Exhibit 10.12
COLUMBIA TRUST
BANCORP,
as Issuer
INDENTURE
Dated as of June 26,
2003
U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
DEFERRABLE INTEREST
DEBENTURES
DUE 2033
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
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ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
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1
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Section 1.1.
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Definitions
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1
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ARTICLE II.
DEBENTURES
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8
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Section 2.1.
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Authentication
and Dating
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8
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Section 2.2.
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Form of
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
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9
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Section 2.3.
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Form and
Denomination of Debentures
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9
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Section 2.4.
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Execution of
Debentures
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9
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Section 2.5.
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Exchange and
Registration of Transfer of Debentures
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9
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Section 2.6.
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Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures
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12
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Section 2.7.
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Temporary
Debentures
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13
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Section 2.8.
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Payment of
Interest and Additional Interest
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13
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Section 2.9.
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Cancellation of
Debentures Paid, etc.
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14
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Section 2.10.
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Computation of
Interest
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15
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Section 2.11.
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Extension of
Interest Payment Period
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17
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Section 2.12.
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CUSIP
Numbers
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18
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ARTICLE III.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
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18
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Section 3.1.
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Payment of
Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the
Debentures.
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18
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Section 3.2.
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Offices for
Notices and Payments, etc.
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19
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Section 3.3.
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Appointments to
Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office
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19
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Section 3.4.
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Provision as to
Paving Agent
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19
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Section 3.5.
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Certificate to
Trustee
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20
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Section 3.6.
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Additional
Sums
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21
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Section 3.7.
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Compliance with
Consolidation Provisions
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21
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Section 3.8.
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Limitation on
Dividends
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21
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Section 3.9.
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Covenants as to
the Trust
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22
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Section 3.10.
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Additional
Junior Indebtedness
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22
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ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS
AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
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22
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Section 4.1.
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Securityholders’ Lists
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22
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Section 4.2.
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Preservation
and Disclosure of Lists
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23
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ARTICLE V.
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF
DEFAULT
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24
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Section 5.1.
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Events of
Default
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24
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Section 5.2.
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Payment of
Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor
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26
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Section 5.3.
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Application of
Moneys Collected by Trustee
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27
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Section 5.4.
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Proceedings by
Securityholders
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28
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Section 5.5.
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Proceedings by
Trustee
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28
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Section 5.6.
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Remedies
Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a
Waiver
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28
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Section 5.7.
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Direction of
Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of
Securityholders
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29
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Section 5.8.
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Notice of
Defaults
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29
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Section 5.9.
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Undertaking to
Pay Costs
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29
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ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
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30
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Section 6.1.
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Duties and
Responsibilities of Trustee
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30
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Section 6.2.
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Reliance on
Documents, Opinions, etc.
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31
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Section 6.3.
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No
Responsibility for Recitals, etc.
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32
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Section 6.4.
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Trustee,
Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar
May Own Debentures
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32
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Section 6.5.
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Moneys to be
Held in Trust
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32
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Section 6.6.
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Compensation
and Expenses of Trustee
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33
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Section 6.7.
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Officers’
Certificate as Evidence
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33
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Section 6.8.
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Eligibility of
Trustee
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34
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Section 6.9.
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Resignation or
Removal of Trustee
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34
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Section 6.10.
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Acceptance by
Successor Trustee
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35
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Section 6.11.
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Succession by
Merger, etc.
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36
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Section 6.12.
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Authenticating
Agents
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37
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ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE
SECURITYHOLDERS
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38
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Section 7.1.
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Action by
Securityholders
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38
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Section 7.2.
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Proof of
Execution by Securityholders
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38
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Section 7.3.
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Who Are Deemed
Absolute Owners
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38
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Section 7.4.
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Debentures
Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding
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39
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Section 7.5.
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Revocation of
Consents; Future Holders Bound
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39
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ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS’
MEETINGS
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40
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Section 8.1.
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Purposes of
Meetings
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40
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Section 8.2.
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Call of
Meetings by Trustee
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40
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Section 8.3.
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Call of
Meetings by Company or Securityholders
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40
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Section 8.4.
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Qualifications
for Voting
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40
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Section 8.5.
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Regulations
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41
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Section 8.6.
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Voting
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41
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Section 8.7.
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Quorum;
Actions
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41
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ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
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42
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Section 9.1.
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Supplemental
Indentures without Consent of Securityholders
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42
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Section 9.2.
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Supplemental
Indentures with Consent of Securityholders
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44
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ii
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Section 9.3.
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Effect of
Supplemental Indentures
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44
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Section 9.4.
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Notation on
Debentures
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45
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Section 9.5.
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Evidence of
Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to
Trustee
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45
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ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
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45
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Section 10.1.
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Optional
Redemption
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45
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Section 10.2.
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Special Event
Redemption
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45
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Section 10.3.
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Notice of
Redemption; Selection of Debentures
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45
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Section 10.4.
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Payment of
Debentures Called for Redemption
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46
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ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE,
CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
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47
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Section 11.1.
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Company May
Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms
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47
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Section 11.2.
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Successor
Entity to be Substituted
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47
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Section 11.3.
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Opinion of
Counsel to be Given to Trustee
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48
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ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF
INDENTURE
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48
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Section 12.1.
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Discharge of
Indenture
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48
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Section 12.2.
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Deposited
Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee
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49
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Section 12.3.
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Paying Agent to
Repay Moneys Held
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49
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Section 12.4.
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Return of
Unclaimed Moneys
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49
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ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS,
STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
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49
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Section 13.1.
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Indenture and
Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations
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49
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ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
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49
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Section 14.1.
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Successors
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49
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Section 14.2.
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Official Acts
by Successor Entity
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50
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Section 14.3.
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Surrender of
Company Powers
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50
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Section 14.4.
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Addresses for
Notices, etc.
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50
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Section 14.5.
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Governing
Law
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50
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Section 14.6.
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Evidence of
Compliance with Conditions Precedent
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50
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Section 14.7.
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Non-Business
Days
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51
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Section 14.8.
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Table of
Contents, Headings, etc.
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51
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Section 14.9.
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Execution in
Counterparts
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51
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Section 14.10.
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Separability
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51
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Section 14.11.
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Assignment
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51
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Section 14.12.
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Acknowledgment
of Rights
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51
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ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF
DEBENTURES
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52
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Section 15.1.
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Agreement to
Subordinate
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52
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iii
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Section 15.2.
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Default on
Senior Indebtedness
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52
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Section 15.3.
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Liquidation,
Dissolution, Bankruptcy
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52
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Section 15.4.
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Subrogation
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54
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Section 15.5.
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Trustee to
Effectuate Subordination
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54
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Section 15.6.
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Notice by the
Company
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55
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Section 15.7.
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Rights of the
Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness
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55
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Section 15.8.
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Subordination
May Not Be Impaired
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56
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Exhibit A
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Form of
Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debenture
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iv
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of
June 26, 2003, between Columbia Trust Bancorp, a Washington
corporation (the “ Company ”), and U.S. Bank
National Association, a national banking association organized
under the laws of the United States of America, as debenture
trustee (the “ Trustee ”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate
purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its
Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
due 2033 (the “ Debentures ”) under this
Indenture to provide, among other things, for the execution and
authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the
Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture;
and
WHEREAS, all acts and things
necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its
terms, have been done and performed;
NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture
Witnesseth:
In consideration of the premises,
and the purchase of the Debentures by the holders thereof, the
Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and
proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time
of the Debentures as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
Definitions . The
terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for
all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental
hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this
Section 1.1. All accounting terms used herein and not
expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the
term “generally accepted accounting principles” means
such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United
States at the time of any computation. The words
“herein,” “hereof” and
“hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to
this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article,
Section or other subdivision.
“ Additional Interest
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
“ Additional Junior
Indebtedness ” means, without duplication and other than
the Debentures, any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the
Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities
(or guarantees in respect of debt securities) initially issued
after the date of this Indenture to any trust, or a trustee of a
trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that
is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is
defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or
other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred
securities or other securities that are eligible to qualify for
Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent) for purposes of
the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in
effect and applicable to the Company (or, if the Company is not a
bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if
the Company were subject to such guidelines);
provided , however , that the inability of the
Company to treat all or any portion of the Additional Junior
Indebtedness as Tier 1 capital shall not disqualify it as
Additional Junior Indebtedness if such inability results from the
Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in
consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or
interest which the Federal Reserve now or may hereafter accord Tier
1 capital treatment (including the Debentures) in excess of the
amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 capital under
applicable capital adequacy guidelines.
“ Additional Sums
” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
“ Affiliate ” has
the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
“ Authenticating Agent
” means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time
shall be appointed and acting pursuant to
Section 6.12.
“ Bankruptcy Law
” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state
law for the relief of debtors.
“ Board of Directors
” means the board of directors or the executive committee or
any other duly authorized designated officers of the
Company.
“ Board Resolution
” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the
date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.
“ Business Day ”
means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on
which banking institutions in New York City or Hartford,
Connecticut are permitted or required by any applicable law to
close.
“ Capital Securities
” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by
the Trust; provided , however , that upon the
occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in
the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities
to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the
rights of holders of such Capital Securities.
“ Capital Securities
Guarantee ” means the guarantee agreement that the
Company enters into with U.S. Bank National Association, as
guarantee trustee, or other Persons that operates directly or
indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of the
Trust.
“ Capital Treatment
Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of
an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws, rules or
regulations of the United States or any political subdivision
thereof or therein, or as the result of any official or
administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or
applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change
is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is
announced on or after the date of original issuance of the
Debentures, there
2
is more than an insubstantial risk that the
Company will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be
entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities as “Tier 1 Capital”
(or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy
guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable
to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company,
such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were
subject to such guidelines); provided , however ,
that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of
the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as Tier 1 Capital
shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if
such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred
stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any
other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or
OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital
treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter
qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital
adequacy guidelines; provided further , however ,
that the distribution of Debentures in connection with the
liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a
Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred
in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company
Event.
“ Certificate ”
means a certificate signed by any one of the principal executive
officer, the principal financial officer or the principal
accounting officer of the Company.
“ Common Securities
” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust which rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued
by the Trust; provided , however , that upon the
occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in
the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities
to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the
rights of holders of such Capital Securities.
“ Company ” means
Columbia Trust Bancorp, a Washington corporation, and, subject to
thy provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and
assigns.
“ Coupon Rate ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
“ Debenture ” or
“ Debentures ” has the meaning stated in the
first recital of this Indenture.
“ Debenture Register
” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.
“ Declaration ”
means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
as amended o supplemented from time to time.
“ Default ” means
any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“ Defaulted Interest
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
“ Distribution Period
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
“ Determination Date
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
3
“ Event of Default
” means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued
for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice,
if any, therein designated.
“ Extension Period
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
“ Federal Reserve
” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for
regulating the activities of bank holding companies.
“ Indenture ”
means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or
supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or
both.
“ Institutional Trustee
” has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.
“ Interest Payment Date
” means each
March 26, June 26, September 26 and
December 26 during the term of this Indenture.
“ Interest Rate ”
means for the period beginning on (and including) the date of
original issuance and ending on (but excluding) September 26,
2003 the rate per annum of 4.16% and for each Distribution Period
thereafter, the Coupon Rate.
“ Investment Company
Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of
an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law of
regulation or written change (including any announced prospective
change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by
any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust
is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be
considered an “investment company” that is required to
be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
which change or prospective change becomes effective or would
become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the
issuance of the Debentures.
“ Liquidation Amount
” means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust
Security.
“ Maturity Date ”
means June 26, 2033.
“ Officers’
Certificate ” means a certificate signed by the Chairman
of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the
President, any Managing Director or any Vice President, and by the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant
Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall
include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to
the extent required by the provisions of such Section.
“ Opinion of Counsel
” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who
may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion
shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if
and to the extent required by the provisions of such
Section.
4
“ OTS ” means the
Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that
is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings
and loan holding companies.
The term “ outstanding,
” when used with reference to Debentures, means, subject to
the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all
Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except:
(a) Debentures theretofore canceled
by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Debentures, or portions thereof,
for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary
amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with
any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set
aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall
act as its own paying agent); provided , however ,
that, if such Debentures, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed
prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have
been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision
satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such
notice; and
(c) Debentures paid pursuant to
Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other
Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to
the terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the
Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are
held by bona fide holders in due course.
“ Person ” means
any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
“ Predecessor Security
” of any particular Debenture means every previous Debenture
evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by
such particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition,
any Debenture authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in
lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to
evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen
Debenture.
“ Principal Office of the
Trustee, ” or other similar term, means the office of the
Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust
business shall be principally administered, which at the time of
the execution of this Indenture shall be 225 Asylum Street, Goodwin
Square, Hartford, Connecticut 06103.
“ Redemption Date
” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
“ Redemption Price
” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being
redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any
Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Redemption
Date.
“ Responsible Officer
” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the
Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any
assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary,
the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other
officer of the Principal Trust Office of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular
corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
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“ Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
time or any successor legislation.
“ Securityholder,
” “holder of Debentures,” or other similar terms,
means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debenture
is registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee
for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.
“ Senior Indebtedness
” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal,
premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness
of the Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness
evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar
instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease
obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the
Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all
obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement;
(iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of
any letter of credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security
purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement,
any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any
obligation under options or any similar credit or other
transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in
clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons for the
payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor,
guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type
referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other
Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company
(whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether
incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior
Indebtedness” shall not include (1) any Additional
Junior Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued pursuant to this
Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures,
(3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the
ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being
pari passu in right of payment to the Debentures), or
(4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the
instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the
same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are
pari passu , junior or otherwise not superior in right of
payment to the Debentures and (b) the Company, prior to the
issuance thereof, has notified (and, if then required under the
applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received
approval from) the Federal Reserve (if the Company is a bank
holding company) or the OTS (if the Company is a savings and loan
holding company). Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior
Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions
irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term
of such Senior Indebtedness.
“ Special Event ”
means any of a Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event
or a Tax Event.
“ Special Redemption
Date ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.2.
“ Special Redemption
Price ” means (i) 107.5% of the principal amount of
the Debentures being redeemed on a Special Redemption Date that
occurs before June 26, 2008 and (ii) 100% of the
principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed on a Special
Redemption Date that occurs on June 26, 2008 or after, plus,
in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional
Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption
Date.
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“ Subsidiary ”
means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least
a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or
similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership
or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such
Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person
and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited
partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a
general partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting
stock” means shares, interests, participations or other
equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such
Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority
of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than
shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such
power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
“ Tax Event ”
means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective
change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein, or as a result of any official administrative
pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical
advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure,
notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of
intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an “
Administrative Action ”) or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of
whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued
to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the
Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which
amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision
is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the
date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within
90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States
federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on
the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the
Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for
United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust
is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject
to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.
“ 3-Month LIBOR ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
“ Telerate Page 3750
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
“ Trust ” shall
mean Columbia Trust Statutory Trust I, a Connecticut statutory
trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of
issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of
Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the
sponsor.
“ Trust Securities
” means Common Securities and Capital Securities of the
Trust.
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“ Trustee ” means
U.S. Bank National Association, and, subject to the provisions of
Article V hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as
Trustee hereunder.
ARTICLE II.
DEBENTURES
Section 2.1.
Authentication and Dating . Upon the execution and delivery of this
Indenture or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an
aggregate principal amount not in excess o $3,093,000.00 may be
executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for
authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and
make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written
order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of
Directors, Chief Executive Officer Vice Chairman, the President,
one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without
any further action by the Company hereunder. In authenticating such
Debentures, and accepting the additional responsibilities under
this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be
fully protected in relying upon:
(a) a copy of any Board Resolution
or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable an
appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution,
in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Company, as the case may be; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel prepared
in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall also
state:
(1) that such Debentures, when
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the
Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions
specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to or limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency reorganization,
conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other statutory or
decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or
the reorganization of financial institutions (including, without
limitation, preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws),
heretofore or hereafter enacted or in effect, affecting the rights
of creditors generally; and
(2) that all laws and requirements
in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of the
Debentures have been complied with and that authentication and
delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the
terms of this Indenture.
The Trustee shall have the right to
decline to authenticate and deliver any Debentures under this
Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by counsel,
determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine
that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to
existing holders.
The definitive Debentures shall be
typed, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders
or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the
officers executing such Debentures, as evidenced by their execution
of such Debentures.
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Section 2.2. Form of
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
. The Trustee’s certificate of
authentication on all Debentures shall be in substantially the
following form:
This is one of the Debentures
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
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U.S.
Bank National Association, as Trustee
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By
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Authorized
Signer
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Section 2.3. Form and
Denomination of Debentures . The Debentures shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Debentures shall be in
registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum
denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in
excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block
having an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall
be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such
purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of such
Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the
receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported
transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such
Debentures. The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or
otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such
plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the
approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and
authentication thereof.
Section 2.4. Execution of
Debentures . The
Debentures shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company
by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board
of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, President,
one of its Managing Directors or one of its Executive Vice
Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Only such
Debentures as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication
substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an
authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such
certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any
Debenture executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that
the Debenture so authenticated has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits
of this Indenture.
In case any officer of the Company
who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall cease to be such
officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless
may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the
Person who signed such Debentures had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Debenture may be signed on behalf of the
Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of
such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company,
although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such
person was not such an officer.
Every Debenture shall be dated the
date of its authentication.
Section 2.5. Exchange and
Registration of Transfer of Debentures . The Company shall cause to be kept, at the
office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of
transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2, a
register (the “ Debenture
9
Register ”) for the Debentures issued hereunder in
which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of all
Debentures as in this Article II provided. The Debenture Register
shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being
converted into written form within a reasonable time.
Debentures to be exchanged may be
surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office
or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as
provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the
Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for
delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures which the
Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.
Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture
at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at and office or agency
of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in
Section 3.2, the Company shall execute, the Company or the
Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent
shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of
the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate
principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any
Debenture by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed
pursuant to Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall
be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer
of such Debenture.
All Debentures presented for
registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so
required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent)
be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or
instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or
his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for
any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the
Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax, fee or the governmental charge that may be imposed
in connection therewith.
The Company or the Trustee shall not
be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debenture for
a period of 15 days next preceding the date of selection of
Debentures for redemption.
Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in
compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below,
unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of
counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable
law:
THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS
ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR
ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
“ SECURITIES ACT ”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS
OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR
ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD,
ASSIGNED, AND TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR
OTHERWISE
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DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION
OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE
STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS
SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY
BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS
ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE
144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION
S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
“ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS
ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF
SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH,
ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
(F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE
COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO
REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR
OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE
COMPANY.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS
NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER
PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ ERISA
”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS
AMENDED (THE “ CODE ”) (EACH A “
PLAN ”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE
“PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT
IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF
ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST
THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE
RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED
TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR
ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS
SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975
OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER
OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED
TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER
(i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE
IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY
USING
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THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN
TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT
RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY
OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY
BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS
THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING
AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES
THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
Section 2.6. Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures . In case any Debenture shall become mutilated or
be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon
its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a
new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding,
in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in
lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or
stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture
shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless,
and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant
shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their
satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture
and of the ownership thereof.
The Trustee may authenticate any
such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the written
request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the
issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses connected therewith. In case any Debenture which has
matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in
full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the
Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or
authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except
in the case of mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such
payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security
or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them
harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence
satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction,
loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership
thereof.
Every substituted Debenture issued
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue of
the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall
constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company,
whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be
found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other
Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures shall be held and
owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect
to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or
remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter
enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment
of negotiable instruments or other securities without their
surrender.
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Section 2.7. Temporary
Debentures . Pending
the preparation of definitive Debentures, the Company may execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery
temporary Debentures that are typed, printed or lithographed.
Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any authorized
denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive
Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such
omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for
temporary Debentures, all as may be determined by the Company.
Every such temporary Debenture shall be executed by the Company and
be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in
substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the
definitive Debentures. Without unreasonable delay the Company will
execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent
definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures
may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the principal corporate
trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained
by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2,
and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and
make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary
Debentures a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive
Debentures. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own
expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any
such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until
so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall in all respects be
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive
Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.8. Payment of
Interest and Additional Interest . Interest at the Interest Rate and any Additional
Interest on any Debenture that is payable, and is punctually paid
or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Debentures
shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the regular record date for such interest installment except
that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Maturity
Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is
paid.
Each Debenture shall bear interest
for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original
issuance and ending on (but excluding) September 26, 2003 at a
rate per annum of 4.16%, and shall bear interest for each
successive period beginning on (and including) September 26,
2003, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but
excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each, a
“ Distribution Period ”) at a rate per annum
equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described in
Section 2.10, plus 3.10% (the “ Coupon Rate
”); provided , however , that prior to
June 26, 2008, the Coupon Rate shall not exceed 11.75%,
applied to the principal amount thereof, until the principal
thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and
to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law (without duplication) on any overdue installment of
interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in
effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly. Interest
shall be payable (subject to any relevant Extension Period)
quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the first
installment of interest to be paid on September 26,
2003.
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Any interest on any Debenture,
including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
(herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall
forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the
relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder;
and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the
Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on
a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest,
which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall
notify the Trustee in writing at least 25 days prior to the date of
the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed
to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed
payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed
to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to
the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be
held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such
Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the
Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such
Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10
days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10
days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed
payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such
special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the
Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be
mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its
address as it appears in the Debenture Register, not less than 10
days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date
therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest
shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or
their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such
special record date and shall be no longer payable.
The Company may make payment of any
Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any other lawful manner
after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed
payment method; provided , however , the Trustee in
its sole discretion deems such payment method to be
practical.
Any interest (including Additional
Interest) scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date
occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted
Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be
specified in the terms of such Debentures.
The term “regular record
date” as used in this Section shall mean the close of
business on the 15th calendar day next preceding the applicable
Interest Payment Date.
Subject to the foregoing provisions
of this Section, each Debenture delivered under this Indenture upon
registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any
other Debenture shall carry the rights to interest accrued and
unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other
Debenture.
Section 2.9. Cancellation
of Debentures Paid, etc . All Debentures surrendered for the purpose of
payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall,
if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered
to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to
the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled
by it, and
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no Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof
except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this
Indenture. All Debentures canceled by any Authenticating Agent
shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall destroy all
canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the
Trustee in writing. If the Company shall acquire any of the
Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a
redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such
Debentures unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee
for cancellation.
Section 2.10. Computation
of Interest . The
amount of interest payable for the Distribution Period commencing
on September 26, 2003 and each succeeding Distribution Period
will be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal
amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period
and multiplying each such amount by the actual number of days in
the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. In the event that
any date on which interest is payable on the Debentures is not a
Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date shall
be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and
without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay)
except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect
as if made on the date such payment was originally payable. All
percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will
be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of
a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point
rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to
9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting
from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with
one-half cent being rounded upward)).
(a) “ 3-Month LIBOR
” means the London interbank offered interest rate for
three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the
following order of priority:
(1) the rate (expressed as a
percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month
maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m.
(London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below).
“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as
“Page 3750” on the Dow Jones Telerate Service or such
other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other
service or services as may be nominated by the British
Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the
purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S.
dollar deposits;
(2) if such rate cannot be
identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will
request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the
London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered
quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in
the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a
three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided,
3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such
quotations;
(3) if fewer than two such
quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the
Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such
banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per
annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least
two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the
arithmetic mean of such quotations; and
15
(4) if fewer than two such
quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above,
3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to
the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current
Distribution Period.
If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits
having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate
Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related
Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a
corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination
Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable
page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination
Date.
(b) The Interest Rate for any
Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate
then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by
United States law.
(c) “ Determination
Date ” means the date that is two London Banking Days
(i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars
are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the
particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being
determined.
(d) The Trustee shall notify the
Company, the Institutional Trustee and any securities exchange or
interdealer quotation system on which the Capital Securities are
listed, of the Coupon Rate and the Determination Date for each
Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after the
determination thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth
(30th) day of the relevant Distribution Period. Failure to
notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or any securities
exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said
notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make
payment on the Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate. Any error
in the calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be
corrected at any time by notice delivered as above provided. Upon
the request of a holder of a Debenture, the Trustee shall provide
the Coupon Rate then in effect and, determined, the Coupon Rate for
the next Distribution Period.
(e) Subject to the corrective rights
set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions,
determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given,
expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions
relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the
Debentures and distributions on the Capital Securities by the
Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the absence of
willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive
and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the
Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in
the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach
to the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the
exercise or non-exercise by either of them or their respective
powers, duties and discretion.
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Section 2.11. Extension
of Interest Payment Period . So long as no Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time,
and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of
interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period
on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term
of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each
such extended interest payment period, an “ Extension
Period ”), during which Extension Period no interest
(including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except
any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension
Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date.
During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the
Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an
annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension
Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have
been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent
permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “
Additional Interest ”). At the end of any such
Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued
and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest
thereon); provided , however , that no Extension
Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided
further , however , that during any such Extension
Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to
(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any of the Company’s or such Affiliate’s
capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to
the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the
foregoing or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest
or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari
passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the
Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) or
(ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in
connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more
employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or
securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock)
as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any
exchange or conversion of and class or series of the
Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary
of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s
capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s
indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital
stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of
the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or
exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being
converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the
issuance of rights, stock or other property under any
stockholders’ right plan, or the redemption or repurchase of
rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the
stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other
rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being
paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and
any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued it connection
therewith, or (f) payments under the Capital Securities
Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the
Company may further extend such period, provided that such
period together with all such previous and further consecutive
extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly
periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination
of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and
unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a
new Extension Period, subject to
17
the foregoing requirements. No interest or
Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension
Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest
that would otherwise have been due and payable during such
Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent
permitted by applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee
notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period at
least 5 Business Days prior to the regular record date (as such
term is used in Section 2.8) immediately preceding the
Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the
Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin
or extend such Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of
the Company’s election to begin a new Extension Period to the
Securityholders.
Section 2.12. CUSIP
Numbers . The Company
in issuing the Debentures may use “CUSIP” numbers (if
then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP
numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to
Securityholders; provided , however , that any such
notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or
as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the
Debentures, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any
defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly
notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP
numbers.
ARTICLE III.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE
COMPANY
Section 3.1. Payment of
Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the
Debentures.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees
that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional
Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the
respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and
the Debentures. Each installment of interest on the Debentures may
be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the
order of the holders of Debentures entitled thereto as they appear
on the registry books of the Company if a request for a wire
transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire
transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the
United States designated in writing by such Person to the paying
agent no later than the related record date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the
Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest
on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at
such place and to such account as may be designated by the
Institutional Trustee.
(b) The Company will treat the
Debentures as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in respect of
the principal amount of such Debentures as interest, for all United
States federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of such
Debentures will be made free and clear of United States withholding
tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal
Revenue Service Form W8 BEN (or any substitute or successor form)
establishing its non-United States status for United States federal
income tax purposes.
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(c) As of the date of this
Indenture, the Company has no present intention to exercise its
right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by commencing an Extension Period.
(d) As of the date of this
Indenture, the Company believes that the likelihood that it would
exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of
interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period at any
time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because
of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company’s
ability to declare or pay dividends or distribution on, or to
redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
of its outstanding equity and on the Company’s ability to
make any payments of principal of or interest on, or repurchase or
redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in
all respects with (or junior in interest to) the
Debentures.
Section 3.2. Offices for
Notices and Payments, etc. So long as any of the Debentures remain
outstanding, the Company will maintain in Hartford, Connecticut, an
office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment,
an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for
registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture
provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this Indenture
may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice
of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of
location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by
the Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as
contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or agency for all of
the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the Trustee. In
case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency
in Hartford, Connecticut, or shall fail to give such notice of the
location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations
and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal
Office of the Trustee.
In addition to any such office or
agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more
offices or agencies outside Hartford, Connecticut, where the
Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for
exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company
may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may
deem desirable or expedient; provided , however ,
that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve
the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency
in Hartford, Connecticut, for the purposes above mentioned. The
Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such
designation or rescission thereof.
Section 3.3. Appointments
to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office .
The Company, whenever necessary to
avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in
the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there
shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
Section 3.4. Provision as
to Paving Agent .
(a) If the Company shall appoint a
paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying
agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which
such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision
of this Section 3.4,
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(1) that it will hold all sums held
by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether
such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other
obligor on the Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders
of the Debentures;
(2) that it will give the Trustee
prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any
other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the
Debentures when the same shall be due and payable; and
(3) that it will, at any time during
the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request
of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in
trust by such paying agent.
(b) If the Company shall act as its
own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if
any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for
the benefit of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to
pay such principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming
due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take
such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other
obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal
of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on
the Debentures when the same shall become due and
payable.
Whenever the Company shall have one
or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on or prior to
each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest,
if any, on the Debentures deposit with a paying agent a sum
sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest or other
payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such paying
agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee
in writing of its action or failure to act.
(c) Anything in this
Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may,
at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and
discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason,
pay, or direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held
in trust by the Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be
held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.
(d) Anything in this
Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to
hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject
to Sections 12.3 and 12.4.
Section 3.5. Certificate
to Trustee . The
Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the
end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures are outstanding
hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the
performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the
Company they would normally have knowledge of any default during
such fiscal year by the Company in the performance of any covenants
contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any
such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the
signers have knowledge and the nature and status
thereof.
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Section 3.6. Additional
Sums . If and for so
long as the Trust is the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is
required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding taxes),
duties, assessments a other governmental charges as a result of a
Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (“
Additional Sums ”) on the Debentures as shall be
required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust
after paying taxes (including withholding taxes), duties,
assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the
amounts the Trust would have received if no such taxes, duties,
assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed.
Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is reference in
any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the
Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of
payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to
the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or
would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of
this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional
Sums (if applicable) it any provisions hereof shall not be
construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof
where such express mention is not made; provided ,
however , that the deferral of the payment of interest
during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not
defer the payment of any Additional Sum that may be due and
payable.
Section 3.7. Compliance
with Consolidation Provisions . The Company will not, while any of the
Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or
merge into itself, or sell a convey all or substantially all of its
property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI
hereof are complied with.
Section 3.8. Limitation
on Dividends . If
Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such
Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the
Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such
Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an
Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with
respect to its payment of any obligation under the Capital
Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given
notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided
herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be
continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any
Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends
or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s
capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than
payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make
any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or
any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or
junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to
clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases,
redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the
Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or
other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more
employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or
securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock)
as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of
any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the
Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary
of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s
capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s
indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital
stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of
the Company’s
21
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or
exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being
converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the
issuance of rights, stock or other property under any
stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of
rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of
stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock
or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or
other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is
being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock
and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in
connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital
Securities Guarantee).
Section 3.9. Covenants as
to the Trust . For so
long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall
maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided ,
however , that any permitted successor of the Company under
this Indenture may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such
Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities,
shall, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures to
the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the
redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the
Declaration, cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust,
(b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust
for United States federal income tax purposes, and (c) to
cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an
undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures.
Section 3.10. Additional
Junior Indebtedness . The Company shall not, and it shall not cause or
permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue or be
obligated on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or
indirectly, by way of guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other
than Additional Junior Indebtedness (i) that, by its terms, is
expressly stated to be either junior and subordinate or pari
passu in all respects to the Debentures, and (ii) of which
the Company has notified (and, if then required under the
applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received
approval from) the Federal Reserve, if the Company is a bank
holding company, or the OTS, if the Company is a savings and loan
holding company.
ARTICLE IV.
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS
AND REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE
TRUSTEE
Section 4.1.
Securityholders’ Lists . The Company covenants and agrees that it will
furnish or caused to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) on each regular record date for
the Debentures, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably
require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of the
Debentures as of such record date; and
(b) at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by
the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content
as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is
furnished;
except that no such lists need be
furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as the Trustee is in
possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture
registrar.
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Section 4.2. Preservation
and Disclosure of Lists .
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in
as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as
to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures
(1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as
provided in Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the
capacity of Debentures registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The
Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so
furnished.
(b) In case three or more holders of
Debentures (hereinafter referred to as “ applicants
”) apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee
reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for
a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such
application, and such application states that the applicants desire
to communicate with other holders of Debentures with respect to
their rights under this Indenture or under such Debentures and is
accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication
which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall
within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at
its election, either:
(1) afford such applicants access to
the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance
with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 4.2, or
(2) inform such applicants as to the
approximate number of holders of Debentures whose names and
addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of
this Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to
such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if
any, specified in such application.
If the Trustee shall elect not to
afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee
shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each
Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information
preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy
of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in
such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the
Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision
for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless
within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such
applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if
permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of
the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that,
in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to
the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case
may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written
statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said
Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after
opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the
written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to
sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order
sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall
find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the
objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so
declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all
such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of
such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee
shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants
respecting their application.
23
(c) Each and every holder of
Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with Company
and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any
paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure
of any such information as to the names and addresses of the
holders of Debentures in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the
source from which such information was derived, and that the
Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any
material pursuant to a request made under said subsection
(b).
ARTICLE V.
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND
SECURITYHOLDERS
UPON AN EVENT OF
DEFAULT
Section 5.1. Events of
Default . “
Event of Default ,” wherever used herein, means any
one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of
Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or
order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
(a) the Company defaults in the
payment of any interest upon any Debenture when it becomes due and
payable, and fails to cure such default for a period of 30 days;
provided , however , that a valid extension of an
interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms
of this Indenture shall not constitute a default in the payment of
interest for this purpose; or
(b) the Company defaults in the
payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any,
on) any Debentures as and when the same shall become due and
payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of
acceleration or otherwise; or
(c) the Company defaults in the
performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants of agreements in
this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as
contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement
a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this
Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default
or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by
registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to
the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures, a written
notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of
Default” hereunder; or
(d) a court of competent
jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of
the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
trustee sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for
any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or
liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain
unstayed and in effect for period of 90 consecutive days;
or
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(e) the Company shall commence a
voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect,
shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary
case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or
taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company
or of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due; or
(f) the Trust shall have voluntarily
or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or
otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with
(i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of such
Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust,
(ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities
or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations,
each as permitted by the Declaration.
If an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and
every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have
already become due and payabl