Exhibit 4.3
MISSISSIPPI POWER
COMPANY
TO
_____________________________________,
TRUSTEE.
SUBORDINATED NOTE
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF ________ 1,
20___
MISSISSIPPI POWER
COMPANY
RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN
TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 AND
SUBORDINATED NOTE INDENTURE,
DATED AS OF _______ 1, 20___
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TRUST INDENTURE
ACT SECTION
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INDENTURE SECTION
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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Recitals of the Company
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1
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SECTION 101. DEFINITIONS
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2
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Company Request or Company Order
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3
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Junior Subordinated Note
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4
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Security
Register" and "Security Registrar
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6
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SECTION
102. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND
OPINIONS
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7
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SECTION
103. FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO
TRUSTEE
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8
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SECTION
104. ACTS OF HOLDERS
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8
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SECTION
105. NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND
COMPANY
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10
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SECTION
106. NOTICE TO HOLDERS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES;
WAIVER
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10
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SECTION
107. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE
ACT
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11
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SECTION
108. EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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11
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SECTION
109. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
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11
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SECTION
110. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE
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11
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SECTION
111. BENEFITS OF INDENTURE
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11
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SECTION
112. GOVERNING LAW
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11
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SECTION
113. LEGAL HOLIDAYS
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11
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SECTION
114. APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR
SERVICE
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12
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SECTION
201. FORMS GENERALLY
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12
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SECTION
202. FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
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13
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SECTION
203. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES ISSUABLE IN THE
FORM OF A
GLOBAL SECURITY
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13
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SECTION
301. AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN
SERIES
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15
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SECTION
302. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND
DATING
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17
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SECTION
303. REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND
EXCHANGE
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18
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SECTION
304. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN
JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES
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20
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SECTION
305. PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS
PRESERVED
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20
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SECTION
306. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS
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22
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SECTION
307. CANCELLATION
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22
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SECTION
308. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST
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22
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SECTION
401. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF
INDENTURE
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22
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SECTION
402. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY
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24
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SECTION
501. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
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24
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SECTION
502. ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND
ANNULMENT
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26
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SECTION
503. COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR
ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE
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27
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SECTION
504. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF
CLAIM
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27
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SECTION
505. TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION
OF
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
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28
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SECTION
506. APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED
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28
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SECTION
507. LIMITATION ON SUITS
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29
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SECTION
508. UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE
PRINCIPAL,
PREMIUM AND INTEREST
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30
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SECTION
509. RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND
REMEDIES
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30
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SECTION
510. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE
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30
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SECTION
511. DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER
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30
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SECTION
512. CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES
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31
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SECTION
513. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS
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31
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SECTION
514. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS
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31
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SECTION
515. WAIVER OF STAY OR EXTENSION
LAWS
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32
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SECTION
601. CERTAIN DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
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32
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SECTION
602. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS
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33
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SECTION
603. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE
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34
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SECTION
604. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF
JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES
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35
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SECTION
605. MAY HOLD JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES
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35
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SECTION
606. MONEY HELD IN TRUST
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35
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SECTION
607. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT
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36
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SECTION
608. DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING
INTERESTS
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36
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SECTION
609. CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED;
ELIGIBILITY
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36
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SECTION
610. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF
SUCCESSOR
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37
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SECTION
611. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY
SUCCESSOR
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38
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SECTION
612. MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION
TO
BUSINESS
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39
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SECTION
613. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST
COMPANY
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40
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SECTION
614. APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING
AGENT
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40
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SECTION
701. COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF
HOLDERS
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42
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SECTION
702. PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO
HOLDERS
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42
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SECTION
703. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE
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42
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SECTION
704. REPORTS BY COMPANY
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43
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SECTION
801. COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC.,
ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS
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44
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SECTION
802. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
SUBSTITUTED
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44
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SECTION
901. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT
CONSENT OF HOLDERS
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45
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SECTION
902. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF
HOLDERS
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46
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SECTION
903. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURE
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47
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SECTION
904. EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
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47
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SECTION
905. EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
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47
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SECTION
906. CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE
ACT
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47
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SECTION
907. REFERENCE IN JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES TO
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
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48
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SECTION
1001. PAYMENT OF
PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST
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48
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SECTION
1002. MAINTENANCE
OF OFFICE OR AGENCY
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48
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SECTION
1003. MONEY FOR JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES PAYMENTS
TO BE HELD IN TRUST
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49
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SECTION
1004. ADDITIONAL
INTEREST
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50
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SECTION
1005. CORPORATE
EXISTENCE
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50
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SECTION
1006. LIMITATIONS ON DIVIDEND AND CERTAIN OTHER
PAYMENTS
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51
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SECTION
1007. STATEMENT AS
TO COMPLIANCE
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51
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SECTION
1008. WAIVER OF
CERTAIN COVENANTS
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52
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SECTION
1009. COVENANTS
REGARDING TRUST
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52
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SECTION
1101. APPLICABILITY
OF ARTICLE
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52
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SECTION
1102. ELECTION TO
REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE
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52
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SECTION
1103. SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES TO BE REDEEMED
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53
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SECTION
1104. NOTICE OF
REDEMPTION
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53
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SECTION
1105. DEPOSIT OF
REDEMPTION PRICE
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54
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SECTION
1106. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION
DATE
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54
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SECTION
1107. JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES REDEEMED IN PART
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55
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SECTION
1201. APPLICABILITY
OF ARTICLE
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55
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SECTION
1202. SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH
JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES
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56
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SECTION
1203. REDEMPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES FOR
SINKING FUND
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56
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SECTION
1301. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES SUBORDINATE TO
SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
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56
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SECTION
1302. PAYMENT OF
PROCEEDS UPON DISSOLUTION, ETC.
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57
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SECTION
1303. NO PAYMENT
WHEN SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS IN DEFAULT
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58
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SECTION
1304. PAYMENT
PERMITTED IF NO DEFAULT
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58
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SECTION
1305. SUBROGATION TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR
INDEBTEDNESS
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59
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SECTION
1306. PROVISIONS
SOLELY TO DEFINE RELATIVE RIGHTS
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59
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SECTION
1307. TRUSTEE TO
EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION
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59
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SECTION
1308. NO WAIVER OF
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
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60
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SECTION
1309. TRUST MONEYS
NOT SUBORDINATED
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60
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SECTION
1310. NOTICE TO
THE TRUSTEE
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60
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SECTION
1311. RELIANCE ON JUDICIAL ORDER OR CERTIFICATE
OF LIQUIDATING AGENT
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61
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SECTION
1312. TRUSTEE NOT FIDUCIARY FOR HOLDERS OF
SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
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62
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SECTION
1313. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AS HOLDER OF SENIOR
INDEBTEDNESS;
PRESERVATION OF TRUSTEE'S RIGHTS
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62
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SECTION
1314. ARTICLE
APPLICABLE TO PAYING AGENTS
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62
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SECTION
1315. RELIANCE BY HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
ON SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
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62
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SECTION
1401. NO RECOURSE
AGAINST OTHERS
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63
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SECTION
1403. ASSIGNMENT;
BINDING EFFECT
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63
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SECTION
1404. ADDITIONAL
INTEREST
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64
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SUBORDINATED NOTE
INDENTURE
THIS SUBORDINATED NOTE INDENTURE is made as of
_______ 1, _____, between MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY, a corporation
duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Mississippi (herein called the “Company”), having its
principal office at 2992 West Beach Boulevard, Gulfport,
Mississippi 39501, and _________________________________, a
banking corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
________________________, having its principal corporate trust
office at _________________________________________, as Trustee
(herein called the “Trustee”).
W I T N E S S
E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the
execution and delivery of this Subordinated Note Indenture to
provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness
(herein called the “Junior Subordinated Notes”), to be
issued in one or more series as in this Subordinated Note Indenture
provided; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this
Subordinated Note Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in
accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the
premises and the purchase of the Junior Subordinated Notes by the
Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes or of series thereof, as
follows:
ARTICLE
ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER
PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL
APPLICATION
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SECTION
101.
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DEFINITIONS .
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For all purposes of this Subordinated Note
Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the
context otherwise requires:
(1) the
terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in
this Article and include the plural as well as the
singular;
(2) all
other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(3) all
accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United
States of
America, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the
term “generally accepted accounting principles” with
respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall
mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the
United States of America at the date of such
computation;
(4) the
words “herein”, “hereof” and
“hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to
this Subordinated Note Indenture as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
and
(5) Trust
Securities related to a particular series of Junior Subordinated
Notes means the series of Trust Securities the proceeds of the sale
of which were loaned to the Company in exchange for such series of
Junior Subordinated Notes, and the guarantee related to such series
of Trust Securities means the guarantee pursuant to which the
Company has guaranteed, to the extent stated therein, the payment
of distributions and certain other amounts with respect to such
series of Trust Securities.
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Certain
terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that
Article.
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“Act”, when used with respect to any
Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note, has the meaning specified in
Section 104.
“Additional Interest” means (i) such
additional amounts as may be required so that the net amounts
received and retained by the Holder (if the Holder is a Securities
Trust) after paying taxes, duties, assessments or governmental
charges of whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed
by the United States or any other taxing authority will not be less
than the amounts the Holder would have received had no such taxes,
duties, assessments, or other governmental charges been imposed;
and (ii) any interest due and not paid on an Interest Payment Date,
together with interest thereon from such Interest Payment Date to
the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each Interest Payment
Date.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person
means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such
specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
“control” when used with respect to any specified
Person means the power to direct the management and policies of
such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
“controlling” and “controlled” have
meanings correlative to the foregoing. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any Securities Trust organized by the Company shall not
be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company.
“Authenticating Agent” means any
Person or Persons authorized by the Trustee to authenticate one or
more series of Junior Subordinated Notes.
“Board of Directors” means either
the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized
committee of the officers and/or directors of the Company appointed
by that board.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a
resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and
to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification,
and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means a day other
than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which banks in New
York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive
order to remain closed, or (iii) a day on which the Trustee’s
Corporate Trust Office or, with respect to Junior Subordinated
Notes issued in connection with a Securities Trust, Property
Trustee’s principal corporate trust office is closed for
business.
“Commission” means the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if at
any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is
not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the
Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such
time.
“Company” means the Person named as
the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument
until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Subordinated Note Indenture, and
thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor
corporation.
“Company Request” or “Company
Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of
the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice
President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the
Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the
office of the Trustee in ___________________ at which at any
particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which office at the date of execution of this
Subordinated Note Indenture is located at
________________________________.
“corporation” includes corporations,
partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, companies
and business trusts.
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“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning
specified in Section 305.
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“Depositary” means, unless otherwise
specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 203 or 301,
with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series issuable or
issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New
York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing
agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or
other applicable statute or regulation.
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“Event
of Default” has the meaning specified in Section
501.
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“Global Security” means, with
respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Notes issued
hereunder, a Junior Subordinated Note that is executed by the
Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the
Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all
in accordance with Section 203 of this Indenture and any
supplemental indenture hereto.
“Guarantee” means a Guarantee
Agreement, if any, executed and delivered by the Company for the
benefit of the holders from time to time of all or a portion of the
Trust Securities of a Securities Trust.
“Holder”, when used with respect to
any Junior Subordinated Note, means the Person in whose name the
Junior Subordinated Note is registered in the Security
Register.
“Indenture” means this instrument as
originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented
or amended by one or more supplemental indentures entered into
pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the
terms of the particular series of Junior Subordinated Notes
established as contemplated by Section 301.
“Interest Payment Date”, when used
with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Notes, means the
dates established for the payment of interest thereon, as provided
in the supplemental indenture for such series.
“Junior Subordinated Note” has the
meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more
particularly means any Junior Subordinated Notes authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture.
“Maturity”, when used with respect
to any Junior Subordinated Note, means the date on which the
principal of such Junior Subordinated Note or an installment of
principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided,
whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration,
call for redemption or otherwise.
“Officers’ Certificate” means
a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or
a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered
to the Trustee.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written
opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, and who
shall be acceptable to the Trustee.
“Outstanding”, when used with
respect to Junior Subordinated Notes, means, as of the date of
determination, all Junior Subordinated Notes theretofore
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture,
except:
(i) Junior
Subordinated Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered
to the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Junior
Subordinated Notes for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or
any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and
segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its
own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Junior Subordinated
Notes; provided that if such Junior Subordinated Notes are to be
redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
this Indenture or provision for the giving of such notice
satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;
(iii) Junior
Subordinated Notes that have been paid or in exchange for or in
lieu of which other Junior Subordinated Notes have been
authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than
any such Junior Subordinated Notes in respect of which there shall
have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that
such Junior Subordinated Notes are held by a bona fide purchaser in
whose hands such Junior Subordinated Notes are valid obligations of
the Company; and
(iv) Junior
Subordinated Notes, or portions thereof, converted into or
exchanged for another security if the terms of such Junior
Subordinated Notes provide for such conversion or
exchange;
provided,
however, that in determining, during any period in which any Junior
Subordinated Notes of a series are owned by any Person other than
the Company or any Affiliate thereof, whether the Holders of the
requisite principal amount of Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series owned by the Company or any Affiliate thereof
shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding. In
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon
any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent
or waiver, only Junior Subordinated Notes that the Trustee knows to
be so owned by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company in the
above circumstances shall be so disregarded. Junior Subordinated
Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded
as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of
the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to
such Junior Subordinated Notes and that the pledgee is not the
Company or any Affiliate of the Company.
“Paying Agent” means any Person
authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest on any Junior Subordinated Notes on behalf of the
Company.
“Person” means any individual,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
“Predecessor Security” of any
particular Junior Subordinated Note means every previous Junior
Subordinated Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as
that evidenced by such particular Junior Subordinated Note; and,
for the purposes of this definition, any Junior Subordinated Note
authenticated and delivered under Section 304 in exchange for or in
lieu of a
mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Junior Subordinated Note shall be deemed
to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Junior Subordinated Note.
“Property Trustee”, when used with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, means the
Person designated as such in the related Trust
Agreement.
“Redemption Date”, when used with
respect to any Junior Subordinated Note to be redeemed, means the
date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture.
“Redemption Price”, when used with
respect to any Junior Subordinated Note to be redeemed, means the
price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.
“Regular Record Date” for the
interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series means the date specified for that
purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business
Day.
“Responsible Officer”, when used
with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee
assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters
with respect to this Indenture.
“Securities Trust” means any
statutory trust formed by the Company or an Affiliate to issue
Trust Securities, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase
Junior Subordinated Notes of one or more series.
“Security Register” and
“Security Registrar” have the respective meanings
specified in Section 303.
“Senior Indebtedness” means, with
respect to the Company, (i) any payment due in respect of
indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of
execution of this Subordinated Note Indenture or thereafter
incurred, created, or assumed, (a) in respect of money borrowed
(including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or
similar instrument) and (b) evidenced by securities, debentures,
bonds, notes or other similar instruments issued by the Company
which, by their terms, are senior or senior subordinated debt
securities including, without limitation, all obligations under its
indentures with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease
obligations; (iii) all obligations issued or assumed as the
deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale
obligations and all obligations of the Company under any title
retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising
in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase
obligations); (iv) all obligations for the reimbursement of any
letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase
facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the
type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons
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), except
for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to
or pari passu with the Junior Subordinated Notes and (2) any
unsecured
indebtedness
between or among the Company or its Affiliates. Such Senior
Indebtedness shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of the
subordination provisions contained in Article Thirteen irrespective
of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior
Indebtedness.
“Special Record Date” for the
payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
of any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section
305.
“Stated Maturity”, when used with
respect to any Junior Subordinated Note or any installment of
principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in
such Junior Subordinated Note as the fixed date on which the
principal of such Junior Subordinated Note or such installment of
principal or interest is due and payable.
“Trust Agreement”, when used with
respect to a Securities Trust, means the agreement or instrument
that governs the affairs of such Securities
Trust.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein
to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall
mean such Trust Indenture Act or provision, as the case may be, as
amended or replaced from time to time.
“Trust Securities” means the
securities issued by a Securities Trust evidencing the entire
beneficial interest therein.
“Trustee” means the Person named as
the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument
until a successor Trustee shall have become such with respect to
one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
“Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then
a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such
Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series shall mean the Trustee with
respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of that
series.
“Vice President”, when used with
respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president,
whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added
before or after the title “vice
president.”
|
SECTION
102.
|
COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS .
|
Upon any application or request by the Company
to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this
Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an
Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent,
if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating
that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent,
if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any
such application or request as to which the furnishing of such
documents is specifically required by any provision of this
Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no
additional certificate or opinion need be
furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to
compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Indenture shall include
(i) a
statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein
relating thereto;
(ii) a
brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in
such certificate or opinion are based;
(iii) a
statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made
such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to
express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been complied with; and
(iv) a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
such condition or covenant has been complied
with.
|
SECTION
103.
|
FORM OF
DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE .
|
In any case where several matters are required
to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified
Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by,
or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be
certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may
certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or
more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person
may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several
documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the
Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon
a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless
such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should
know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with
respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is
based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may
be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a
certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or
officers of the Company stating that the information with respect
to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless
such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should
know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with
respect to such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or
execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates,
statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture,
they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one
instrument.
|
SECTION
104.
|
ACTS OF
HOLDERS .
|
(a) Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by
Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments
of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders
in
person or by
agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise
expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such
instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where
it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or
instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby)
are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the
Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution
of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent,
shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject
to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company,
if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(b) The
fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer
authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that
the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to
him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer in a
capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or
affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority.
(c) The
principal amount and serial numbers of Junior Subordinated Notes
held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be
proved by the Security Register.
(d) Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
election, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Junior
Subordinated Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Junior
Subordinated Note and the Holder of every Junior Subordinated Note
issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange
therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or
suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance
thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such
Junior Subordinated Note.
(e) The
fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing and
the authority of the Person executing the same may also be proved
in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient; and the
Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to
any of the matters referred to in this Section.
(f) If
the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series any Act, the Company may, at its option, by
Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the
determination of Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes entitled to
take such Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so.
Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s
discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such Act may be sought
or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of
record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed
to be Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes for the purpose of
determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series Outstanding have authorized or
agreed or consented to such Act, and for that purpose the Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series Outstanding shall be computed as
of such record date.
|
SECTION
105.
|
NOTICES,
ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY .
|
Any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, election, waiver or Act of Holders or other
document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon,
given or furnished to, or filed with,
(1) the
Trustee by any Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note or by the
Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made,
given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its
Corporate Trust Office, Attention:
__________________,
or
(2) the
Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly
provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to
the Company addressed to the attention of its Secretary, at 2992
West Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501, with a copy to
Southern Company Services, Inc., 30 Ivan Allen, Jr. Blvd., N.W.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30308, Attention: Corporate Finance Department, or
at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee
by the Company.
|
SECTION
106.
|
NOTICE TO
HOLDERS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES; WAIVER
.
|
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Junior
Subordinated Notes of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently
given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to
each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in
the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not
earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such
Notice.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular
mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be
impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification
as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute
a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case
where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to
mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any
particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with
respect to other Holders.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any
manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled
to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such
waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by
Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes shall be filed with the
Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the
validity of any action taken in reliance upon such
waiver.
|
SECTION
107.
|
CONFLICT
WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT .
|
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or
conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is
required to be a part of and govern this Indenture, such required
provision shall control.
|
SECTION
108.
|
EFFECT OF
HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS .
|
The Article and Section headings herein and the
Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
|
SECTION
109.
|
SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS .
|
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture
by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so
expressed or not.
|
SECTION
110.
|
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE
.
|
In case any provision in this Indenture or the
Junior Subordinated Notes shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
|
SECTION
111.
|
BENEFITS
OF INDENTURE .
|
Nothing in this Indenture or the Junior
Subordinated Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person,
other than the parties hereto, their successors hereunder and the
Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes and, to the extent provided in
Section 1403, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or Trust
Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Indenture.
|
SECTION
112.
|
GOVERNING
LAW .
|
This Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
internal laws of the State of New York.
|
SECTION
113.
|
LEGAL
HOLIDAYS .
|
In any case where any Interest Payment Date,
Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Junior Subordinated Note
shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other
provision of this Indenture or of the Junior Subordinated Notes)
payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be
made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business
Day, 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 Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at
the Stated
Maturity,
provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for
the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption
Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
|
SECTION
114.
|
APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR
SERVICE .
|
By the execution and delivery of this Indenture,
the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent upon which
process may be served in any legal action or proceeding which may
be instituted in any Federal or State court in the Borough of
Manhattan, New York City, arising out of or relating to the Junior
Subordinated Notes or this Indenture. Service of process upon such
agent at the office of such agent at
____________________________________________, Attention:
__________________________________ (or such other address in the
Borough of Manhattan, New York City, as may be a corporate trust
office of the Trustee), and written notice of such service to the
Company by the Person serving the same addressed as provided in
Section 105, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of
process upon the Company in any such legal action or proceeding,
and the Company hereby submits to the jurisdiction of any such
court in which any such legal action or proceeding is so
instituted. Such appointment shall be irrevocable so long as the
Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes shall have any rights pursuant
to the terms thereof or of this Indenture until the appointment of
a successor by the Company with the consent of the Trustee and such
successor’s acceptance of such appointment. The Company
further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution
and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be
necessary to continue such designation and appointment of such
agent or successor.
By the execution and delivery of this Indenture,
the Trustee hereby agrees to act as such agent and undertakes
promptly to notify the Company of receipt by it of service of
process in accordance with this Section.
ARTICLE
TWO
FORMS OF
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
|
SECTION
201.
|
FORMS
GENERALLY .
|
The Junior Subordinated Notes of each series
shall be in substantially the form appended to the supplemental
indenture authorizing such series, in each case with such
appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other
variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may
have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and
such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to
comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may,
consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such
Junior Subordinated Notes, as evidenced by their execution of the
Junior Subordinated Notes.
The Junior Subordinated Notes of each series
shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such
denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301.
In the absence of such denominations with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series, the
Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series shall be issuable in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof.
The definitive Junior Subordinated Notes may be
printed, typewritten, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved
borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined
by the officers executing such Junior Subordinated Notes, as
evidenced by their execution of such Junior Subordinated
Notes.
|
SECTION
202.
|
FORM OF
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
.
|
The form of the Trustee’s Certificate of
Authentication for a series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall be
in substantially the form appended to the supplemental indenture
authorizing such series.
|
SECTION
203.
|
JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES ISSUABLE IN THE FORM OF A GLOBAL
SECURITY .
|
(a) If
the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 301 that the Junior
Subordinated Notes of a particular series are to be issued in whole
or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with
Section 302 and the Company Order delivered to the Trustee
thereunder, authenticate and deliver such Global Security or
Securities, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in
an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series to be
represented by such Global Security or Securities, (ii) may provide
that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes
represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced
to reflect exchanges, (iii) shall be registered in the name of the
Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee,
(iv) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or
pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (v) shall bear a
legend in accordance with the requirements of the
Depositary.
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 203 or of Section 303, subject
to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a
Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be
exchanged in whole or in part for individual Junior Subordinated
Notes, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in
part and in the manner provided in Section 303, only to a nominee
of the Depositary for such Global Security, or to the Depositary,
or to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or
approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor
Depositary.
(c) (1)
If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the
Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary
for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary for the
Junior Subordinated Notes for such series shall no longer be
eligible or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, the
Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such
Global Security. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security
is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company
receives such notice or becomes aware of such
ineligibility, the Company will execute, and the
Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and
delivery of individual Junior Subordinated Notes of such series in
exchange for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver
individual Junior Subordinated Notes of such series of like tenor
and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal
to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such
Global Security.
(2) The
Company may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to the
procedures of the Depositary, determine that the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series issued or issuable in the form of
one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by
such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will
execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Request for the
authentication and delivery of individual Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global
Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series of like tenor and terms in
definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of such Global Security or Securities representing
such series in exchange for such Global Security or
Securities.
(3) If
specified by the Company pursuant to Section 301 with respect to
Junior Subordinated Notes issued or issuable in the form of a
Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may
surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for
individual Junior Subordinated Notes of such series of like tenor
and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the
Company and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute,
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service
charge, (A) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new
Junior Subordinated Note or Notes of the same series of like tenor
and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such
Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for
such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and
(B) to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and
terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if
any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global
Security and the aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Notes delivered to Holders thereof.
(4) In
any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs,
the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and
deliver individual Junior Subordinated Notes in definitive form in
authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of the entire principal
amount of a Global Security for individual Junior Subordinated
Notes, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee.
Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Junior Subordinated
Notes issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this
Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant
to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or
otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. Provided that the Company
and the Trustee have so agreed, the Trustee shall deliver such
Junior Subordinated Notes to the Persons in whose names the Junior
Subordinated Notes are registered.
(5) Any
endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any
increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of
Holders, of Outstanding Junior
Subordinated
Notes represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such
Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company
Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 302 with respect thereto.
Subject to the provisions of Section 302, the Trustee shall deliver
and redeliver any such Global Security in the manner and upon
instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in
the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to
Section 302 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any
instructions by the Company with respect to such Global Security
shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or contained in
an Officers’ Certificate and need not be accompanied by an
Opinion of Counsel.
ARTICLE
THREE
THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES
|
SECTION
301.
|
AMOUNT
UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES .
|
The aggregate principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture is unlimited.
The Junior Subordinated Notes may be issued in
one or more series. There may be established, pursuant to one or
more supplemental indentures hereto, prior to the issuance of
Junior Subordinated Notes of any series,
(1) the
title of the Junior Subordinated Notes of the series (which shall
distinguish the Junior Subordinated Notes of the series from Junior
Subordinated Notes of all other series);
(2) any
limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Notes of the series which may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture (except for Junior Subordinated
Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of,
or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Junior Subordinated Notes
of the series pursuant to Sections 203, 303, 304, 907 or
1107);
(3) the
Person to whom interest on a Junior Subordinated Note of the series
shall be payable if other than the Person in whose name that Junior
Subordinated Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for
such interest;
(4) the
date or dates on which the principal of the Junior Subordinated
Notes of the series is payable, and the right, if any, to extend or
advance the Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes and
the conditions to such extension or advancement;
(5) the
rate or rates at which the Junior Subordinated Notes of the series
shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or
rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such
interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such
interest
shall be
payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on Junior
Subordinated Notes on any Interest Payment Date and the basis upon
which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months;
(6) the
place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any, on Junior Subordinated Notes of the series shall
be payable;
(7) the
period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and
the terms and conditions upon which Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or
analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof and the
period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and
the terms and conditions upon which, Junior Subordinated Notes of
the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part,
pursuant to such obligation;
(9) the
denominations in which Junior Subordinated Notes of the series
shall be issuable;
(10) if the amount
of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest
(including Additional Interest) on the Junior Subordinated Notes of
the series may be determined with reference to an index or formula,
the manner in which such amounts shall be
determined;
(11) if other than
the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount
of Junior Subordinated Notes of the series which shall be payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant
to Section 502;
(12) any deletions
from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or
covenants of the Company as provided herein pertaining to the
Junior Subordinated Notes of the series, and any change in the
rights of the Trustee or Holders of such series pursuant to Section
901 or 902;
(13) any additions
to the definitions currently set forth in this Indenture with
respect to such series;
(14) whether the
Junior Subordinated Notes of the series shall be issued in whole or
in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities; the terms
and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or
Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for certificated
Junior Subordinated Notes of such series and of like tenor of any
authorized denomination and the circumstances under which such
exchange may occur, if other than in the manner provided for in
Section 203; the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;
and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such
Global Security in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to
in Section 203;
(15) the right, if
any, of the Company to extend the interest payment periods of such
series of Junior Subordinated Notes, including the maximum duration
of any such extension or extensions, the Additional Interest, if
any, payable on such Junior Subordinated Notes during any extension
of the interest payment period and any notice (which shall include
notice to the Trustee) that must be given upon the exercise of such
right to extend interest payment periods;
(16) any
restriction or condition on the transferability of such Junior
Subordinated Notes; and
(17) any other
terms of the series.
All Junior Subordinated Notes of any one series
shall be substantially identical except as to the date or dates
from which interest, if any, shall accrue and denomination and
except as may otherwise be provided in the terms of such Junior
Subordinated Notes determined or established as provided above. All
Junior Subordinated Notes of any one series need not be issued at
the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be
reopened for issuances of additional Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series.
|
SECTION
302.
|
EXECUTION,
AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING .
|
The Junior Subordinated Notes shall be executed
on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its
President or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of
these officers on the Junior Subordinated Notes may be manual or
facsimile.
Junior Subordinated Notes bearing the manual or
facsimile signatures of individuals who were at the time relevant
to the authorization thereof the proper officers of the Company
shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or
any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the
authentication and delivery of such Junior Subordinated Notes or
did not hold such offices at the date of such Junior Subordinated
Notes.
At any time and from time to time after the
execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver
Junior Subordinated Notes of any series executed by the Company to
the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for
the authentication and delivery of such Junior Subordinated Notes,
and the Trustee, in accordance with the Company Order, shall
authenticate and deliver such Junior Subordinated Notes. If all of
the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series are not to be issued at
one time and if the supplemental indenture establishing such series
shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures
acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Junior
Subordinated Notes and determining the terms of particular Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series, such as interest rate, maturity
date, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue.
In authenticating Junior Subordinated Notes hereunder, and
accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in
relation to such Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully
protected in relying upon:
|
|
(1)
|
an Opinion of
Counsel, to the effect that:
|
(a) the
form and terms of such Junior Subordinated Notes or the manner of
determining such terms have been established in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture; and
(b) such
Junior Subordinated Notes, when authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any
conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute
valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable
in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;
and
(2) an
Officers’ Certificate stating, to the best knowledge of each
signer of such certificate, that no event which is, or after notice
or lapse of time would become, an Event of Default with respect to
any of the Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and be
continuing.
The Trustee
shall not be required to authenticate such Junior Subordinated
Notes if the issue of such Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to
this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties
or immunities under the Junior Subordinated Notes and this
Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee.
If all the Junior Subordinated Notes of any
series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary
to deliver an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate at
the time of issuance of each such Junior Subordinated Note, but
such opinion and certificate shall be delivered at or before the
time of issuance of the first Junior Subordinated Note of such
series to be issued.
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Each Junior
Subordinated Note shall be dated the date of its
authentication.
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No Junior Subordinated Note shall be entitled to
any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any
purpose unless there appears on such Junior Subordinated Note a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided
for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such
certificate upon any Junior Subordinated Note shall be conclusive
evidence, and the only evidence, that such Junior Subordinated Note
has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled
to the benefits of this Indenture.
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SECTION
303.
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REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND
EXCHANGE .
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The Company shall cause to be kept at the office
of the Security Registrar designated pursuant to this Section 303
or Section 1002 a register (referred to as the “Security
Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations
as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration
of Junior Subordinated Notes and of transfers of Junior
Subordinated Notes. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed as
“Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering
Junior Subordinated Notes and transfers of Junior Subordinated
Notes as herein provided.
Subject to Section 203, upon surrender for
registration of transfer of any Junior Subordinated Note of any
series at the office or agency maintained for such purpose for such
series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee
or transferees, one or more new Junior Subordinated Notes of the
same series, Stated Maturity and original issue date, of any
authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal
amount.
Subject to Section 203, Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series may be exchanged, at the option of the Holder,
for Junior Subordinated Notes of the same series, Stated Maturity
and original issue date, of any authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the
Junior Subordinated Notes to be exchanged at any such office or
agency.
Whenever any Junior Subordinated Notes are so
surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Junior Subordinated
Notes that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive.
All Junior Subordinated Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Junior Subordinated Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as
the Junior Subordinated Notes surrendered upon such registration of
transfer or exchange.
Every Junior Subordinated Note presented or
surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if
so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly
executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in
writing.
No service charge shall be made for any
registration of transfer or exchange of Junior Subordinated Notes,
but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Junior
Subordinated Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304,
907 or 1107 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue,
to register the transfer of or to exchange Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately
preceding the date notice is given identifying the serial numbers
of the Junior Subordinated Notes of that series called for
redemption, or (ii) to issue, to register the transfer of or to
exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so selected for redemption
in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Junior
Subordinated Note being redeemed in part.
None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying
Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments
made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global
Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
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SECTION
304.
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MUTILATED,
DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES .
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If any mutilated Junior Subordinated Note is
surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new
Junior Subordinated Note of the same series, Stated Maturity and
original issue date, and of like tenor and principal amount and
bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and
the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction,
loss or theft of any Junior Subordinated Note and (ii) such
security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of
them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence
of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Junior
Subordinated Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the
Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or
stolen Junior Subordinated Note, a new Junior Subordinated Note of
the same series, Stated Maturity and original issue date, and of
like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Junior Subordinated Note has become or is about to become
due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of
issuing a new Junior Subordinated Note, pay such Junior
Subordinated Note.
Upon the issuance of any new Junior Subordinated
Note under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses
(including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected
therewith.
Every new Junior Subordinated Note of any series
issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or
stolen Junior Subordinated Note shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not
the destroyed, lost or stolen Junior Subordinated Note shall be at
any time enforceable by anyone, and any such new Junior
Subordinated Note shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series duly issued
hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and
shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies
with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen Junior Subordinated Notes.
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SECTION
305.
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PAYMENT OF
INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED .
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Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by
Section 301 with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated
Notes, interest (including Additional Interest) on any Junior
Subordinated Note that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly
provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
shall be paid
to the Person in whose name that Junior Subordinated Note (or one
or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest.
Any interest (including Additional Interest) on
any Junior Subordinated Note of any series 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 Holder on the relevant Regular
Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such
Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in
each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2)
below:
(1) The
Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the
Persons in whose names the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series
(or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the
close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such
Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner.
The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of
Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Junior Subordinated
Note of such series 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 be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days
prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days
after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed
payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such
Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the
Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be
mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series at the address of such Holder as
it appears in the Security 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
so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in
whose names the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series (or their
respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of
business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable
pursuant to the following Clause (2).
(2) The
Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest (including
Additional Interest, if any) on the Junior Subordinated Notes of
any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which such Junior
Subordinated Notes 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.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this
Section, each Junior Subordinated Note delivered under this
Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in
lieu of any other Junior Subordinated Note shall carry the rights
to interest accrued (including Additional
Interest, if
any) and unpaid, and to accrue (including Additional Interest, if
any), which were carried by such other Junior Subordinated
Note.
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SECTION
306.
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PERSONS
DEEMED OWNERS .
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Prior to due presentment of a Junior
Subordinated Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the
Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose name such Junior Subordinated Note is registered as
the owner of such Junior Subordinated Note for the purpose of
receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and
(subject to Section 305) interest (including Additional Interest,
if any) on such Junior Subordinated Note and for all other purposes
whatsoever, whether or not such Junior Subordinated Note be
overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the
Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.
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SECTION
307.
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CANCELLATION .
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All Junior Subordinated Notes surrendered for
payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for
credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to
any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and
shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. The Company may at any
time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Junior
Subordinated Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder
which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and
all Junior Subordinated Notes so delivered shall be canceled by the
Trustee. No Junior Subordinated Notes shall be authenticated in
lieu of or in exchange for any Junior Subordinated Notes canceled
as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this
Indenture. All cancelled Junior Subordinated Notes held by the
Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with a Company Order and
the Trustee shall promptly deliver a certificate of disposition to
the Company.
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SECTION
308.
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COMPUTATION OF INTEREST
.
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Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301 for Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, interest
on the Junior Subordinated Notes of each series shall be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months.
ARTICLE
FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
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SECTION
401.
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SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF
INDENTURE .
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This Indenture shall, upon Company Request,
cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of
registration of transfer or exchange of Junior Subordinated Notes
herein
expressly
provided for) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall
execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge
of this Indenture, when
(A) all
Junior Subordinated Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered
(other than (i) Junior Subordinated Notes that have been destroyed,
lost or stolen and that have been replaced as provided for in
Section 304 and (ii) Junior Subordinated Notes for whose payment
money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and
held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company
or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
or
(B) all such
Junior Subordinated Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation have become due and payable, or have been called
for redemption,
and the Company, in the case of (B) above, has
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds in
trust for the purpose described above an amount sufficient to pay
and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Junior Subordinated
Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of the
Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, or if
later, the date of payment;
(2) the
Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the
Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture have been complied
with.
In the event there are Junior Subordinated Notes
of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to
execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Junior
Subordinated Notes of all series as to which it is Trustee and if
the other conditions thereto are met. In the event there are two or
more Trustees hereunder, then the effectiveness of any such
instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instruments
from all Trustees hereunder.
If, subsequent to the date a discharge is
effected pursuant to this Section 401, Additional Interest (in
excess of that established as of the date such discharge is
effected) becomes payable in respect of the series of Junior
Subordinated Notes discharged, in order to preserve the benefits of
the discharge established hereunder, the Company shall irrevocably
deposit or cause to be irrevocably deposited in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 401, within ten Business Days prior to
the date the first payment in respect of any portion of such excess
Additional Interest becomes due, such additional funds as are
necessary to satisfy the provisions of this Section 401 as if a
discharge were being effected as of the date of such subsequent
deposit. Failure to comply with the requirements of this paragraph
shall result in the termination of the benefits of the discharge
established by this Section 401.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge
of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee
under Section 607, the obligations of the Company to any
Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have
been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause
(1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section
402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall
survive.
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SECTION
402.
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APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY
.
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Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph
of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to
Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance
with the provisions of the Junior Subordinated Notes, and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying
Agent (including the Company or an Affiliate acting as its own
Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled
thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for
whose payment such money has been deposited with the
Trustee.
ARTICLE
FIVE
REMEDIES
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SECTION
501.
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EVENTS OF
DEFAULT .
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“Event of Default”, wherever used
herein with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series,
means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary
or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of
any administrative or governmental body or occasioned by the
operation of Article Thirteen):
(1) default
in the payment of any interest upon any Junior Subordinated Note of
that series when it becomes due and payable on an Interest Payment
Date other than at Maturity, including Additional Interest (as
defined in clause (ii) of the definition thereof) in respect
thereof, and continuance of such default for a period of thirty
(30) days; provided, however, that (i) a valid extension of the
interest payment period by the Company pursuant to the terms of a
supplemental indenture authorizing the Junior Subordinated Notes of
that series shall not constitute a default in the payment of
interest for this purpose and (ii) no such default shall be deemed
to exist if, on or prior to the date on which such interest became
due, the Company shall have made a payment sufficient to pay such
interest pursuant to the Guarantee related to the Trust Securities
of the Securities Trust owning such series of Junior Subordinated
Notes, and shall have delivered a notice to the Trustee to that
effect; or
(2) default
in payment of Additional Interest (as defined in clause (i) of the
definition thereof) and the continuance of such default for a
period of thirty (30) days; or