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Exhibit 4.6
NEW CENTURY FINANCIAL
CORPORATION
Issuer
AND
Trustee
INDENTURE
SUBORDINATED DEBT
SECURITIES
Dated As Of
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
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1 |
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Section 1.1
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Definitions of Terms |
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1 |
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ARTICLE 2 ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS,
EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
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5 |
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Section 2.1
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Designation and Terms of Securities |
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5 |
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Section 2.2
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Form of
Securities and Trustee’s Certificate |
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7 |
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Section 2.3
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Denominations: Provisions for Payment |
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7 |
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Section 2.4
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Execution
and Authentications |
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9 |
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Section 2.5
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Registration of Transfer and Exchange |
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10 |
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Section 2.6
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Temporary
Securities |
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11 |
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Section 2.7
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Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities |
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11 |
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Section 2.8
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Cancellation |
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12 |
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Section 2.9
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Benefits
of Indenture |
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12 |
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Section 2.10
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Authenticating Agent |
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13 |
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Section 2.11
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Global
Securities |
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13 |
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ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND
SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
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14 |
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Section 3.1
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Redemption |
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14 |
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Section 3.2
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Notice of
Redemption |
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14 |
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Section 3.3
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Payment
Upon Redemption |
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15 |
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Section 3.4
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Sinking
Fund |
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16 |
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Section 3.5
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Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with
Securities |
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16 |
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Section 3.6
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Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund |
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16 |
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ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS
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17 |
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Section 4.1
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Payment
of Principal, Premium and Interest |
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17 |
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Section 4.2
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Maintenance of Office or Agency |
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17 |
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Section 4.3
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Paying
Agents |
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18 |
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Section 4.4
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Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee |
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19 |
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Section 4.5
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Compliance with Consolidation Provisions |
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19 |
-i-
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
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Page
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ARTICLE 5 SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS
AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
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19 |
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Section 5.1
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Company
to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of
Securityholders |
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19 |
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Section 5.2
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Preservation Of Information; Communications With
Securityholders |
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19 |
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Section 5.3
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Reports
by the Company |
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20 |
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Section 5.4
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Reports
by the Trustee |
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20 |
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ARTICLE 6 REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND
SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
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20 |
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Section 6.1
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Events of
Default |
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20 |
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Section 6.2
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Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Trustee |
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22 |
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Section 6.3
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Application of Moneys Collected |
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23 |
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Section 6.4
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Limitation on Suits |
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24 |
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Section 6.5
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Rights
and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
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25 |
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Section 6.6
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Control
by Securityholders |
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25 |
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Section 6.7
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Undertaking to Pay Costs |
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ARTICLE 7 CONCERNING THE
TRUSTEE
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Section 7.1
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Certain
Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee |
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Section 7.2
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Certain
Rights of Trustee |
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Section 7.3
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Trustee
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities |
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28 |
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Section 7.4
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May Hold
Securities |
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29 |
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Section 7.5
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Moneys
Held in Trust |
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29 |
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Section 7.6
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Compensation and Reimbursement |
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29 |
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Section 7.7
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Reliance
on Officers’ Certificate |
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29 |
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Section 7.8
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Disqualification; Conflicting Interests |
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30 |
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Section 7.9
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Corporate
Trustee Required; Eligibility |
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Section 7.10
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Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor |
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30 |
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Section 7.11
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Acceptance of Appointment By Successor |
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31 |
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Section 7.12
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Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business |
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-ii-
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
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Page
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Section 7.13
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Preferential Collection of Claims Against the
Company |
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33 |
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Section 7.14
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Notice of
Default |
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ARTICLE 8 CONCERNING THE
SECURITYHOLDERS
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Section 8.1
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Evidence
of Action by Securityholders |
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Section 8.2
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Proof of
Execution by Securityholders |
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34 |
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Section 8.3
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Who May
be Deemed Owners |
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34 |
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Section 8.4
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Certain
Securities Owned by Company Disregarded |
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35 |
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Section 8.5
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Actions
Binding on Future Securityholders |
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35 |
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ARTICLE 9 SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
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35 |
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Section 9.1
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Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of
Securityholders |
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35 |
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Section 9.2
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Supplemental Indentures With Consent of
Securityholders |
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Section 9.3
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Effect of
Supplemental Indentures |
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37 |
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Section 9.4
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Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures |
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Section 9.5
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Execution
of Supplemental Indentures |
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37 |
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ARTICLE 10 SUCCESSOR ENTITY
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38 |
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Section 10.1
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Company
May Consolidate, Etc. |
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Section 10.2
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Successor
Entity Substituted |
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39 |
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Section 10.3
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Evidence
of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee |
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39 |
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ARTICLE 11 SATISFACTION AND
DISCHARGE
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39 |
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Section 11.1
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Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
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39 |
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Section 11.2
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Discharge
of Obligations |
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40 |
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Section 11.3
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Deposited
Moneys to be Held in Trust |
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40 |
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Section 11.4
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Payment
of Moneys Held by Paying Agents |
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40 |
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Section 11.5
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Repayment
to Company |
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41 |
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ARTICLE 12 IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS,
STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
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41 |
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Section 12.1
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No
Recourse |
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41 |
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ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
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42 |
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Section 13.1
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Effect on
Successors and Assigns |
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42 |
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Section 13.2
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Actions
by Successor |
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42 |
-iii-
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
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Page
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Section 13.3
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Surrender
of Company Powers |
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42 |
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Section 13.4
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Notices |
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42 |
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Section 13.5
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Governing
Law |
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42 |
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Section 13.6
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Treatment
of Securities as Debt |
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42 |
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Section 13.7
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Compliance Certificates and Opinions |
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43 |
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Section 13.8
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Payments
on Business Days |
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43 |
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Section 13.9
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Conflict
with Trust Indenture Act |
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43 |
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Section 13.10
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Counterparts |
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43 |
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Section 13.11
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Separability |
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43 |
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Section 13.12
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Compliance Certificates |
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44 |
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ARTICLE 14 SUBORDINATION OF
SECURITIES
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44 |
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Section 14.1
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Subordination Terms |
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-iv-
INDENTURE
INDENTURE , dated as
of
, 2005, among NEW CENTURY FINANCIAL CORPORATION , a Maryland
corporation (the “Company”), and
, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS , for its
lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the
execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the
issuance of subordinated debt securities (hereinafter referred to
as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate
principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more
series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities
without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the
Trustee;
WHEREAS , to provide
the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be
authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly
authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS , all things
necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company,
in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE , in
consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by
the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as
follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of
Securities.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions of
Terms.
The terms defined in this
Section (except as in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental
hereto 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 and shall include the plural as well as the singular.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference
in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(except as herein or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall
have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture
Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the
execution of this instrument.
“Authenticating
Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or
any of the series of Securities appointed by the Trustee pursuant
to Section 2.10.
“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 of the Company or any
duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
1
“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.
“Business Day”
means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than
a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough
of Manhattan, the City of New York, are authorized or obligated by
law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Certificate”
means a certificate signed by the chairman of the Board of
Directors, any principal executive officer, any chief executive
officer, any president, any executive vice president, any senior
vice president, any vice president, any principal financial officer
or any principal accounting officer, any treasurer or any assistant
treasurer, any controller or any assistant controller, any
secretary or any assistant secretary of the Company. The
Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section
13.7.
“Company” means
NEW CENTURY FINANCIAL CORPORATION , a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland,
and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall also include its
successors and assigns.
“Corporate Trust
Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any
particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which office at the date hereof is located at
; Attention:
, except that whenever a provision herein refers to an office or
agency of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New
York, such office is located, at the date hereof, at
, Attn:
.
“Custodian” means
any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official
under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means
any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“Depositary”
means, with respect to Securities of any series for which the
Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a
Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York,
another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing
agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or
regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company
pursuant to either Section 2.1 or 2.11.
“Event of
Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular
series, any event specified in Section 6.1, continued for the
period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange Act”
means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
“Global Security”
means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security
executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the
Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all
in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the
name of the Depositary or its nominee.
2
“Governmental
Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations
of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person
controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or
instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of
which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit
obligation by the United States of America that, in either case,
are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof,
and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as
defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with
respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment
of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation
held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such
depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by
law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from
the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from
any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental
Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on
the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary
receipt.
“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.
“Indenture” means
this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to
time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms
hereof.
“Interest Payment
Date,” when used with respect to any installment of interest
on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in
such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture
supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date
on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of
that series is due and payable.
“Officers’
Certificate” means a certificate signed by a chief executive
officer, a president, an executive vice president, a senior vice
president or a vice president and by the chief financial officer or
the treasurer or an assistant treasurer or the controller or an
assistant controller or the secretary or an assistant secretary of
the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the
terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements
provided for in Section 13.7, if and to the extent required by the
provisions thereof.
“Opinion of
Counsel” means an opinion in writing subject to customary
exceptions of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel
for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance
with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the
statements provided for in Section 13.7, if and to the extent
required by the provisions thereof.
“Outstanding,”
when used with reference to Securities of any series, means,
subject to the provisions of Section 8.4, as of any particular
time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a)
Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent,
or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or
that have previously been canceled, (b) Securities or portions
thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or
Governmental Obligations 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
3
shall act as its own paying agent);
provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such
Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice
of such redemption shall have been given as in Article III
provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been
made for giving such notice and (c) Securities in lieu of or in
substitution for which other Securities shall have been
authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section
2.7.
“Person” means
any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
joint-stock company, limited liability company, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
“Predecessor
Security” of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that
evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of
this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under
Section 2.7 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall
be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or
stolen Security.
“Responsible
Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any
officer in the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or to whom
any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
“Securities”
means the debt Securities authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture.
“Securities Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securityholder,”
“holder of Securities,” “registered
holder,” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons
in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on
the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with
the terms of this Indenture.
“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a
majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be
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 whose outstanding
partnership or similar interests 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.
“Trustee” means [
], and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, shall
also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there
is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder,
“Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term
“Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series
of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that
series.
“Trust Indenture
Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended.
“Voting Stock,”
as applied to stock of any Person, 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.
4
ARTICLE 2
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS,
EXECUTION, REGISTRATION
AND EXCHANGE OF
SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Designation
and Terms of Securities.
(a) The aggregate principal
amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or
more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of
that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board
Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental
hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series,
there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution,
and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in
one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the
Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of
that series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that
may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for
Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of
that series);
(3) the date or dates on
which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable, any
original issue discount that may apply to the Securities of that
series upon their issuance, the principal amount due at maturity,
and the place(s) of payment;
(4) the rate or rates at
which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the
manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;
(5) the date or dates from
which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on
which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination
of such Interest Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the
record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is
payable on any such Interest Payment Dates or the manner of
determination of such record dates;
(6) the right, if any, to
extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such
extension;
(7) the period or periods
within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and
conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in
whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(8) the obligation, if any,
of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series
pursuant to any sinking fund, mandatory redemption, or analogous
provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of
future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder
thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices
at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of
the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part,
pursuant to such obligation;
5
(9) the form of the
Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of
authentication for such series;
(10) if other than
denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral
multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the
series shall be issuable;
(11) any and all other terms
(including terms, to the extent applicable, relating to any auction
or remarketing of the Securities of that series and any security
for the obligations of the Company with respect to such Securities)
with respect to such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent
with the terms of this Indenture, as amended by any supplemental
indenture) including any terms which may be required by or
advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in
connection with the marketing of Securities of that
series;
(12) whether the Securities
are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the terms and
the identity of the Depositary for such series;
(13) whether the Securities
will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock
or other securities of the Company or any other Person and, if so,
the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so
convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange
price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be
adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at the Company’s option
or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, and
the applicable conversion or exchange period;
(14) if other than the
principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of
Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of
acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section
6.1;
(15) any additional or
different Events of Default or restrictive covenants (which may
include, among other restrictions, restrictions on the
Company’s ability or the ability of the Company’s
Subsidiaries to: incur additional indebtedness; issue additional
securities; create liens; pay dividends or make distributions in
respect of their capital stock; redeem capital stock; place
restrictions on such Subsidiaries placing restrictions on their
ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets;
make investments or other restricted payments; sell or otherwise
dispose of assets; enter into sale-leaseback transactions; engage
in transactions with stockholders and affiliates; issue or sell
stock of their Subsidiaries; or effect a consolidation or merger)
or financial covenants (which may include, among other financial
covenants, financial covenants that require the Company and its
Subsidiaries to maintain specified interest coverage, fixed charge,
cash flow-based or asset-based ratios) provided for with respect to
the Securities of the series;
(16) if other than dollars,
the coin or currency in which the Securities of the series are
denominated (including, but not limited to, foreign
currency);
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(17) the terms and
conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in
addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal
amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that
is not a “United States person” for federal tax
purposes;
(18) any restrictions on
transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities of the series;
and
(19) the subordination terms
of the Securities of the series.
All Securities of any one
series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination
and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such
Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental
hereto.
If any of the terms of the
series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board
Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such
action shall be certified by the secretary or an assistant
secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior
to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate of the Company
setting forth the terms of the series.
Securities of any particular
series may be issued at various times, with different dates on
which the principal or any installment of principal is payable,
with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by
which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on
which such interest may be payable and with different redemption
dates.
Section 2.2 Form of
Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.
The Securities of any series
and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne
by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport
as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as
provided in a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’
Certificate, and they may have such letters, numbers or other marks
of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements
printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any
rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any securities exchange on which Securities of that
series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
Section 2.3 Denominations:
Provisions for Payment.
The Securities shall be
issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one
thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof,
subject to Section 2.1(10). The Securities of a particular series
shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified
with respect to that series. The principal of and the interest on
the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in
case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in
the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the
time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City and State of New York. Each Security shall be
dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve
30-day months.
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The interest installment on
any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly
provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that
series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or
one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on the regular record date for such interest installment.
In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion
thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is
subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest
Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on
such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such
Security as provided in Section 3.3.
Any interest on any Security
that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for,
on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series
(herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith
cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant
regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such
Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election,
as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1) The Company may make
payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in
whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor
Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special
record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall
be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to
be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment,
and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an
amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid
in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of
the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust
for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest
as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a
special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest
which shall 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 his or her address as it appears
in the Security Register (as defined in Section 2.5(b)), 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
Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are
registered on such special record date.
(2) The Company may make
payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other
lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and
upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after
notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment
pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Trustee.
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Unless otherwise set forth in
a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto
establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to
Section 2.1 hereof, the term “regular record date” as
used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities and any
Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the
fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which
an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to
Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is
the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately
preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established
for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such
Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or
not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing
provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered
under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu
of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to
interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by
such other Security.
Section 2.4 Execution and
Authentications.
The Securities shall be
signed on behalf of the Company by its chief executive officer, or
one of its presidents, or one of its executive vice presidents, or
one of its senior vice presidents, or one of its vice presidents,
or its chief financial officer, or its chief legal officer, or its
treasurer, or one of its assistant treasurers, or its controller or
one of its assistant controllers, or its secretary, or one of its
assistant secretaries, under its corporate seal attested by its
secretary or one of its assistant secretaries. Signatures may be in
the form of a manual or facsimile signature.
The Company may use the
facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a chief
executive officer, president, executive vice president, senior vice
president or vice president thereof, chief financial officer, chief
legal officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer, controller or
assistant controller, secretary or assistant secretary thereof,
notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be
authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have
ceased to be such an officer of the Company. The seal of the
Company may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal and may be
impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the
Securities. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or
endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each
Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the
Trustee.
A Security shall not be valid
until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the
Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be
conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been
duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from
time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture,
the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written
order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities, signed by a chief executive officer, president, senior
vice president or any vice president, chief financial officer,
chief legal officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer, controller
or assistant controller, and its secretary or any assistant
secretary, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order
shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.
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In authenticating such
Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this
Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully
protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the
form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such
Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the
Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the
Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Section 2.5 Registration
of Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Securities of any series
may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency
of the Company designated for such purpose in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City and State of New York, for other Securities of
such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate
principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided
in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for
exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate
and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the
Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder
making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers
not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep,
or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such
purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New
York, or such other location designated by the Company, a register
or registers (herein referred to as the “Security
Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations
as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and
the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which
at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the
Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities
and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as
authorized by Board Resolution (the “Security
Registrar”).
Upon surrender for transfer
of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated
for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall
authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of
the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the
same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate
principal amount.
All Securities presented or
surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided
in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the
Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or
instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the
Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by
such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) Except as provided
pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set
forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or
more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, no service charge
shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of
Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial
redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in
relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.6,
Section 3.3(b) and Section 9.4 not involving any
transfer.
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(d) The Company shall not be
required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any
Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15
days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor
(ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any
series or portions thereof called for redemption, other than the
unredeemed portion of any such Securities being redeemed in part.
The provisions of this Section 2.5 are, with respect to any Global
Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
Section 2.6 Temporary
Securities.
Pending the preparation of
definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities
(printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized
denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in
the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are
issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may
be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined
by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be
executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon
the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with
like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without
unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish
definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all
temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange
therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency
of the Company designated for the purpose in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City and State of New York, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange
for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount
of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises
the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be
executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until
so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive
Securities of such series authenticated and delivered
hereunder.
Section 2.7 Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.
In case any temporary or
definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or
stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall
execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee (subject
as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the
same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in
exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of
and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen.
In every case the applicant for a substituted Security 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 the
applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The
Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver
the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer
of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the
Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of
the Trustee) connected therewith.
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In case any Security that has
matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be
destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a
substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same
(without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated
Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the
Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may
require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or
theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee
of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the
ownership thereof.
Every replacement Security
issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute
an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not
the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at
any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all
the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any
and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder.
All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition
that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the
replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) 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.
Section 2.8
Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered
for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of
transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent,
be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to
the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be
issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by
any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company
at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the
Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of
such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in
accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate
of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise
acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not
operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness
represented by such Securities unless and until the same are
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.9 Benefits of
Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or
in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed
to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the
holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of
Article XIV, the holders of any indebtedness of the Company to
which the Securities of any series are subordinated) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this
Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein
contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for
the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the
Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article XIV, the
holders of any indebtedness of the Company to which the Securities
of any series are subordinated).
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Section 2.10
Authenticating Agent.
So long as any of the
Securities of any series remain Outstanding, there may be an
Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which
the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating
Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to
authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange,
transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so
authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture
and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if
authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this
Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall
be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for
such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the
Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and
surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient
under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or
in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that
is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business
and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to
be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign
immediately.
Any Authenticating Agent may
at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the
Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon
request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any
Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to
such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation,
termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating
Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating
Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating
Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent
pursuant hereto.
Section 2.11 Global
Securities.
(a) If the Company shall
establish pursuant to Section 2.1 that the Securities of a
particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with
Section 2.4, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i)
shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of
such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary
or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the
Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and
(iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:
“Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the
Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in
part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor
Depositary or to a nominee of such successor
Depositary.”
(b) Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 2.5, the Global Security of a series may be
transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in
Section 2.5, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such
series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or
approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor
Depositary.
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(c) If at any time the
Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that
it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series
or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be
registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other
applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for
such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after
the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such
condition, as the case may be, or if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and the Company has received a request
from the Depositary, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be
applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will
execute, and subject to Section 2.4, the Trustee will authenticate
and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered
form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the
Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global
Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that
the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a
Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall
no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the
Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.4, the Trustee, upon
receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such
determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the
Securities of such series in definitive registered form without
coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such
series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of
the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered
form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global
Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in
definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global
Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in
such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary,
pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants
or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver
such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in
whose names such Securities are so registered.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.1
Redemption.
The Company may redeem the
Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates
and in accordance with the terms established for such series
pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
Section 3.2 Notice of
Redemption.
(a) In case the Company shall
desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be,
a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with any
right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section
2.1 hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give
notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such
series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a
notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than
90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such
holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the
Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the
Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly
given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In
any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder
of
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any Security of any series designated
for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice,
shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption
of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the
case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any
restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such
Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall
furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing
compliance with any such restriction.
Each such notice of
redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the
redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be
redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of
such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency
of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of
New York, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that
interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as
specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest
will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund,
if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series
are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that
series to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular
Securities to be so redeemed.
In case any Security is to be
redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security
shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date,
upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of
such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
thereof will be issued.
(b) If less than all the
Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give
the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice in advance of the date
fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of
Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee
shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem
appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the
selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S.
dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal
amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the
Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the
Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed,
in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so
elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by its
chief executive officer, president or any senior vice president or
vice president, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call
all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for
redemption and to
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