Exhibit 4.1
INDENTURE
Dated as of
,
2006,
by and between
WINMARK CORPORATION, as obligor
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
a national banking association, as
trustee
$50,000,000
Renewable Unsecured Subordinated
Notes
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY
REFERENCE
|
1
|
|
Section 1.1
|
Definitions
|
1
|
|
Section 1.2
|
Other Definitions
|
6
|
|
Section 1.3
|
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture
Act
|
6
|
|
Section 1.4
|
Rules of Construction
|
6
|
|
ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES
|
7
|
|
Section 2.1
|
Security Terms; Amount; Accounts; Interest;
Maturity
|
7
|
|
Section 2.2
|
Written Confirmation; Rejection;
Rescission
|
10
|
|
Section 2.3
|
Registrar and Paying Agent
|
11
|
|
Section 2.4
|
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
|
12
|
|
Section 2.5
|
List of Holders
|
12
|
|
Section 2.6
|
Transfer and Exchange
|
12
|
|
Section 2.7
|
Payment of Principal and Interest; Principal and
Interest Rights Preserved
|
13
|
|
Section 2.8
|
Outstanding Securities
|
14
|
|
Section 2.9
|
Treasury Securities
|
14
|
|
Section 2.10
|
Defaulted Interest
|
14
|
|
Section 2.11
|
Temporary Notes
|
15
|
|
Section 2.12
|
Execution, Authentication And
Delivery
|
15
|
|
Section 2.13
|
Book-Entry Registration
|
16
|
|
Section 2.14
|
Initial and Periodic
Statements
|
17
|
|
Section 2.15
|
Appointment of Agents
|
17
|
|
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION AND
REPURCHASE
|
17
|
|
Section 3.1
|
Redemption of Securities at the Company’s
Election
|
17
|
|
Section 3.2
|
Repurchase of Securities at the Holder’s
Request
|
18
|
|
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS
|
20
|
|
Section 4.1
|
Payment of Securities
|
20
|
|
Section 4.2
|
Maintenance of Office or Agency
|
20
|
|
Section 4.3
|
SEC Reports and Other Reports
|
21
|
|
Section 4.4
|
Compliance Certificate
|
21
|
|
Section 4.5
|
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
|
22
|
|
Section 4.6
|
Liquidation
|
22
|
|
Section 4.7
|
Financial Covenants
|
23
|
|
Section 4.8
|
Restrictions on Dividends and Certain
Transactions with Affiliates
|
23
|
|
Section 4.9
|
Securitization Transactions and Additional
Indebtedness
|
23
|
|
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS
|
23
|
|
Section 5.1
|
When the Company May Merge, etc.
|
23
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|
Section 5.2
|
Successor Entity Substituted
|
24
|
|
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
|
24
|
|
Section 6.1
|
Events of Default
|
24
|
|
Section 6.2
|
Acceleration
|
25
|
|
Section 6.3
|
Other Remedies
|
25
|
|
Section 6.4
|
Waiver of Past Defaults
|
26
|
|
Section 6.5
|
Control by Majority
|
26
|
|
Section 6.6
|
Limitation on Suits
|
26
|
|
Section 6.7
|
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment
|
27
|
|
Section 6.8
|
Collection Suit by Trustee
|
27
|
|
Section 6.9
|
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
|
27
|
|
Section 6.10
|
Priorities
|
28
|
|
Section 6.11
|
Undertaking for Costs
|
28
|
|
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE
|
28
|
|
Section 7.1
|
Duties of Trustee
|
28
|
|
Section 7.2
|
Rights of Trustee
|
30
|
|
Section 7.3
|
Individual Rights of Trustee
|
30
|
|
Section 7.4
|
Trustee’s Disclaimer
|
31
|
|
Section 7.5
|
Notice of Defaults
|
31
|
|
Section 7.6
|
Reports by Trustee to Holders
|
31
|
|
Section 7.7
|
Compensation and Indemnity
|
31
|
|
Section 7.8
|
Replacement of Trustee
|
32
|
|
Section 7.9
|
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
|
33
|
|
Section 7.10
|
Eligibility;
Disqualification
|
34
|
|
Section 7.11
|
Preferential Collection of Claims
Against Company
|
34
|
|
ARTICLE VIII DISCHARGE OF
INDENTURE
|
34
|
|
Section 8.1
|
Termination of Company’s
Obligations
|
34
|
|
Section 8.2
|
Application of Trust Money
|
35
|
|
Section 8.3
|
Repayment to Company
|
35
|
|
Section 8.4
|
Reinstatement
|
35
|
|
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS
|
36
|
|
Section 9.1
|
Without Consent of Holders
|
36
|
|
Section 9.2
|
With Consent of Holders
|
36
|
|
Section 9.3
|
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
|
37
|
|
Section 9.4
|
Effect of Consents
|
38
|
|
Section 9.5
|
Notation on or Exchange of Securities
|
38
|
|
Section 9.6
|
Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
|
38
|
|
ARTICLE X SUBORDINATION
|
38
|
|
Section 10.1
|
Agreement to Subordinate
|
38
|
|
Section 10.2
|
Liquidation; Dissolution;
Bankruptcy
|
39
|
|
Section 10.3
|
Default of Senior Debt
|
41
|
|
Section 10.4
|
When Distribution Must Be Paid
Over
|
42
|
|
Section 10.5
|
Notice by Company
|
42
|
|
Section 10.6
|
Subrogation
|
43
|
|
Section 10.7
|
Relative Rights
|
43
|
|
Section 10.8
|
Subordination May Not Be
Impaired by the Company or Holders of Senior Debt
|
43
|
|
Section 10.9
|
Distribution or Notice to
Representative
|
45
|
|
Section 10.10
|
Rights of Trustee and Paying
Agent
|
45
|
|
Section 10.11
|
Authorization to Effect
Subordination
|
45
|
|
Section 10.12
|
Article Applicable to Paying
Agent
|
45
|
|
Section 10.13
|
Miscellaneous
|
46
|
|
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS
|
47
|
|
Section 11.1
|
Trust Indenture Act
Controls
|
47
|
|
Section 11.2
|
Notices
|
47
|
|
Section 11.3
|
Communication by Holders with Other
Holders
|
49
|
|
Section 11.4
|
Certificate and Opinion as to
Conditions Precedent
|
49
|
ii
|
Section 11.5
|
Statements Required in Certificate
or Opinion
|
49
|
|
Section 11.6
|
Rules by Trustee and
Agents
|
50
|
|
Section 11.7
|
Legal Holidays
|
50
|
|
Section 11.8
|
No Recourse Against
Others
|
50
|
|
Section 11.9
|
Duplicate Originals
|
50
|
|
Section 11.10
|
Governing Law
|
50
|
|
Section 11.11
|
No Adverse Interpretation of Other
Agreements
|
50
|
|
Section 11.12
|
Successors
|
50
|
|
Section 11.13
|
Severability
|
50
|
|
Section 11.14
|
Counterpart Originals
|
51
|
|
Section 11.15
|
Table of Contents, Headings,
etc.
|
51
|
EXHIBITS:
A – Form of Note
iii
CROSS-REFERENCE
TABLE
|
*Trust Indenture Act Section
|
|
Indenture Section
|
|
310(a)(1)
|
|
7.10
|
|
(a)(2)
|
|
7.10
|
|
(a)(3)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
(a)(4)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
(a)(5)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
(b)
|
|
7.8; 7.10
|
|
(c)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
311(a)
|
|
7.11
|
|
(b)
|
|
7.11
|
|
(c)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
312(a)
|
|
2.5
|
|
(b)
|
|
11.3
|
|
(c)
|
|
11.3
|
|
313(a)
|
|
7.6
|
|
(b)(1)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
(b)(2)
|
|
7.6
|
|
(c)
|
|
7.6; 11.2
|
|
(d)
|
|
7.6
|
|
314(a)
|
|
4.3; 4.4; 11.2
|
|
(b)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
(c)(1)
|
|
11.4
|
|
(c)(2)
|
|
11.4
|
|
(c)(3)
|
|
11.4; 1.1
|
|
(d)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
(e)
|
|
11.5
|
|
(f)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
315(a)
|
|
7.1(b)
|
|
(b)
|
|
7.5; 11.2
|
|
(c)
|
|
7.1(a)
|
|
(d)
|
|
7.1(c)
|
|
(e)
|
|
6.11
|
|
316(a)(last sentence)
|
|
2.9
|
|
(a)(1)(A)
|
|
6.5
|
|
(a)(1)(B)
|
|
6.4
|
|
(a)(2)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
(b)
|
|
6.7
|
|
(c)
|
|
N.A.
|
|
317(a)(1)
|
|
6.8
|
|
(a)(2)
|
|
6.9
|
|
(b)
|
|
2.4
|
|
318(a)
|
|
11.1
|
N.A. means not applicable
* This Cross Reference Table is not part of
the Indenture
THIS INDENTURE is hereby entered
into as of
,
2006, by and between Winmark Corporation, a Minnesota corporation
(the “ Company ”), as obligor, and Wells Fargo
Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as
trustee (the “ Trustee ”).
The Company and the Trustee agree as
follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable
benefit of the Holders of the renewable, unsecured, subordinated
debt securities of the Company issued pursuant to the
Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, declared
effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about
,
2006 (the “ Registration Statement
”):
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1
Definitions.
“ Account ” means
the record of beneficial ownership of a Security maintained by the
Registrar.
“ 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” (including, with correlative
meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled
by” and “under common control with”), as used
with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or
otherwise.
“ Agent ” means
any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar of the Securities or
any Person appointed and retained by the Company to
perform certain of the duties or obligations, or exercise
certain of the rights and discretions, of the Company hereunder, on
behalf of the Company pursuant to Section 2.15
hereof.
“ Board of Directors
” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any
authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
“ Business Day ”
means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
“ Company ” means
Winmark Corporation, a Minnesota corporation, unless and until
replaced by a successor in accordance with Article V hereof
and thereafter means such successor.
“ Corporate Trust
Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which the
corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular
time, be principally administered, which office is, at the date as
of which this Indenture is originally dated, located at
,
Attention:
.
“ Default ” means
any event that is or with the passage of time or the giving of
notice or both would be an Event of Default.
“ Event of Default
” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1
hereof.
“ Exchange Act ”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“ Fiscal Year ”
means a year ending [December 31] .
“ GAAP ” means,
as of any date, 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 approved
by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in
effect from time to time.
“ Guarantee ”
means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business),
direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation,
letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof),
of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
“ Holder ” means
a Person in whose name a Security is registered.
“ Indebtedness ”
means, with respect to any Person and without duplication, any
indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect
of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or
similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement
agreements in respect thereof) or representing the balance deferred
and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including capital
lease obligations) or the expenditure for any services or
representing any interest rate swap or other hedging obligations,
including without limitation, any such balance that constitutes an
accrued expense or an account or trade payable, if and to the
extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of
credit and hedging obligations) would appear as a liability upon a
balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, and
also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, (a) the
Guarantee of items that would be included within this definition,
and (b) liability for items that would arise by operation of a
Person’s status as a general partner of a
partnership.
“ Indenture ”
means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to
time.
“ Interest Accrual
Period ” means, as to each Security, the period from the
later of the Issue Date of such Security or the last Payment Date
upon which an interest payment was made until and including the day
before the following Payment Date during which interest accrues on
each Security with respect to any Payment Date.
“ Issue Date ”
means, with respect to any Security, the date on which such
Security is deemed registered on the books and records of the
Registrar, which shall be (i) the date the Company accepts
funds for the purchase of the Security if such funds are received
prior to 12:01 p.m. (Central Time) on a Business Day, or if
such funds are not so received, on the next Business Day, or
(ii) the date that the Security is renewed as of the Maturity
Date pursuant to Section 2.1(e).
“ Maturity Date ”
means, with respect to any Security, the date on which the
principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein
provided.
2
“ Maturity Record Date
” means, with respect to any Security, as of 11:59 p.m.
of the date 15 days prior to the Maturity Date or Redemption Date
applicable to such Security.
“ Notice of Maturity
” means a written notice from the Company to a Holder (as
further described in Section 2.1(d)) that the Holder’s
Securities will be maturing on the related Maturity Date occurring
within 15 days but not less than 10 days of the delivery of such
notice.
“ Obligations ”
means, with respect to any Indebtedness, any principal, premium,
interest (including Post-Petition Interest), penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities or
amounts of whatever nature payable under the documentation
governing, or with respect to, any such Indebtedness.
“ Officer ” means
the Chairman of the Board or principal executive officer of the
Company, the President or principal operating officer of the
Company, the Chief Financial Officer or principal financial officer
of the Company, the Treasurer, Controller or principal accounting
officer of the Company, Secretary or any Executive or Senior
Vice-President of the Company.
“ Officers’
Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two Officers,
one of whom must be the principal executive officer, principal
operating officer, principal financial officer or principal
accounting officer of the Company; provided, however, that if the
opinion of an accountant is required pursuant to TIA
§ 314(c)(3), the certificate must be signed by an Officer
who is an accountant.
“ Opinion of Counsel
” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of
or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.
“ Pari Passu Debt
” means any Indebtedness of the Company that is payable on a
pari passu basis with the Securities.
“ Payment Account
” means the bank account designated by the Holder to receive
payments of interest and/or principal due on such Holder’s
Securities, as may be amended by the Holder by written notice
to the Registrar from time to time.
“ Payment Date ”
means (i) with respect to any Security for which monthly
interest payments are required to be made, the first day of the
following calendar month or such other date as is designated by the
Holder pursuant to subsection 2.1(c), (ii) with respect
to any Security for which interest is required to be made
quarterly, semi-annually or annually, the same day of the month as
the quarterly, semi-annual or annual anniversary of the Issue Date
of the Security (except in the case where the Issue Date of a
Security is the 29 th , 30 th or 31
st day of the month and there is no like date in the
anniversary month, in which case the Payment Date for such month
shall be the first day of the following month) and (iii) with
respect to each Security, the Maturity Date (or such date following
the Maturity Date on which payment is made pursuant to
subsection 2.1(d) hereof), the Repurchase Date or the
Redemption Date of the Security; provided, that if any such day in
the preceding clauses (i) through (iii) is not a Business
Day, the Business Day immediately following such day.
3
“ Person ” means
any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
“ Post-Petition
Interest ” means interest accruing after the commencement
of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding with respect to
the Company or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or
other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, at the
rate applicable to the related Indebtedness, whether or not such
interest is an allowable claim in any such proceeding.
“ Prospectus ”
means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the
time it was declared effective by the SEC, as supplemented by any
prospectus supplement (including interest rate supplements)
relating to the Securities that are filed with the SEC pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. References herein
to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated therein by reference.
“ Receivables ”
means installment sale contracts, loans evidenced by promissory
notes secured by assets, leases, mortgages or other finance
receivables or instruments purchased, originated or owned by the
Company or any of its Affiliates.
“ Redemption Notice
” means a written notice from the Company to the Holders (as
further described in Section 2.1(f)) stating that the Company
is redeeming all or a specified portion of Securities pursuant to
Section 3.1, with a copy to the Registrar and the
Trustee.
“ Redemption Price
” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the
principal amount of such Security plus the interest accrued but
unpaid during the Interest Accrual Period up to and not including
the Redemption Date for such Security.
“ Regular Record Date
” means, with respect to each Payment Date, as of
11:59 p.m. of the date 15 days prior to such Payment
Date.
“ Repayment Election
” means a written notice from a Holder to the Company (as
further described in Section 2.1(d)) stating that repayment of
the Holder’s Securities is required in connection with the
maturity of such Securities.
“ Repurchase Price
” means, with respect to any Security to be repurchased, the
principal amount of such Security plus the interest accrued but
unpaid during the Interest Accrual Period up to and not including
the Repurchase Date for such Security, minus the Repurchase
Penalty, if any.
“ Repurchase Request
” means a written notice from a Holder to the Company (as
further described in Section 2.1(g)) stating that such Holder
is making an irrevocable request for the Company to repurchase such
Holder’s Securities pursuant to Section 3.2.
“ Responsible Officer
” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer in
its Corporate Trust Office, or any other assistant officer of the
Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time
shall
4
be such officers, respectively, or to whom any
corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge
of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“ SEC ” means the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“ Security ” or
“ Securities ” means, the Company’s
renewable, unsecured, subordinated notes issued under this
Indenture pursuant to the Registration Statement.
“ Senior Debt ”
means any Indebtedness other than the Securities and any Pari Passu
Debt (whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created)
incurred by the Company (including its subsidiaries) whether such
Indebtedness is or is not specifically designated by the Company as
being “Senior Debt” in its defining instruments.
“Senior Debt” includes, without limitation,
Indebtedness pursuant to that certain 364 Day Revolving Credit
Agreement dated September 30, 2004, as amended, among the
Company and LaSalle Bank National Association and any note or notes
issued thereunder and all other “Obligations” as
defined therein, in each case as any of the same may be
amended, restated, extended, increased, refinanced or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“ Subscription
Agreement ” means a Subscription Agreement entered into
by a Person under which such Person has committed to purchase
certain Securities as identified thereby and which is in
substantially the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the
Registration Statement.
“ Servicing Agent
” means Sumner Harrington Ltd., a Minnesota
corporation.
“ TIA ” means the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
§§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which
this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.
“ Total Permanent
Disability ” means a determination by a physician
approved by the Company that the Holder of a Security who is a
natural person, who was gainfully employed on a full time basis at
the Issue Date of such Security is unable to work on a full time
basis during the succeeding twenty-four months. For purposes of
this definition, “working on a full time basis” shall
mean working at least forty hours per week.
“ Trustee ” means
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking
association, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the
applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the
successor serving hereunder.
“ U.S. Government
Obligations ” means direct obligations of the United
States of America, or any agency or instrumentality thereof for the
payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged.
“ Written Confirmation
” means a written confirmation of the acceptance of a
subscription for, or the transfer or pledge of, a Security or
Securities in the form of a transaction statement executed or
issued by the Company or its duly authorized Agent and delivered to
the Holder of such Security or Securities with a copy to the
Registrar and the Trustee, which is in substantially the
form of Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration
Statement.
5
Section 1.2
Other
Definitions.
|
Term
|
|
Defined in Section
|
|
“Bankruptcy Law”
|
|
6.1
|
|
“Custodian”
|
|
6.1
|
|
“Event of Default”
|
|
6.1
|
|
“Legal Holiday”
|
|
11.7
|
|
“Paying Agent”
|
|
2.3
|
|
“Payment Blockage Period”
|
|
10.3
|
|
“Payment Notice”
|
|
10.3
|
|
“Redemption Date”
|
|
2.1(f)
|
|
“Registrar”
|
|
2.3
|
|
“Registration Statement”
|
|
Introduction
|
|
“Repurchase Date”
|
|
3.2(d)
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“Repurchase Penalty”
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3.2(b)
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“Securities Register”
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2.3
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Section 1.3
Incorporation by Reference of
Trust Indenture Act.
(a)
Whenever this
Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made 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 any Holder of the Securities;
“ indenture to be
qualified ” means this Indenture;
“ indenture trustee
” or “ institutional trustee ” means the
Trustee;
“ obligor ” on
the Securities means the Company or any successor obligor upon the
Securities.
(b)
All other terms
used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA
reference to another statute or defined by a SEC rule under
the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.4
Rules of
Construction.
Unless the context otherwise
requires: (a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
6
(c) references to GAAP, as of any date,
shall mean GAAP in effect in the United States as of such date;
(d) “or” is not exclusive; (e) words in the
singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular; and (f) provisions apply to successive events and
transactions.
ARTICLE II
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1
Security Terms; Amount;
Accounts; Interest; Maturity.
(a)
Unlimited
Amount and Form of Security . The outstanding aggregate
principal amount of Securities to be issued hereunder (absent an
amendment to the Registration Statement) is limited to $50,000,000,
provided, however, that the Company and the Trustee may, without
the consent of any Holder, increase such aggregate principal amount
of Securities which may be outstanding at any time. The
Securities are unsecured obligations of the Company and shall be
subordinate in right of payment to the Senior Debt of the Company
as further described in Article X. The Securities are an
obligation and liability of the Company, and not of any other
Person, including, without limitation, any shareholder, director,
Officer, employee, Affiliate or Agent of the Company. The
Securities are not certificates of deposit or similar obligations
of, and are not guaranteed or insured by, any depository
institution, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, any other
governmental or private fund, any securities insurer or any other
Person.
In the event issued in certificated
form pursuant to Section 2.13(b): (i) the
Securities, together with the Trustee’s certificate of
authentication, shall be in substantially the form set forth
as Exhibit A to this Indenture, with any appropriate
insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are
required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends
or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply
with the rules of any securities exchange or as may,
consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such
Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities;
(ii) any portion of the text of any Securities may be set
forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto
on the face of the Securities; and (iii) the Securities
may be subject to notations, legends or endorsements required
by law, stock exchange rule, or agreements to which the Company is
subject or usage.
(b)
Book-Entry;
Denominations; Term . Except as provided in
Section 2.13(b), each Security shall neither be issued as, nor
evidenced by, a promissory note or certificated security, but
rather each Security shall be issued in book entry or
uncertificated form, in which the record of beneficial ownership of
each such Security shall be established and maintained as Accounts
by the Registrar pursuant to Section 2.13. In connection with
the issuance of each Security in book entry form in accordance
with Section 2.13, each such Security shall be deemed to be
represented in an uncertificated form that includes the same
terms and provisions as those set forth in the form of
Security in Exhibit A to this Indenture, and the
related Account for each such Security shall be deemed to include
these same terms and provisions.
7
Each Security shall be in such
denominations as provided by this Indenture and as may be
designated from time to time by the Company, but in no event in an
original denomination less than $1,000. Separate purchases
may not be cumulated to satisfy the minimum denomination
requirements. Each Security shall have a term of three or six
months, or one, two, three, four, five or ten years, as designated
by the Holder at the time of purchase, subject to the
Company’s acceptance thereof.
(c)
Interest and
Interest Payments . Each Security shall bear
interest from and commencing on its Issue Date at such rate of
interest as the Company shall determine from time to time, which
rate may vary from Holder to Holder depending upon the
aggregate principal amount of Securities held by such Holder and
all immediate family members, as set forth in the Prospectus;
provided, however, that the interest rate of each Security will be
fixed for the term of such Security upon issuance, subject to
change upon the renewal of the Security at maturity. Interest on
the Securities will compound daily based on a calendar year
consisting of 365 days and the Holder thereof may elect to
have interest paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually, or
upon maturity, which payments shall be made on the Payment Date,
except that a Holder who elects monthly payments may select
the day of the month on which to receive interest payments;
provided that no interest shall be paid to a Holder until the
expiration of the Holder’s rescission right under
Section 2.2(b) and, if the monthly interest payment date
selected by the Holder is within five Business Days of the Issue
Date of the Security, the first interest payment will be made in
the following month and will include all of the interest earned
since the Issue Date. If the Holder does not elect an interest
payment option, interest will be paid on the Maturity Date of the
Note. A Holder may change this election once during the term
of the Security, subject to the Company’s approval, which
change shall be effective by the first Business Day following the
45 th day after receipt of written notice from the
Holder requesting such change.
(d)
Repayment
Election at Maturity . The Company will send each
Holder of a Security (existing as of the applicable Maturity Record
Date) a Notice of Maturity approximately 15 but not less than 10
days prior to the Maturity Date of the Security held by such Holder
reminding such Holder of the pending maturity of the Security and
reminding the Holder that the automatic renewal provision described
in Section 2.1(e) will take effect, unless (i) the
Company states in the Notice of Maturity that it will not allow the
Holder to renew the Security (in which case the Company shall pay
the Holder principal and accrued interest with regard to the
Security on the Maturity Date), or (ii) the Holder delivers a
Repayment Election to the Company for the payment of all principal
and interest due on the Security as of the Maturity Date so that
such Repayment Election is received by the Company within 15 days
after the Maturity Date. Such Notice of Maturity shall also state
that payment of principal of a Security shall be made upon
presentation of a Repayment Election requiring payment of such
Security and shall specify the place where such Repayment Election
may be presented. Upon or following the delivery of a Notice
of Maturity for a Security, the Holder thereof, in their
discretion, may deliver to the Company a Repayment Election;
provided that such Repayment Election must be delivered to the
Company no later than 15 days after the Maturity Date. If a Holder
delivers a Repayment Election requiring repayment on or prior to
the 15th day following the Maturity Date, no interest will accrue
after the Maturity Date and the
8
Holder will be
sent payment upon the later of the Maturity Date or five days
following the date the Company receives such Repayment Election
from the Holder; provided that if the Company has previously paid
interest to the Holder for periods after the Maturity Date, such
interest shall be deducted from such payment.
The Notice of Maturity also shall
state that the Holder may, and the Holder may, submit a Repayment
Election for the repayment of the maturing Security and use all or
a portion of the proceeds thereof to purchase a new Security with a
different term. To exercise this option, the Holder shall complete
a new Subscription Agreement for the new Security and send it along
with the Holder’s Repayment Election to the Company. The
Issue Date of the new Security shall be the Maturity Date of the
maturing Security. Any proceeds from the maturing Security that are
not applied to the purchase of the new Security shall be sent to
the Holder of such maturing Security.
If a Security pays interest only on
the Maturity Date, then the Notice of Maturity also shall state
that the Holder may, and the Holder may, submit an
“interest-only” Repayment Election in which the Holder
requires the payment of the accrued interest that such Holder has
earned on the maturing Security up to the Maturity Date and allows
the principal amount of such maturing Security to renew in the
manner provided in subsection (e) below.
(e)
Automatic
Renewal . If a Holder of such
Security has not delivered a Repayment Election for repayment of
the Security on or prior to the 15 th day following the
Maturity Date, and the Company did not notify the Holder of its
intention to repay the Security in the Notice of Maturity, then
such maturing Security shall be extended automatically for an
additional term equal to the original term, and shall be deemed to
be renewed by the Holder and the Company as of the Maturity Date of
such maturing Security. A maturing Security will continue to renew
as described herein absent a Redemption Notice or Repurchase
Request by the Holder or an indication by the Company that it will
repay and not allow the Security to be renewed in the Notice of
Maturity. Interest on the renewed Security shall accrue from the
Issue Date thereof, which is the first day of such renewed term
(i.e., the Maturity Date of the maturing Security). Such renewed
Security will be deemed to have the identical terms and provisions
of the maturing Security, including provisions relating to payment,
except that the interest rate payable during the term of the
renewed Security shall be the interest rate which is being offered
by the Company on other Securities having the same term and to
Persons holding the same aggregate principal amount of Securities
(including holdings of immediate family members, as described in
the Prospectus) as of the Issue Date of such renewal. If other
Securities having the same term are not then being issued on the
Issue Date of such renewal, the interest rate upon renewal will be
the rate specified by the Company on or before the Maturity Date of
such Security, or the then existing rate of the Security being
renewed if no such rate is specified. If the maturing Security pays
interest only on the Maturity Date, then, except as provided in
subsection (d) above, all accrued interest thereon shall
be added to the principal amount of the renewed Security upon
renewal.
9
Notwithstanding
the foregoing or anything in Section 2.1(d) to the
contrary, if a Repayment Election is given or is due at a time when
the Company has determined that a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement was required but not yet effective, the
Company will provide notice to the Holder (including a copy of the
post-effective amendment to the Prospectus), and the Holder will be
entitled to rescind his or her Repayment Election, if made, or to
make a Repayment Election, if not previously made, by delivering a
written rescission of the earlier Repayment Election, or a
Repayment Election, as the case may be, to the Company no
later than 10 days following the postmark date on the
Company’s notice of such post-effective
amendment.
(f)
Redemption
Notice from Company . Pursuant to
Section 3.1, each Security shall be redeemable by the Company
at any time, without penalty, upon the delivery of a Redemption
Notice to the Holder of such Security. Such Redemption Notice shall
set forth a date for the redemption of such Security (the “
Redemption Date ”) that is at least 30 days after the
date that such Redemption Notice has been delivered by the Company
to the Holder hereunder.
(g)
Repurchase
Request by Holder . Pursuant to and subject to
the limitations set forth in Section 3.2, each Security shall
be subject to repurchase at the request of the Holder upon the
delivery of a Repurchase Request to the Company. Subject to the
limitations on repurchase and the Repurchase Penalties described in
Section 3.2, the payment of interest and principal due upon
the repurchase of a Security shall be made to the Holder on a
Repurchase Date that is within 10 days of the delivery of such
Repurchase Request to the Company or, in the case of a repurchase
of a Security in connection with the death or Total Permanent
Disability of a Holder, a Repurchase Date that is within 10 days
after the Company’s receipt of satisfactory establishment or
such Holder’s death or Total Permanent
Disability.
(h)
Terms of
Securities . The terms and provisions
contained in the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby
expressly made, a part of this Indenture and to the extent
applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and
delivery of this Indenture, and the Holders by accepting the
Securities, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be
bound hereby and thereby. In case of a conflict, the provisions of
this Indenture shall control.
Section 2.2
Written Confirmation;
Rejection; Rescission.
(a)
Except with
respect to an automatically renewed Security pursuant to
Section 2.1(e), a Security shall not be validly issued to a
Person until the following have occurred: (i) such
Person has remitted good and available funds for the full principal
amount of such Security to the Company or a duly authorized Agent
of the Company; (ii) a Written Confirmation of the acceptance
of the subscription is sent by the Company or a duly authorized
Agent of the Company to such Person; and (iii) an Account is
established by the Registrar in the name of such Person as the
Holder of such Security pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof. The
Company or a duly authorized Agent of the Company, in their sole
discretion, may reject any subscription from a Person for the
purchase of Securities, in which event any funds received from such
Person pursuant to
10
such subscription
shall be promptly returned to such Person. No interest shall be
paid on any funds returned on a rejected subscription.
(b)
For a period of
five Business Days following the mailing by the Company of
(i) a Written Confirmation that evidences the valid issuance
of a Security at the time of original purchase (but not upon
transfer or automatic renewal of a Security), or (ii) notice
from the Company that a Holder’s purchase of a Security
occurred at a time when a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement was required but not yet effective (which
notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the post-effective
amendment to the Prospectus), such Holder shall have the right to
rescind the Security and receive repayment of the principal by
presenting a written request for such rescission to the Company.
Such written request for rescission (A) if personally
delivered or delivered via facsimile or electronic transmission,
must be received by the Company on or prior to the 5th Business Day
following the mailing of such Written Confirmation or
post-effective amendment notice by the Company or (B) if
mailed must be postmarked on or before the 5th Business Day
following the mailing by the Company of such Written Confirmation
or post-effective amendment notice. Repayment of the principal
shall be made within 10 days of the Company’s receipt of such
request from the Holder. No interest shall be paid on any such
rescinded Security.
Section 2.3
Registrar and Paying
Agent.
(a)
The Company shall
maintain (i) an office or agency where Securities may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“
Registrar ”) and (ii) an office or agency where
Securities may be presented for payment (“ Paying
Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the
Securities and of their transfer and exchange, which shall include
the name, address for notices and Payment Account of the Holder and
the payment election information, principal amount, term and
interest rate for each Security (the “ Securities
Register ”). The Company may appoint one or more
co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term
“ Registrar ” includes any co-registrar, and the
term “ Paying Agent ” includes any additional
paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or
Registrar without prior notice to any Holder; provided that the
Company shall promptly notify the Holders and the Trustee of the
name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The
Company may act as Paying Agent and/or Registrar. In the event
the Company uses any Agent other than the Company or the Trustee,
the Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with
such Agent, which agreement shall incorporate the provisions of the
TIA or provide that the duties performed thereunder are subject to
and governed by the provisions of this Indenture. The agreement
shall implement or be subject to the provisions of this Indenture
that relate to such Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of
the name and address of any such Agent. If the Company fails to
maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, or fails to give the
foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such, and shall be
entitled to appropriate compensation in accordance with
Section 7.7 hereof. In no event shall the Trustee be liable
for the acts or omissions of any predecessor Paying Agent or
Registrar.
(b)
Pursuant to
Section 2.15, the Company hereby appoints the Servicing Agent
as the initial Registrar and as agent for service of notices and
demands in connection with
11
the Securities.
The Servicing Agent shall act as Registrar and agent for service of
notices and demands in connection with the Securities until such
time as the Company gives the Trustee written notice to the
contrary. Also pursuant to Section 2.15, the Company hereby
appoints Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as the initial
Paying Agent.
Section 2.4
Paying Agent to Hold Money in
Trust.
Prior to each Payment Date, the
Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent sufficient funds to pay
principal and interest then so becoming due and payable in cash.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee
to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for
the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying
Agent for the payment of principal or interest on the Securities,
and will notify the Trustee promptly in writing of any default by
the Company in making any such payment. While any such default
continues, the Trustee shall require a Paying Agent (if other than
the Company) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. 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) shall have no further
liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. If the Company
acts as Paying Agent, then the Company shall segregate and hold in
a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held
by it as Paying Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in
writing at least five days before the Payment Date of the name and
address of the Paying Agent if a person other than the Trustee is
named Paying Agent at any time or from time to time.
Section 2.5
List of
Holders.
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 TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee
is not the Registrar, the Registrar shall furnish to the Trustee
within 10 days after the end of each fiscal quarter during the term
of this Indenture and at such other times as the Trustee
may request in writing, a copy of the current Securities
Register as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require
and the Company shall otherwise comply with
TIA § 312(a).
Section 2.6
Transfer and
Exchange.
(a)
The Securities
are not negotiable instruments and cannot be transferred without
the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld). Requests to the Registrar for the
transfer of any Security shall be:
(i)
made to the
Registrar in writing on a form supplied by the
Registrar;
(ii)
duly executed by
the Holder of the Security, as reflected on the Registrar’s
records as of the date of receipt of such transfer request, or such
Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing;
12
(iii)
accompanied by
the written consent of the Company to the transfer (which consent
may not be unreasonably withheld); and
(iv)
if requested by
the Company or the Registrar, an opinion of Holder’s counsel
(which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the requesting
party) that the transfer does not violate any applicable securities
laws and/or a signature guarantee.
(b)
Upon transfer of
a Security, the Company, or the Registrar on behalf of the Company,
will provide the new registered owner of the Security with a
Written Confirmation that will evidence the transfer of the
Security in the Securities Register and will establish a
corresponding Account.
(c)
The Company or
the Registrar may assess reasonable service charges to a
Holder for any registration or transfer or exchange, and 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 similar
governmental charge payable upon exchange pursuant to
Section 9.5 hereof).
(d)
With respect to
the relevant Regular Record Date, the Company shall treat the
individual or entity listed on each Account maintained by the
Registrar as the absolute owner of the Security represented thereby
for purposes of receiving payments thereon and for all other
purposes whatsoever.
Section 2.7
Payment of Principal and
Interest; Principal and Interest Rights
Preserved.
(a)
Each Security
shall accrue interest at the rate specified for such Security in
the Securities Register and such interest shall be payable on each
Payment Date following the Issue Date for such Security, until the
principal thereof becomes due and payable. Any installment of
interest payable on a Security that is caused to be punctually paid
or duly provided for by the Company on the applicable Payment Date
shall be paid to the Holder in whose name such Security is
registered in the Securities Register on the applicable Regular
Record Date with respect to the Securities outstanding, by
electronic deposit to such Holder’s Payment Account as it
appears in the Securities Register on such Regular Record Date. The
payment of any interest payable in connection with the payment of
any principal payable with respect to such Security on a Maturity
Date shall be payable as provided below. In the event any payments
made by electronic deposit are not accepted into the Holder’s
Payment Account for any reason, such funds shall be held in
accordance with Sections 2.4 and 8.3 hereof. Any installment of
interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall be payable
in the manner and to the Holders as specified in Section 2.10
hereof.
(b)
Each of the
Securities shall have stated maturities of principal as shall be
indicated on such Securities or in the Written Confirmation and as
set forth in the Securities Register. The principal of each
Security shall be paid in full as of the Maturity Date thereof
pursuant to Section 2.1(d), unless the term of such Security
is renewed pursuant to Section 2.1(e) hereof or such
Security becomes due and payable at an earlier
13
date by
acceleration, redemption, repurchase or otherwise. Interest on each
Security shall be due and payable on each Payment Date at the
interest rate applicable to such Security for the Interest Accrual
Period related to such Security and such Payment Date.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions with respect to
payments of principal of and interest on the Securities, if the
Securities have become or been declared due and payable following
an Event of Default, then payments of principal of and interest on
the Securities shall be made in accordance with Article VI
hereof. If definitive, certificated securities are issued, then the
principal payment made on any Security on any Maturity Date (or the
Redemption Price or the Repurchase Price of any Security required
to be redeemed or repurchased, respectively), and any accrued
interest thereon, shall be payable on or after the Maturity Date,
Redemption Date or the Repurchase Date therefore at the office or
agency of the Company maintained by it for such purpose pursuant to
Section 2.3 hereof or at the office of any Paying Agent for
such Security.
(c)
All computations
of interest due with respect to any Security shall be made, unless
otherwise specified in the Security, based upon a 365-day
year.
Section 2.8
Outstanding
Securities.
(a)
The Securities
outstanding at any time are the outstanding principal balances of
all Accounts representing the Securities maintained by the Company
or such other entity as the Company designated as
Registrar.
(b)
If the principal
amount of any Security is considered paid under Section 4.1
hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to
accrue.
(c)
Subject to
Section 2.9 hereof, a Security does not cease to be
outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company
holds the Security.
Section 2.9
Treasury
Securities.
In determining whether the Holders
of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in
any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company
or any Affiliate of the Company shall be considered as though not
outstanding, except that for purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver
or consent, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so
disregarded.
Section 2.10
Defaulted
Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment
of interest on any Security, it shall pay the defaulted interest
plus, to the extent lawful, any interest payable on the defaulted
interest, to the Holder of such Security on a subsequent special
Payment Date, which date shall be at the earliest practicable date,
but in all events within 15 days following the scheduled Payment
Date of the defaulted interest, in each case at the rate provided
in the Security. The Regular Record Date for the scheduled Payment
Date shall be the record date for the special Payment Date. Prior
to any such special Payment Date, the Company (or the Trustee, in
the name of and at the expense of
14
the Company) shall mail to Holder(s) a notice
that states the special Payment Date and the amount of such
interest to be paid.
Section 2.11
Temporary
Notes.
If Securities are issued in
certificated form in the limited circumstances contemplated
under Section 2.13(b), pending the preparation of definitive
Securities, the Company may execute, and direct that the
Trustee 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 and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such
Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of
such Securities.
If temporary Securities are issued,
the Company will cause definitive Securities to be prepared without
unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities,
the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive
Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at any office
or agency of the Registrar without charge to the Holder.
Upon surrender for cancellation of
any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a
like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized
denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities shall in
all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture
as definitive Securities.
Section 2.12
Execution, Authentication And
Delivery.
(a)
Subject to
subsection (b) below, the Securities shall be executed on
behalf of the Company by an Officer and attested by its Secretary
or Assistant Secretary. The signature of any of these officers on
the Securities may be manual or facsimile. Securities bearing
the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any
time the proper Officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such
Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such
Securities.
At the time of and from time to time
after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company
will deliver definitive or certificated forms of Securities, if
any, executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication,
together with a direction from the Company for the authentication
and delivery of such Securities. The Trustee in accordance with
such direction from the Company shall authenticate and deliver such
Securities as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise.
Securities issued hereunder shall be dated as of their Issue
Date.
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 an authentication
executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature, and
such authentication upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence,
and the only evidence, that such Security
15
has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture.
(b)
Notwithstanding
the preceding subsection (a) of this Section, in
connection with the issuance of each Security in book-entry
form pursuant to Section 2.13, each Security shall be
deemed to be executed and attested to by the Company and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, in the same manner as
provided in the preceding subsection (a), upon the delivery by
the Company (or the Company’s duly authorized Agent) to the
Holder of such Security of a Written Confirmation, with a copy of
such Written Confirmation delivered to the Trustee, and the
establishment by the Registrar of an Account for such Security in
the name of the Holder pursuant to Section 2.13
hereof.
Section 2.13
Book-Entry
Registration.
(a)
The Registrar
shall maintain a book-entry registration and transfer system
through the establishment and maintenance of Accounts for the
benefit of Holders of Securities as the sole method of recording
the ownership and transfer of ownership interests in such
Securities. The registered owners of the Accounts established by
the Registrar in connection with the purchase or transfer of the
Securities shall be deemed to be the Holders of the Securities
outstanding for all purposes under this Indenture. The Company (or
its duly authorized Agent) shall promptly notify the Registrar of
the acceptance of a subscriber’s order to purchase a Security
by providing a copy of the accepted Subscription Agreement and the
related Written Confirmation, and upon receipt of such notices, the
Registrar shall establish an Account for such Security by recording
a credit to its book-entry registration and transfer system to the
Account of the related Holder of such Security for the principal
amount of such Security owned by such Holder and issue a Written
Confirmation to the Holder, with a copy being delivered to the
Trustee, on behalf of the Company. The Registrar shall make
appropriate credit and debit entries within each Account to record
all of the applicable actions under this Indenture that relate to
the ownership of the related Security and issue Written
Confirmations to the related Holders as set forth herein, with
copies being delivered to the Trustee, on behalf of the Company.
For example, the total amount of any principal and/or interest due
and payable to the Holders of the Accounts maintained by the
Registrar as provided in this Indenture shall be credited to such
Accounts by the Registrar within the time frames provided in this
Indenture, and the amount of any payments of principal and/or
interest distributed to the Holders of the Accounts as provided in
this Indenture shall be debited to such Accounts by the Registrar.
The Trustee may review the book-entry registration and
transfer system as it deems necessary to ensure the
Registrar’s compliance with the terms of the
Indenture.
(b)
Book-entry
Accounts evidencing ownership of the Securities shall be
exchangeable for definitive or certificated forms of Securities in
denominations of $1,000 and any amount in excess thereof and fully
registered in the names as each Holder directs only if (i) the
Company at its option advises the Trustee and the Registrar in
writing of its election to terminate the book-entry system, or
(ii) after the occurrence of any Event of Default, Holders of
a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the
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Securities (as
determined based upon the latest quarterly statement provided to
the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof) advise the Trustee
in writing that the continuation of the book-entry system is no
longer in the best interests of such Holders and the Trustee
notifies all Holders of the Securities, of such event and the
availability of certificated forms of securities to the Holders of
Securities.
Section 2.14
Initial and Periodic
Statements.
(a)
Subject to the
rejection of a Subscription Agreement pursuant to
Section 2.2(a), the Registrar shall send Written Confirmations
to initial purchasers, registered owners, registered pledgees,
former registered owners and former pledgees, within two Business
Days of its receipt of proper notice regarding the purchase,
transfer or pledge of a Security, with copies of such Written
Confirmations being delivered to the Trustee, on behalf of the
Company.
(b)
The Registrar
shall send each Holder of a Security (and each registered pledgee)
via U.S. mail not later than 10 Business Days after each quarter
end in which such Holder had an outstanding balance in such
Holder’s Account, a statement which indicates as of the
quarter end preceding the mailing: (i) the balance of such
Account; (ii) interest credited for the period;
(iii) repayments, redemptions or repurchases, if any, during
the period; and (iv) the interest rates paid on the Securities
in such Account during the period. The Registrar shall provide
additional statements as the Holders or registered pledgees of the
Securities may reasonably request from time to time. The
Registrar may charge such Holders or pledgees requesting such
statements a fee to cover the charges incurred by the Registrar in
providing such additional statements.
Section 2.15
Appointment of
Agents.
The Company may from time to
time engage Agents to perform its obligations and exercise its
rights and discretion under the terms of this Indenture. In each
such case, the Company will provide the Trustee with a copy of each
agreement under which any such Agent is engaged and the name,
address, telephone number and capacity of the Agent appointed. If
any such Agent shall resign, or such Agent’s engagement is
terminated by the Company, subsequent to the Agent’s
appointment by the Company under this Section 2.15, the
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such resignation or
termination, along with the name, address, telephone number and
capacity of any successor Agent. Notwithstanding any engagement of
an Agent hereunder, the Company shall remain obligated to fulfill
each of its obligations under this Indenture.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE
Section 3.1
Redemption of Securities at
the Company’s Election.
(a)
The Company
may redeem, in whole or in part, any Security prior to the
scheduled Maturity Date of the Security by providing pursuant to
Section 2.1(f) a Redemption Notice to the Holder thereof
listed on the records maintained by the Registrar, which notice
shall include the Redemption Date and the Redemption Price
to
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be paid to the
Holder on the Redemption Date. No interest shall accrue on a
Security to be redeemed under this Section 3.1 for any period
of time after the Redemption Date for such Security, provided that
the Company or the Paying Agent has timely tendered the Redemption
Price to the Holder.
(b)
The Company shall
have no mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations with
respect to any of the Securities.
(c)
In its sole
discretion, the Company may offer certain Holders the ability
to extend the maturity of an existing Security through the
redemption of such Security and the issuance of a new Security.
This redemption option shall not be subject to the 30 day notice of
redemption described in Section 2.1(f).
Section 3.2
Repurchase of Securities at
the Holder’s Request.
(a)
Repurchase
Upon Death or Disability . Subject to
subsection (c) below, within 45 days of the death or
Total Permanent Disability of a Holder who is a natural person
(including Securities held in an individual retirement account),
the estate of such Holder (in the event of death) or such Holder
(in the event of Total Permanent Disability) may request that
the Company repurchase, in whole and not in part, without penalty,
the Security held by such Holder, by delivering to the Company a
Repurchase Request. If a Security is held jointly by natural
persons who are legally married, then a Repurchase Request
may be made when either registered Holder of such Security
dies or becomes subject to a Total Permanent Disability, the
surviving Holder or the disabled Holder may request that the
Company repurchase in whole and not in part, without penalty, such
Security as jointly held by the Holders by delivering to the
Company a Repurchase Request. In the event a Security is held
jointly by two or more natural persons that are not legally
married, neither of these persons shall have the right to request
that the Company repurchase such Security unless all joint holders
of such Security have either died or suffered a Total Permanent
Disability. If the Security is held by a Holder who is not a
natural person, such as a trust, partnership, corporation or other
similar entity, the right to request repurchase upon death or
disability does not apply.
(b)
Repurchase
Upon Holder’s Election . Subject to
subsection (c) below, a Holder may request the
Company to repurchase, in whole and not in part, the Security held
by such Holder by delivering a Repurchase Request to the Company.
Any such requested repurchase shall be made only at the
Company’s discretion and, if made, will be subject to an
early Repurchase Penalty to be deducted from the payment of such
Holder’s Repurchase Price on the Repurchase Date. The early
repurchase penalty (the “ Repurchase Penalty ”)
shall equal the following: (i) with respect to a
Security with a three month maturity, the interest accrued on a
simple interest basis on such Security from the Issue Date to the
Repurchase Date at the existing interest rate thereof, but not to
exceed three months of simple interest on such Security, or
(ii) with respect to a Security with a maturity of six months
or longer, the interest accrued on a simple interest basis on such
Security from the Issue Date to the Repurchase Date at the existing
interest rate thereof, but not to exceed six months of simple
interest on such Security.
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(c)
Limitation on
Repurchases . The Company will only be
required to repurchase Securities for which Repurchase Requests
have been received pursuant to paragraph (a) above, and, if
accepted by the Company, paragraph (b) above, to the extent
that the aggregate Repurchase Price for all Securities for which
Repurchase Requests are then outstanding in any calendar quarter
would not exceed the greater of (i) two percent of the
aggregate outstanding principal balance of all Securities as of the
last day of the previous calendar quarter or (ii) $1 million.
For the purposes of applying such limits on the