that relate to such
Agent. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee
of the name and address of any Agent who is not a party to this
Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another
entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.
The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may act as Paying Agent
or Registrar; provided, however, that none of the Company,
its Subsidiaries or the Affiliates of the foregoing shall act
(i) as Paying Agent in connection with redemptions, offers to
purchase, discharges and defeasance, as otherwise specified in this
Indenture, and (ii) as Paying Agent or Registrar if a Default
or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
The Company
initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as
Depositary with respect to the Global Securities.
The Company hereby
initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for
the Securities.
SECTION 2.05
Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust.
Not later than
11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the
principal and interest on any Securities, the Company shall deposit
with one or more Paying Agents money in immediately available funds
sufficient to pay such principal and interest so becoming due. The
Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the
benefit of Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying
Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the
Securities (whether such money has been paid to it by the Company
or any other obligor on the Securities) and shall notify the
Trustee of any failure by the Company (or any other obligor on the
Securities) in making any such payment. While any such failure
continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money
held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed.
The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money
held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the
Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company) shall have no further liability for the money so paid over
to the Trustee.
If the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them acts
as Paying Agent, it shall, prior to or on each due date of any
principal of or interest on the Securities, segregate and hold in a
separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders a sum of money
sufficient with monies held by all other Paying Agents, to pay such
principal or interest so becoming due until such sum of money shall
be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as provided in
this Indenture, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its actions
or failure to act.
SECTION 2.06
Holder Lists.
The Trustee shall
preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most
recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders
and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the TIA. If the
Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee prior to or on each interest payment date for the
Securities and at such other times as the Trustee may request in
writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may
reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders relating
to such interest payment date or request, as the case may
be.
SECTION 2.07
General Provisions Relating to Transfer and
Exchange.
The Securities are
issuable only in registered form. A Holder may transfer a Security
only by written application to the Registrar or another transfer
agent stating the name of the proposed transferee and otherwise
complying with the terms of this Indenture. No such transfer shall
be effected until, and such transferee shall succeed to the rights
of a Holder only upon, final acceptance and registration of the
transfer by the Registrar in the Register. Prior to the
registration of any transfer by a Holder as provided herein, the
Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company shall treat the
person in whose name the Security is registered as the owner
thereof for all purposes whether or not the Security shall be
overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent
shall be affected by notice to the contrary. Furthermore, any
Holder of a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such Global
Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such
Global Security may be effected only through a book-entry system
maintained by the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent) and
that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Security shall be
required to be reflected in a book-entry.
When Securities
are presented to the Registrar or another transfer agent with a
request to register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal
principal amount of Securities of other authorized denominations,
the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as
requested if its requirements for such transactions are met
(including that such Securities are duly endorsed or accompanied by
a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the Holder
thereof or by an attorney who is authorized in writing to act on
behalf of the Holder). Subject to Section 2.03, to permit
registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the
Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any
registration of transfer or exchange or redemption of the
Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in
connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or other
similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to
Section 2.12, 3.06 or 9.05 hereof).
Neither the
Registrar nor any other transfer agent nor the Company shall be
required to:
(i) issue,
register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a period
beginning at the opening of business 15 Business Days before the
day of any selection of Securities for redemption under
Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the
day of selection; or
(ii) 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.
Each Holder of a
Security agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against
any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or
assignment of such Holder’s Security in violation of any
provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States Federal
or state securities law.
The Trustee shall
have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to
compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this
Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of
any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or
among DTC Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any
Global Security) other than to require delivery of such
certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly
required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the
terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine
substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements
hereof.
SECTION 2.08
Book-Entry Provisions for Global Securities.
(a) The
Global Securities initially shall:
(i) be registered
in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary;
and
(ii) be delivered
to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary.
Members of, or
participants in, the Depositary (“ DTC
Participants ”) 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 contained 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 the DTC Participants, the operation of
customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a
Holder of any Security.
(b) 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. Beneficial owners may
transfer their interests in Global Securities in accordance with
the rules and procedures of the Depositary.
(c) 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 as long as it remains such an interest.
(d) The
registered Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and
otherwise authorize any Person, including DTC Participants and
Persons that may hold interests through DTC Participants, to take
any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture
or the Securities.
(e) If at any
time:
(i) the Company
notifies the Trustee in writing that the Depositary is no longer
willing or able to continue to act as Depositary for the Global
Securities or the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing
agency” registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor
depositary for the Global Securities is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days of such notice or cessation;
(ii) the Company,
at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to
cause the issuance of the Securities in definitive form under this
Indenture in exchange for all or any part of the Securities
represented by a Global Security or Global Securities;
or
(iii) an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has
received a request from the Depositary,
subject to this
Section 2.08(e), the Depositary shall surrender such Global
Security or Global Securities to the Trustee for cancellation and
then the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver in exchange for such Global Security or Global
Securities, Physical Securities, as applicable, in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global
Security or Global Securities. Such Physical Securities shall be
registered in such names as the Depositary shall identify in
writing as the beneficial owners, or participant nominees, of the
Securities represented by such Global Security or Securities (or
any nominee thereof).
(f) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in connection with any transfer of a portion of the
beneficial interests in a Global Security to beneficial owners
pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 2.08, 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 beneficial interest in
such Global Security to be transferred, and the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or
more Physical Securities of like tenor and amount.
SECTION 2.09
Replacement Securities.
If a mutilated
Security is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder of a
Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or
wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall
authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of the
Trustee and the Company are met; provided that, if any such
Security has been called for redemption in accordance with the
terms thereof, the Trustee may pay the Redemption Price thereof on
the Redemption Date without authenticating or replacing such
Security. The Trustee or the Company may, in either case, require
the Holder to provide an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment
of each of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the
Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if
a Security is replaced or if the Redemption Price therefor is paid
pursuant to this Section 2.09. The Company may charge the
Holder who has lost a Security for its expenses in replacing a
Security.
Every replacement
Security is an obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any
and all other Securities duly issued hereunder.
SECTION 2.10
Outstanding Securities.
The Securities
outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the
Trustee, except for (i) those cancelled by it, (ii) those
delivered to it for cancellation and (iii) those described in
this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is
replaced pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding and interest ceases to accrue unless the Trustee
receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is
held by a bona fide purchaser.
If all principal
of and interest on any Security are considered paid under
Section 4.01 hereof, such Security ceases to be outstanding
and interest on it ceases to accrue.
Except as provided
in Section 2.11 hereof, a Security does not cease to be
outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company
holds such Security.
SECTION 2.11
Treasury Securities.
In determining
whether the Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of
Securities of any series have concurred in any direction, waiver or
consent, Securities owned by the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company shall be considered as though they are not outstanding,
except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or
consent, only Securities which such Trustee actually knows are so
owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.12
Temporary Securities.
Until definitive
Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate upon a written order of
the Company signed by one Officer of the Company, temporary
Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form
of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company
considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without
unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare, and the Trustee
shall authenticate, definitive Securities in exchange for temporary
Securities. Holders of temporary Securities shall be entitled to
all of the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.13
Cancellation.
The Company at any
time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The
Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer,
exchange, payment or repurchase. The Trustee shall cancel all
Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange,
payment, repurchase, redemption, replacement or cancellation and
shall return such cancelled Securities to the Company upon the
Company’s written request (subject to the record retention
requirements of the Exchange Act). The Company may not issue new
Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or that have been
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.14
CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in
issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then
generally in use), and the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in
notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders;
provided that any such notice shall state that no
representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either
as printed on the Securities or as contained in any such notice 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 promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the
CUSIP numbers.
SECTION 2.15
Defaulted Interest.
If the Company
fails to make a payment of interest on Securities, it shall pay
such defaulted interest plus (to the extent lawful) any interest
payable on the defaulted interest, in any lawful manner. It may
elect to pay such defaulted interest, plus any such interest
payable on it, to the Persons who are Holders of such Securities on
which the interest is due on a subsequent special record date. The
Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of
defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each such Security. The
Company shall fix any such record date and payment date for such
payment. At least 15 days before any such record date, the
Company shall mail to Holders affected thereby a notice that states
the record date, interest payment date, and amount of such interest
to be paid.
SECTION 2.16
Special Record Dates.
The Company may,
but shall not be obligated to, set a record date for the purpose of
determining the identity of Holders of Securities entitled to
consent to any supplement, amendment or waiver permitted by this
Indenture. If a record date is fixed, the Holders of Securities
outstanding on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be
entitled to consent to such supplement, amendment or waiver or
revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Holders
remain Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or
effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless
consents from Holders of the aggregate principal amount of
Securities required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be
effective shall have also been given and not revoked within such
90-day period.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01
Notices to Trustee.
If the Company
elects to redeem any series of Securities pursuant to the optional
redemption provisions set forth in the supplemental indenture
relating to such series of Securities, it shall notify the Trustee
in writing of the intended Redemption Date, the principal amount of
Securities to be redeemed and the CUSIP numbers of the Securities
to be redeemed. The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee
provided for in this Section 3.01 at least days
fifteen (15) days before the giving of the notice of
redemption pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof (unless a shorter period
is satisfactory to the Trustee).
SECTION 3.02
Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If fewer than all
the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall
select the Securities of such series to be redeemed from the
outstanding Securities of such series by a method that complies
with the requirements of any exchange on which the Securities are
listed, or, if the Securities are not listed on an exchange, on a
pro rata basis or by lot or in accordance with any other method the
Trustee considers fair and appropriate. The Trustee will make the
selection from outstanding Securities of that series not previously
called for redemption.
Securities and
portions thereof of any series that the Trustee selects shall be in
amounts equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities
to be redeemed or any integral multiple thereof. The Trustee may
select for redemption portions of the principal amount of
Securities that have denominations larger than the minimum
denomination in which Securities of the applicable series may be
issued. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of
any series called for redemption also apply to portions of
Securities of such series called for redemption. The Trustee shall
notify the Company promptly in writing of the Securities or
portions of Securities of any series to be called for
redemption.
SECTION 3.03
Notice of Redemption.
At least
30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption
Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class
mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed in whole or
in part at the address of such Holder appearing in the
Register.
The notice shall
identify the principal amount and series of each Security to be
redeemed and shall state:
(i) the Redemption
Date;
(ii) the method
being used to determine the Redemption Price;
(iii) if fewer
than all outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the portion of
the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed and that,
after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, a new
Security in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will
be issued;
(iv) the name and
address of the Paying Agent;
(v) that
Securities called for redemption must be presented and surrendered
to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price plus accrued
interest, if any;
(vi) that, unless
the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, interest
on Securities (or the portions thereof) called for redemption
ceases to accrue interest on and after the Redemption Date, and, if
applicable, those Securities (or the portion thereof called for
redemption) will cease on the Redemption Date (or such other date
as if provided in the supplemental indenture relating to the
Securities) to be convertible into, or exchangeable for, other
securities or assets;
(vii) if
applicable, the current conversion or exchange price;
and
(viii) the CUSIP
numbers, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed.
At the
Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice
of redemption in the Company’s name and at its
expense.
SECTION 3.04
Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once the notice of
redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become
irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the
Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such
Securities shall be paid at the Redemption Price, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the Redemption Date.
The notice mailed
in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to
have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives such
notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any
defect in the notice to the Holder of any Securities shall not
affect the validity of the proceeding for the redemption of
Securities of any other Holder.
SECTION 3.05
Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to
11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the
Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent
(or, if the Company or an Affiliate of the Company is acting as the
paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money
sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all Securities to be
redeemed on that date, together with accrued and unpaid interest to
the Redemption Date, except for Securities or portions thereof
called for redemption which have been delivered by the Company to
the Trustee for cancellation or Securities which have been
surrendered for conversion or exchange. If any Securities called
for redemption are converted or exchanged, any money deposited with
the Trustee or Paying Agent for redemption of those Securities
shall be promptly paid to the Company upon its request, or, if the
money is held in trust by the Company or a Subsidiary as Paying
Agent, the money will be discharged from the trust.
SECTION 3.06
Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of
a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and
the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the
Company, a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed
portion of the Security surrendered.