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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 15, 1999.
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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DELAWARE 4813 11-3168327
(State or other (Primary Standard Industrial (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of incorporation) Classification Code Number) Identification No.)
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ONE NORTH LEXINGTON AVENUE
WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601
PHONE: (914) 421-6700
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
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ARNOLD L. WADLER, ESQ.
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK, INC.
C/O METROMEDIA COMPANY
ONE MEADOWLAND PLAZA
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ 07073
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
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Copy to:
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DOUGLAS A. CIFU, ESQ. NICHOLAS P. SAGGESE, ESQ.
PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
1285 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 300 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10019-6064 LOS ANGELES, CA 90071
(212) 373-3000 (213) 687-5000
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time or at one time after the effective date of this Registration Statement
as determined by the Registrant or the Selling Stockholders.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. / /
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /
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(CALCULATION TABLE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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PROPOSED MAXIMUM
PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE OFFERING REGISTRATION
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED(1)(2) PER SHARE(1)(2) PRICE(1)(3) FEE(4)
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Primary Offering:
Debt Securities..................................
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share(5).....
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share(6).......................................
Warrants(7)......................................
Subtotal: $1,500,000,000 $417,000
Secondary Offering:
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share(8)....................................... 21,505,376 $34.875 $750,000,000 $208,500
Subtotal: $750,000,000 $208,500
Total: $2,250,000,000 $625,500
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(1) There are being registered under this Registration Statement such
indeterminate number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Preferred Stock
of the Registrant, such indeterminate number of Warrants of the Registrant,
and such indeterminate principal amount of Debt Securities of the
Registrant, as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed
$2,250,000,000. If any Debt Securities are issued at an original issue
discount, then the securities registered shall include such additional Debt
Securities as may be necessary such that the aggregate initial public
offering price of all securities issued pursuant to this Registration
Statement will equal $2,250,000,000. Any securities registered under this
Registration Statement may be sold separately or as units with other
securities registered under this Registration Statement. The proposed
maximum initial offering price per unit will be determined, from time to
time, by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of
the securities registered under this Registration Statement.
(2) Not specified with respect to each class of securities to be registered
pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Any
offering of Debt Securities denominated in any foreign currency or currency
unit will be treated as the equivalent in U.S. dollars based on the exchange
rate applicable to the purchase of such Debt Securities from the Registrant.
(4) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457 of the rules and regulations under the
Securities Act.
(5) Including such indeterminate number of shares of Preferred Stock as may from
time to time be issued (i) at indeterminate prices or (ii) upon conversion
or exchange of Debt Securities registered hereunder, to the extent any such
Debt Securities are, by their terms, convertible into Preferred Stock.
(6) Including such indeterminate number of shares of Class A Common Stock as may
from time to time be issued (i) at indeterminate prices or (ii) upon
conversion or exchange of Debt Securities or Preferred Stock registered
hereunder, to the extent any of such Debt Securities or shares of Preferred
Stock are, by their terms, convertible into Class A Common Stock.
(7) Including such indeterminate number of Warrants as may from time to time to
be issued at indeterminate prices, representing rights to purchase certain
of the Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities registered
hereunder.
(8) Pursuant to Rule 457(c), the offering price and registration fee are
computed on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Class
A Common Stock, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market on
October 8, 1999.
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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED OCTOBER 15, 1999
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY
NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
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P R O S P E C T U S
[LOGO]
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From time to time, we may sell any of the following securities:
- Debt Securities
- Preferred Stock
- Class A Common Stock
- Warrants
We will provide the specific terms of these securities in one or more
supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any
prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.
Our class A common stock is traded over-the-counter on The Nasdaq Stock
Market's National Market under the trading symbol "MFNX." The applicable
prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any
other listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market or any securities
exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.
In addition, up to 21,505,376 shares of class A common stock being
registered may be offered by certain selling stockholders. For additional
information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled
"Plan of Distribution."
The securities may be sold directly by us or, in case of class A common
stock, may be sold by selling stockholders, to investors, through agents
designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. See "Plan
of Distribution." If any underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities
in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such
underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a
prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale also
will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. We would not receive any of the
proceeds from the sale of class A common stock by selling stockholders.
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless
accompanied by a prospectus supplement. We urge you to read carefully this
prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, which will describe the
specific terms of the securities being offered to you, before you make your
investment decision.
INVESTING IN THE SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON
PAGE 3.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED UNDER THIS
PROSPECTUS OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR ADEQUATE. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is , 1999.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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RISK FACTORS............................................................................................... 3
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.......................................................... 10
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS...................................................................................... 11
BUSINESS................................................................................................... 11
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS........................................... 12
USE OF PROCEEDS............................................................................................ 12
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES............................................................................. 13
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK............................................................................... 22
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS.................................................................................... 28
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS....................................................................................... 29
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION....................................................................................... 29
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES..................................................................................... 30
EXPERTS.................................................................................................... 30
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION........................................................................ 31
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION WE FILE WITH THE SEC.......................................................... 31
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RISK FACTORS
WE HAVE A LIMITED HISTORY OF OPERATIONS
You will have limited historical financial information upon which to base
your evaluation of our performance. We were formed in April 1993 and have a
limited operating history. We currently have a limited number of customers and
are still in the process of building many of our networks. Accordingly, you must
consider our prospects in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties
frequently encountered by companies in their early stage of development.
WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO INCUR NET LOSSES
We cannot assure you that we will succeed in establishing an adequate
revenue base or that our services will generate profitability. In connection
with the construction of our networks, we have incurred substantial losses. We
expect to continue incurring losses while we concentrate on the development and
construction of additional fiber optic networks and until our networks have
established a sufficient revenue-generating customer base. We also expect to
incur losses during the initial startup phases of any services that we may
provide. We expect to continue experiencing net operating losses for the
foreseeable future. Continued losses may prevent us from pursuing our strategies
for growth and could cause us to be unable to meet our debt service obligations,
capital expenditure requirements or working capital needs.
WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DEBT WHICH MAY LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO BORROW, RESTRICT THE USE
OF OUR CASH FLOWS AND CONSTRAIN OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY, AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO MEET OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS
We have substantial debt and debt service requirements. Our substantial debt
has important consequences, including:
- our ability to borrow additional amounts for working capital, capital
expenditures or other purposes is limited,
- a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations is required to make
debt service payments, and
- our leverage could limit our ability to capitalize on significant business
opportunities and our flexibility to react to changes in general economic
conditions, competitive pressures and adverse changes in government
regulation.
We cannot assure you that our cash flow and capital resources will be
sufficient to repay our existing indebtedness and any indebtedness we may incur
in the future, or that we will be successful in obtaining alternative financing.
In the event that we are unable to repay our debts, we may be forced to reduce
or delay the completion or expansion of our networks, sell some of our assets,
obtain additional equity capital or refinance or restructure our debt.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY BECAUSE WE
DEPEND ON FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Our future largely depends on our ability to implement our business strategy
and proposed expansion in order to create the new business and revenue
opportunities. Our results of operations will be adversely affected if we cannot
fully implement our business strategy. Successful implementation depends on
numerous factors beyond our control, including economic, competitive and other
conditions and uncertainties, the ability to obtain licenses, permits,
franchises and rights-of-way on reasonable terms and conditions and the ability
to hire and retain qualified management personnel.
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WE CANNOT ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR
NETWORKS
The construction of future networks and the addition of Internet service
exchange facilities entails significant risks, including management's ability to
effectively control and manage these projects, shortages of materials or skilled
labor, unforeseen engineering, environmental or geological problems, work
stoppages, weather interference, floods and unanticipated cost increases. The
failure to obtain necessary licenses, permits and authorizations could prevent
or delay the completion of construction of all or part of our networks or
increase completion costs. In addition, our AboveNet Communications Inc.
subsidiary's establishment and maintenance of interconnections with other
network providers at various public and private points (often referred to as
"peering arrangements") is necessary for AboveNet to provide cost efficient
services. We cannot assure you that the budgeted costs of our current and future
projects will not be exceeded or that these projects will commence operations
within the contemplated schedules, if at all.
WE CANNOT ASSURE YOU THAT A MARKET FOR OUR CURRENT OR FUTURE SERVICES WILL
DEVELOP
The practice of leasing dark fiber, which is fiber optic cable without any
of the electronic or optronic equipment necessary to use the fiber for
transmission, is not widespread and we cannot assure you that the market will
develop or that we will be able to enter into contracts, comply with the terms
of these contracts or maintain relationships with communications carriers and
corporate and government customers. We also cannot assure you that these
contracts or relationships will be on economically favorable terms or that
communications carriers and corporate and government customers will not choose
to compete against, rather than cooperate with us. If we are unable to enter
into contracts, comply with the terms of the contracts or maintain relationships
with these constituencies, our operations would be materially and adversely
affected. We cannot predict whether providing services to governments will
evolve into a significant market because governments usually already control
existing rights-of-way and often build their own communications infrastructure.
We will need to strengthen our marketing efforts and increase our staff to
handle future marketing and sales requirements. If we fail to obtain
significant, widespread commercial and public acceptance of our networks and
access to sufficient buildings our visibility in the telecommunications market
could be jeopardized. We cannot assure you that we will be able to secure
customers for the commercial use of our proposed networks or access to such
buildings in each market. In addition, the market for co-location and Internet
services, which are offered by AboveNet, is new and evolving. We cannot assure
you that AboveNet's services will achieve widespread acceptance in this new
market. Further, AboveNet's success depends in large part on growth in the use
of the Internet. The growth of the Internet is highly uncertain and depends on a
variety of factors.
We may expand the range of services that we offer. These services may
include assisting customers with the integration of their leased dark fiber with
appropriate electronic and optronic equipment by facilitating the involvement of
third party suppliers, vendors and contractors. We cannot assure you that a
market will develop for our new services, that implementing these services will
be technically or economically feasible, that we can successfully develop or
market them or that we can operate and maintain our new services profitably.
SEVERAL OF OUR CUSTOMERS MAY TERMINATE THEIR AGREEMENTS WITH US IF WE DO NOT
PERFORM BY SPECIFIED TIMES
We currently have some contracts to supply leased fiber capacity which allow
the lessee to terminate the contracts and/or provide for liquidated damages if
we do not supply the stated fiber capacity by a specified time. Terminating any
of these contracts could adversely affect our operations.
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WE MAY BE UNABLE TO RAISE THE ADDITIONAL FINANCING NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NETWORKS, WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR LONG-TERM
BUSINESS STRATEGY
We may need significant amounts of additional capital to complete the
build-out of our planned fiber optic communications networks, the expansion of
AboveNet's network infrastructure and meet our long-term business strategies,
including expanding our networks to additional cities and constructing our
networks in Europe. If we need additional funds, our inability to raise them
will have an adverse effect on our operations. If we decide to raise additional
funds by incurring debt, we may become more leveraged and subject to additional
or more restrictive financial covenants and ratios. In addition, if we issue
equity securities or securities convertible or exchangeable into our equity
securities, current stockholders may face dilution.
COMPETITORS COULD OFFER SERVICES SIMILAR TO OURS IN OUR CURRENT OR PLANNED
MARKETS WHICH WOULD AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The telecommunications industry and AboveNet's business are extremely
competitive, particularly with respect to price and service, which may adversely
affect our results of operations. A significant increase in industry capacity or
reduction in overall demand would adversely affect our ability to maintain or
increase prices. In the telecommunications industry, we compete against
incumbent local exchange carriers, which have historically provided local
telephone services and currently dominate their local telecommunications
markets, and competing carriers in the local services market. In addition to
these carriers, several other potential competitors, such as facilities-based
communications service providers, cable television companies, electric
utilities, microwave carriers, satellite carriers, wireless telephone system
operators and large end-users with private networks, are capable of offering
services similar to those offered by us. Furthermore, several of these service
providers, such as wireless service providers, could build wireless networks
more rapidly and at lower cost than fiber optic networks. Additionally, the
business in which AboveNet competes is highly competitive due to a lack of
barriers to entry and high price sensitivity. Many of our competitors have
greater financial, research and development and other resources than we do.
Some of our principal competitors already own fiber optic cables as part of
their telecommunications networks. Accordingly, any of these carriers, some of
which already have franchise and other agreements with local and state
governments and substantially greater resources and more experience than us,
could directly compete with us in the market for leasing fiber capacity, if they
are willing to offer this capacity to their customers. In addition, some
communications carriers and local cable companies have extensive networks in
place that could be upgraded to fiber optic cable, as well as numerous personnel
and substantial resources to begin construction to equip their networks. If
communications carriers and local cable companies decide to equip their networks
with fiber optic cable, they could become significant competitors. Our franchise
and other agreements with the city of New York and other local and state
governments are not exclusive. Potential competitors with greater resources and
more experience than us could enter into franchise and other agreements with
local and state governments and compete directly with us. Other companies may
choose to compete with us in our current or planned markets, including Europe,
by leasing fiber capacity, including dark fiber, to our targeted customers. This
additional competition could materially and adversely affect our operations.
WE DEPEND ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS AND ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO CHANGING
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND CONSUMER PREFERENCES
We are particularly dependent on a limited number of customers. In addition,
AboveNet has a long sales cycle. We are, therefore, more susceptible to the
impact of poor economic conditions than our competitors with a more balanced mix
of business.
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THE HEAVY REGULATION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY MAY LIMIT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NETWORKS AND AFFECT OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION
Existing and future government laws and regulations will greatly influence
how we operate our business, our business strategy and ultimately, our
viability. U.S. Federal and state telecommunications laws and the laws of
foreign countries in which we operate directly shape the telecommunications
market. Consequently, regulatory requirements and/or changes could adversely
affect our operations and also influence the market for Internet, web hosting
and related services. However, we cannot predict the future regulatory framework
of our business.
U.S. LAWS MAY IMPACT OUR BUSINESS AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY REGULATING
OUR OPERATIONS AND OUR CUSTOMERS' OPERATIONS
U.S. Federal telecommunications law imposes legal requirements on common
carriers who engage in interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio, and
on telecommunications carriers. Should these regulations be applied to us, they
may have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operation. If
providing dark fiber facilities or related services provided by us were deemed
to be a telecommunications service, then regulations, both Federal and state,
applicable to telecommunications carriers might apply to us. This could subject
the revenues we receive from facility leases in interstate commerce to
assessment by the Federal Communications Commission Universal Service Fund and
the offering of those facilities or services would be subject to common carrier
regulation. In addition, our customers and, in the case of Bell Atlantic, one of
our potential shareholders, are local exchange carriers or long distance
carriers, subject to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission. Our
business may be affected by regulations applicable to these telecommunications
carriers. For example, the Federal Communications Commission has recently taken
steps, and may take further steps, to reduce the access charges, the fees paid
by long distance carriers to incumbent local exchange carriers for originating
and terminating long distance calls on the incumbent local exchange carriers'
local networks, and to give the incumbent local exchange carriers greater
flexibility in setting these charges. While we cannot predict the precise effect
reduction in access charge will have on our operations, the reduction will
likely make it more attractive for long distance carriers to use incumbent local
exchange carriers facilities, rather than our fiber optic telecommunications
network. Decisions by either the Federal Communications Commission or additional
states or courts to require unbundling of incumbent local exchange carriers'
dark fiber could decrease the demand for our dark fiber, and thereby have an
adverse effect on the results of our operations.
STATE LEGISLATION AFFECTS OUR PRICING POLICIES AND OUR COSTS
Our offering of transmission services, which is different from dark fiber
capacity, likely will be subject to regulation in each state to the extent that
these services are offered for intrastate use, and this regulation may have an
adverse effect on the results of our operations. We cannot assure you that these
regulations, as well as future regulatory, judicial, or legislative action will
not have a material adverse effect on us. In particular, state regulators have
the authority to determine both the rates we will pay to incumbent local
exchange carriers for certain interconnection arrangements such as physical
collocation, and the prices that incumbent local exchange carriers will be able
to charge our potential customers for services and facilities that compete with
our services. We will also incur costs in order to comply with regulatory
requirements such as the filing of tariffs, submission of periodic financial and
operational reports to regulators, and payment of regulatory fees and
assessments. In some jurisdictions, our pricing flexibility for intrastate
services may be limited because of regulation, although our direct competitors
will be subject to similar restrictions.
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LOCAL GOVERNMENTS' CONTROL OVER RIGHTS-OF-WAY CAN LIMIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
OUR NETWORKS
Local governments exercise legal authority that may have an adverse effect
on our business because of our need to obtain rights-of-way for our fiber
network while. While local governments may not prohibit persons from providing
telecommunications services, they can affect the timing and costs associated
with our use of public rights-of-way.
THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS IS EXTENSIVE AND
CONSTANTLY CHANGING, ADDING UNCERTAINTIES TO OUR PLANNED EXPANSION INTO
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Various regulatory requirements and limitations also will influence our
business as we attempt to enter international markets. Regulation of the
international telecommunications industry is changing rapidly. We are unable to
predict how the Federal Communications Commission and foreign regulatory bodies
will resolve the various pending international policy issues and the effect of
such resolutions on us. Our US/UK undersea cable joint venture is a U.S.
international common carrier subject to U.S. regulation under Title II of the
Communications Act of 1934. We are also licensed as a U.S. international common
carrier subject to U.S. regulation under Title II of the Communications Act of
1934. Our U.K. joint venture is, and we also are, required, under Sections 214
and 203 of the Communications Act of 1934, respectively, to obtain authorization
and file an international service tariff containing rates, terms and conditions
before initiating service. International carriers are also subject to certain
annual fees and filing requirements such as the requirement to file contracts
with other carriers, including foreign carrier agreements, and reports
describing international circuit, traffic and revenue data service. So long as
our U.K. joint venture and we operate as international common carriers, they
will also be required to comply with the rules of the Federal Communications
Commission regarding the International Settlements Policy, which defines the
permissible boundaries for U.S. carriers and their foreign correspondents to
settle the cost of terminating each other's traffic over their respective
networks. The international services provided by our U.K. joint venture are and
our international services are also be subject to regulation in the United
Kingdom and other European jurisdictions in which we may operate. National
regulations of relevant European and other foreign countries, as well as
policies and regulations on the European Union and other foreign governmental
level, impose separate licensing, service and other conditions on our foreign
joint ventures and our international service operations, and these requirements
may have a material adverse impact on us.
OUR FRANCHISES, LICENSES OR PERMITS COULD BE CANCELED OR NOT RENEWED, WHICH
WOULD IMPAIR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR MARKETS FOR OUR SERVICES
Termination or non-renewal of our franchise with the city of New York or of
certain other rights-of-way or franchises that we use for our networks would
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and
financial condition. We will also need to obtain additional franchises, licenses
and permits for our planned intracity networks, intercity networks and
international networks. We cannot assure that we will be able to maintain on
acceptable terms our existing franchises, licenses or permits or to obtain and
maintain the other franchises, licenses or permits needed to implement our
strategy.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN THE RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OTHER PERMITS
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY
We must obtain additional rights-of-way and other permits from railroads,
utilities, state highway authorities, local governments and transit authorities
to install underground conduit for the expansion of our intracity networks,
intercity networks and international networks. We cannot assure you that we will
be successful in obtaining and maintaining these right-of-way agreements or
obtaining these agreements on acceptable terms. Some of these agreements may be
short-term or revocable at will, and we cannot assure you that we will continue
to have access to existing rights-of-way after they have expired or terminated.
If
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any of these agreements were terminated or could not be renewed and we were
forced to remove our fiberoptic cable from under the streets or abandon our
networks, the termination could have a material adverse effect on our
operations. In addition, landowners have asserted that railroad companies and
others to whom they granted easements to their properties are not entitled as a
result of these easements to grant rights of way to telecommunications
providers. If these disputes are resolved in the landowners' favor, we could be
obligated to make substantial lease payments to these landowners for the lease
of these rights of way. More specifically, our New York/New Jersey network
relies upon, and our planned expansions into Long Island and Westchester County
will rely upon, right-of-way agreements with Bell Atlantic Corporation and our
subsidiary, Empire City Subway Company (Ltd.). The current agreements may be
terminated at any time without cause with three months notice. In case of
termination, we may be required to remove our fiber optic cable from the
conduits or poles of Bell Atlantic. This termination would have a material
adverse effect on our operations.
RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES COULD AFFECT THE CONTINUED USE OF OUR SERVICES AND
OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The telecommunications industry is subject to rapid and significant changes
in technology that could materially affect the continued use of our services,
including fiber optic cable and Internet connectivity services. We cannot
predict the effect of technological changes on our business. We also cannot
assure you that technological changes in the communications industry and
Internet related industry will not have a material adverse effect on our
operations.
WE MAY EXPERIENCE RISKS AS A RESULT OF EXPANDING OUR NETWORKS INTO EUROPEAN AND
OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WHICH MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Our strategy includes expanding our services to provide fiber optic cable
and developing regional Internet service exchange facilities in Europe,
particularly Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom. The following are risks we
may experience as a result of doing business in Germany, England and other
foreign countries in which we may expand our networks:
- difficulties in staffing and managing our operations in foreign countries;
- longer payment cycles;
- problems in collecting accounts receivable;
- fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
- delays from customs brokers or government agencies encountered as a result
of exporting fiber from the United States to Germany, the United Kingdom
or other countries in which we may operate; and
- potentially adverse consequences resulting from operating in multiple
countries, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, each with their own
laws and regulations, including tax laws and industry related regulations.
We cannot assure you that we will be successful in overcoming these risks or
any other problems arising because of expansion into Europe and other foreign
countries.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFY, MANAGE AND ASSIMILATE FUTURE
ACQUISITIONS, INVESTMENTS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY
AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We have in the past, and may in the future, acquire, make investments in, or
enter into strategic alliances, including joint ventures in which we hold less
than a majority interest, with, companies which have customer bases, switching
capabilities, existing networks or other assets in our current markets or in
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areas into which we intend to expand our networks. Any acquisitions,
investments, strategic alliances or related efforts will be accompanied by risks
such as:
- the difficulty of identifying appropriate acquisition candidates;
- the difficulty of assimilating the operations of the respective entities;
- the potential disruption of our ongoing business;
- the potential inability to control joint ventures in which we hold less
than a majority interest;
- the inability of management to capitalize on the opportunities presented
by acquisitions, investments, strategic alliances or related efforts;
- the failure to successfully incorporate licensed or acquired technology
and rights into our services;
- the inability to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and
policies; and
- the impairment of relationships with employees and customers as a result
of changes in management.
We cannot assure you that we would be successful in overcoming these risks
or any other problems encountered with such acquisitions, investments, strategic
alliances or related efforts.
IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY, CONTINUED PRICING PRESSURES FROM OUR
COMPETITORS AND AN EXCESS OF NETWORK CAPACITY CONTINUE TO CAUSE PRICES FOR OUR
SERVICES TO DECLINE
We anticipate that prices for our services specifically, and transmission
services in general, will continue to decline over the next several years due
primarily to the following:
- price competition as various network providers continue to install
networks that might compete with our networks;
- recent technological advances that permit substantial increases in the
transmission capacity of both new and existing fiber; and
- strategic alliances or similar transactions, such as long distance
capacity purchasing alliances among regional Bell operating companies,
that increase the parties' purchasing power.
WE MAY EXPERIENCE ADDITIONAL RISKS AS A RESULT OF ABOVENET'S CO-LOCATION AND
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY SERVICES
The legal landscape that governs AboveNet has yet to be interpreted or
enforced. Regulatory issues for AboveNet's industry include property ownership,
copyrights and other intellectual property issues, taxation, libel, obscenity
and personal privacy. AboveNet's business may be adversely affected by the
adoption and interpretation of any future or currently existing laws and
regulations. AboveNet has no patented technology and relies on a combination of
copyright, trademark, service mark and trade secret laws and contractual
restrictions to establish and protect certain proprietary rights in its
technology. Despite AboveNet's design and implementation of a variety of network
security measures, unauthorized access, computer viruses, accidental or
intentional action and other disruptions could occur. In addition, we may incur
significant costs to prevent breaches in AboveNet's security or to alleviate
problems caused by those breaches. The law relating to the liability of online
services companies and Internet access providers for information carried on or
disseminated through their networks is currently unsettled. It is possible that
claims could be made against online services companies, co-location companies
and Internet access providers. We may need to implement measures to reduce our
exposure to this potential liability.
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METROMEDIA COMPANY EFFECTIVELY CONTROLS OUR COMPANY AND HAS THE POWER TO CAUSE
OR PREVENT A CHANGE OF CONTROL
Metromedia Company and one of its general partners currently own 100% of our
class B common stock, which currently represents approximately 66% of our total
voting power and also is entitled to elect 75% of the members of our board of
directors. Accordingly, Metromedia Company is able to control the board of
directors and all stockholder decisions and, in general, to determine the
outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the
stockholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all
or substantially all of our assets, without the consent of other stockholders.
In addition, Metromedia Company has the power to prevent or cause a change in
control of our company.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any statements in this prospectus about our expectations, belief, plans,
objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts
and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are often, but not always, made
through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "expect,"
"will continue," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "projection,"
"would" and "outlook." Accordingly, these statements involve estimates,
assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in them. Any forward-looking statements are
qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed throughout
this document. The following cautionary statements identify important factors
that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in
the forward-looking statements made in this document. Among the key factors that
have a direct bearing on our results of operation are:
- general economic and business conditions;
- the existence or absence of adverse publicity;
- changes in, or failure to comply with, government regulations;
- changes in marketing and technology;
- changes in political, social and economic conditions;
- competition in the telecommunications industry;
- industry capacity;
- general risks of the telecommunications industries;
- success of acquisition and operating initiatives;
- changes in business strategy or development plans;
- management of growth;
- availability, terms and deployment of capital;
- construction schedules;
- costs and other effects of legal and administrative proceedings;
- dependence on senior management;
- business abilities and judgments of personnel;
- availability of qualified personnel; and
- labor and employee benefit costs.
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These factors and the risk factors referred to above could cause actual
results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements made by us. You should not place undue reliance on
any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement
speaks only as of the date on which it is made and we undertake no obligation to
update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it
is not possible for us to predict which will arise. In addition, we cannot
assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any
factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially
from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
For a discussion of important risks of an investment in our securities,
including factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
results referred to in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors." You
should carefully consider the information set forth under the caption "Risk
Factors." In light of these risks, uncertanities and assumptions, the
forward-looking events discussed in or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus might not occur.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
SEC utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf process, we may,
over the next two years, sell any combination of the securities described in
this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of
$1,500,000,000. In addition, the selling stockholders may, over the next two
years, sell up to 21,505,376 shares of class A common stock.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we
or the selling stockholders may offer. Each time we or the selling stockholders
sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain
specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement
may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You
should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with
additional information described immediately below under the heading "Where You
Can Find More Information."
BUSINESS
We are a facilities-based provider of technologically advanced,
high-bandwidth, fiber optic communications infrastructure to carrier and
corporate/government customers in the United States and Europe. We have
installed and intend to install local intracity networks that will consist of in
excess of 2.9 million fiber miles, which is equal to the number of strands of
fiber in a length of fiber optic cable multiplied by the length of the cable in
miles, covering approximately 6,941 route miles, which is equal to the number of
miles spanned by fiber optic cable calculated without including physically
overlapping segments of cable, in 50 metropolitan markets in the United States
and Europe.
We focus on leasing or otherwise making available for use our broadband
communications infrastructure to two main customer groups: communications
carriers and corporate/governmental customers. In addition, through our
subsidiary AboveNet Communications Inc., we are providing facilities-based,
managed services for customer-owned webservers and related equipment, known as
co-location, and high performance Internet connectivity solutions for electronic
commerce and other business critical Internet operations. AboveNet has developed
a network architecture based upon strategically located facilities. These
facilities, known as Internet service exchanges, allow Internet content
providers direct access to Internet service providers.
Our company was founded in 1993 and is a Delaware corporation and its
executive offices are located at One North Lexington Avenue, White Plains, NY
10601.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following table sets forth our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, the deficiency of our consolidated earnings to cover fixed charges, our
consolidated ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends and the deficiency of our consolidated earnings to cover combined
fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated. We have
no preferred stock outstanding as of October 14, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS
YEARS ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
----------------------------------------------------- --------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
charges..................................... -- -- -- -- 1.61 -- 0.60
Deficiency of consolidated earnings to cover
fixed charges............................... $ 874 $ 4,319 $ 10,359 $ 26,259 -- $ 2,056 --
Consolidated ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends................................... -- -- -- -- 1.61 -- 0.60
Deficiency of consolidated earnings to cover
combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends................................... $ 874 $ 4,319 $ 10,359 $ 26,259 -- $ 2,056 --
</TABLE>
For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and
earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, earnings
represent income (loss) before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges
consist of interest expense, the interest component of operating leases and
amortization of deferred financing costs.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will use the net proceeds from our sale of the securities for the
development, engineering, construction, installation, acquisition, lease,
development or improvement of our telecommunications assets and for our general
corporate purposes, which may include, repaying indebtedness, making additions
to our working capital, funding future acquisitions or for any other purpose we
describe in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of class A common
stock or other securities that may be sold by selling stockholders.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities. We
will file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we
issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a
related prospectus supplement, which could be different from the terms described
below, will be a description of the material terms of the debt securities. You
should also read the indenture. We have filed the indenture with the SEC as an
exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. All
capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the Indenture. The terms and
provisions of the debt securities below will most likely be modified by the
documents that set forth the specific terms of the debt securities issued.
We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series,
that will consist of either our senior debt ("Senior Debt Securities"), our
senior subordinated debt ("Senior Subordinated Debt Securities"), our
subordinated debt ("Subordinated Debt Securities") or our junior subordinated
debt ("Junior Subordinated Debt Securities" and, together with the Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities, the
"Subordinated Securities"). The debt securities we offer will be issued under an
indenture between us and the trustee. Debt securities, whether senior, senior
subordinated, subordinated or junior subordinated, may be issued as convertible
debt securities or exchangeable debt securities.
GENERAL TERMS OF THE INDENTURE
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may
issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount
that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may
designate. The terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other
provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against
changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us, but
such provisions may be included in the documents that set forth the specific
terms of the debt securities.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as "discount
securities," which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated
principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that
are not issued at a discount, may, for United States federal income tax
purposes, be treated as if they were issued with "original issue discount"
("OID") because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special United
States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued
with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable
prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities that we
issue will describe, among other things, the following terms of the offered debt
securities:
- the title;
- any limit on the aggregate principal amount;
- whether issued in fully registered form without coupons or in a form
registered as to principal only with coupons or in bearer form with
coupons;
- whether issued in the form of one or more global securities and whether
all or a portion of the principal amount of the debt securities is
represented thereby;
- the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued;
- the date or dates on which principal is payable;
- the place or places where and the manner in which principal, premium or
interest will be payable and the place or places where the debt
securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion
or exchange;
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- interest rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, will accrue,
and the dates when interest is payable and the maturity;
- the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the
duration of the extensions;
- our rights or obligations to redeem or purchase the debt securities;
- any sinking fund provisions;
- conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or
exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto;
- the currency or currencies of payment of principal or interest;
- the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from
their stated principal amount;
- the terms, if any, under which any debt securities will rank junior to
any of our other debt;
- if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by
reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other
than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the
manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent,
if any, with respect thereto;
- if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when
issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of
maturity as a result of a default on our obligations;
- if applicable, covenants affording holders of debt protection against
changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving
us;
- if other than dollars, the coin, currency or currencies in which the
series of debt securities are denominated; and
- any other specific terms of any debt securities.
The applicable prospectus supplement will present United States federal
income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities
exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are listed or quoted.
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Debt
Securities will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated debt.
SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all of our unsubordinated debt, including Senior Debt
Securities. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to
any Senior Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of the
securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most
recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also state in such prospectus supplement
limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Subordinated
Debt Securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all of our senior debt, including
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our senior subordinated debt. We will state in the applicable prospectus
supplement relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms
of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness,
as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the
Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also state in such prospectus supplement
limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior indebtedness.
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment
to the prior payment in full of all of our senior, senior subordinated and
subordinated debt. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement
relating to any Junior Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of
the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the
most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also state in such prospectus supplement
limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior indebtedness.
CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE RIGHTS
Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our
equity securities or equity securities of our subsidiaries or affiliates. The
terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable
prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:
- the conversion or exchange price;
- the conversion or exchange period;
- provisions regarding the convertibility or exchangeability of the debt
securities, including who may convert or exchange;
- events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price;
- provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our
redemption of the debt securities; and
- any anti-dilution provisions, if applicable.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement, the term "Event
of Default," when used in the indenture, unless otherwise indicated, means any
of the following:
- failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and
payable; provided that if we extend an interest payment period in
accordance with the terms of the debt securities, the extension will not
be a failure to pay interest;
- failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when
due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or
otherwise;
- failure to make sinking fund payments when due;
- failure to perform other covenants for 60 days after notice that
performance was required;
- events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company; or
- any other Event of Default provided in the applicable resolution of our
Board or the supplemental indenture under which we issue a series of debt
securities.
An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not
necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt
securities issued under the indenture. IF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT RELATING
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TO THE PAYMENT OF INTEREST, PRINCIPAL OR ANY SINKING FUND INSTALLMENT INVOLVING
ANY SERIES OF DEBT SECURITIES HAS OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING, THE TRUSTEE OR THE
HOLDERS OF NOT LESS THAN 25% IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE DEBT
SECURITIES OF EACH AFFECTED SERIES MAY DECLARE THE ENTIRE PRINCIPAL OF ALL THE
DEBT SECURITIES OF THAT SERIES TO BE DUE AND PAYABLE IMMEDIATELY.
If an Event of Default relating to the performance of other covenants occurs
and is continuing for a period of 60 days after notice of such, or if any other
Event of Default occurs and is continuing involving all of the series of Senior
Debt Securities, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of all of the series of Senior Debt Securities may
declare the entire principal amount of all of the series of Senior Debt
Securities due and payable immediately.
Similarly, if an Event of Default relating to the performance of other
covenants occurs and is continuing for a period of 60 days after notice of such,
or if any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing involving all of the
series of Subordinated Securities, then the trustee or the holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the series of Subordinated
Securities may declare the entire principal amount of all of the series of
Subordinated Securities due and payable immediately.
If, however, the Event of Default relating to the performance of other
covenants or any other Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing is
for less than all of the series of Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated
Securities, as the case may be, then, the trustee or the holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of each affected series of the Senior
Debt Securities or the Subordinated Securities, as the case may be, may declare
the entire principal amount of all debt securities of such affected series due
and payable immediately. The holders of not less than a majority, or any
applicable supermajority, in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities
of a series may, after satisfying conditions, rescind and annul any of the
above-described declarations and consequences involving the series.
If an Event of Default relating to events in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of our company occurs and is continuing, then the principal
amount of all of the debt securities outstanding, and any accrued interest, will
automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or
other act by the trustee or any holder.
The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt
securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or
interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action
against us under the indenture unless:
- the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of default
and continuance of such default,
- the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of the affected series have requested that the trustee
institute the action,
- the requesting holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity for
expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action,
- the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request,
and
- the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the
series.
We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed
by an officer of our company, stating whether or not the officer knows of any
default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or
covenant of the indenture.
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REGISTERED GLOBAL SECURITIES
We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form
of one or more fully registered global securities. We will deposit any
registered global securities with a depositary or with a nominee for a
depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in
the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more
registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and
represented by such registered global security or securities.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in
definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred
except as a whole:
- by the depositary for such registered global security to its nominee,
- by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of
the depositary, or
- by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a
nominee of the successor.
The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will
describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement involving any portion
of the series represented by a registered global security.
We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary
arrangements for debt securities:
- ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be
limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for such
registered global security, these persons being referred to as
"participants," or persons that may hold interests through participants;
- upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the
registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration
and transfer system, the participants' accounts with the respective
principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered
global security beneficially owned by the participants;
- any dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of
the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited; and
- ownership of beneficial interest in such registered global security will
be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership interest will be effected
only through, records maintained by the depositary for such registered
global security for interests of participants, and on the records of
participants for interests of persons holding through participants.
The laws of some states may require that specified purchasers of securities
take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may
limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial
interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee,
is the registered owner of such registered global security, the depositary or
such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all
purposes under the indenture. Except as stated below, owners of beneficial
interests in a registered global security:
- will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a
registered global security registered in their names,
- will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt
securities in the definitive form, and
- will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under
the Indenture.
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Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global
security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global
security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a
participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights
of a holder under the indenture.
We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any
action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global
security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or
take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security
would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to
give or take the action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners
owning through the participants to give or take the action or would otherwise
act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered
in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as
the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security.
None of our company, the trustee or any other agent of our company or the
trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to,
or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered
global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a
registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global
security, will immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered
global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that
standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security
held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for
the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name." We also
expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the
participants.
If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global
security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or stops
being a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an
eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor
depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form
in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time
and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a
series represented by one or more registered global securities. In that event,we
will issue debt securities of the series in a definitive form in exchange for
all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The
trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange
for a registered global security in the name or names as the depositary, based
upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct the trustee.
We may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or
more global securities, referred to as "bearer global securities." We will
deposit these securities with a common depositary for Euroclear System and
CedelBank, SOCIETE ANONYME, or with a nominee for the depositary identified in
the prospectus supplement relating to the series. The prospectus supplement
relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security
will describe the applicable terms and procedures. These will include the
specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the
issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global
security, in proportion to the series represented by a bearer global security.
DISCHARGE, DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
We can discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as stated
below or as provided in the prospectus supplement.
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Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may
discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not
already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either
become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are
scheduled for redemption, within one year. We may effect a discharge by
irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as
trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at
maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may
also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt
securities at any time ("defeasance"). We may also be released from the
obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt
securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those
covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration
("covenant defeasance"). We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only
if, among other things:
- we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or U.S. government
obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay
at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal, premium, if any, and
interest on all outstanding debt securities of the series;
- we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally
recognized law firm to the effect that (i) in the case of covenant
defeasance, the holders of the series of debt securities will not
recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a
result of such defeasance, and will be subject to tax in the same manner
and at the same times as if no covenant defeasance had occurred and (ii)
in the case of defeasance, either we have received from, or there has
been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or there has
been a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law, and based
thereon, the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize
income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of
such defeasance, and will be subject to tax in the same manner as if no
defeasance had occurred; and
- in the case of subordinated debt securities, no event or condition shall
exist that, based on the subordination provisions applicable to the
series, would prevent us from making payments of principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on any of the applicable subordinated debt
securities at the date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above or at
any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the deposit date.
Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as
described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things,
our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities,
to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt
securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt
securities.
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
Except as provided in the prospectus supplement, the indenture provides that
we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of
the holders of debt securities to:
- secure any debt securities,
- evidence the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations,
- add covenants for the protection of the holders of debt securities,
- cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the Indenture,
- establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series, and
- evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor
trustee.
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The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of
the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of all series of Senior Debt Securities or of Subordinated
Securities, as the case may be, then outstanding and affected, voting as one
class, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in
any way the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of
the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without
the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
- extend the final maturity of any debt security;
- reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;
- reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest;
- reduce any amount payable on redemption;
- change the currency in which the principal, unless otherwise provided for
a series, premium, if any, or interest is payable;
- reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an
original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration or provable in
bankruptcy;
- impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on
any debt security when due; or
- reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose
consent is required for any modification of the indenture.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the
indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. If there are
different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be
a trustee of a Trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust
administered by any other trustee under the indenture. Except as otherwise
indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted
to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only on the one or more
series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any
trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed from one or more series of
debt securities. All payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on,
and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the
debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee for such series at
an office designated by such trustee in New York, New York.
If the trustee becomes a creditor of our company, the indenture places
limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to
realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or
otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any
conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities,
however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of
debt securities then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to
the trustee concerning the applicable series of debt securities, provided that
the direction:
- would not conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture,
- would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another holder of the
debt securities, and
- would not involve any trustee in personal liability.
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The indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur, not be
cured and be known to any trustee, the trustee must use the same degree of care
as a prudent person would use in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the
exercise of the Trust's power. The trustee will be under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any
of the holders of the debt securities, unless they shall have offered to the
trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee.
NO INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY OF INCORPORATORS, SHAREHOLDERS, OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS
The indenture provides that no incorporator and no past, present or future
shareholder, officer or director of our company or any successor corporation in
their capacity as such shall have any individual liability for any of our
obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.
GOVERNING LAW
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Our authorized capital stock consists of 2,404,031,240 shares of class A
common stock, par value $.01 per share, 522,254,782 shares of class B common
stock, par value $.01 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $.01 per share. As of October 4, 1999 there were 198,835,335 shares of
class A common stock outstanding, 33,769,272 shares of class B common stock
outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
COMMON STOCK
The shares of class A common stock and class B common stock are identical in
all respects, except for different voting rights described below and conversion
rights and restrictions on transfer applicable only to the class B common stock
that we also describe below.
VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of class A common stock are entitled to one vote
per share. Holders of class B common stock are entitled to ten votes per share.
Holders of all classes of common stock are entitled to vote together as a single
class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval
except for the election and the removal of directors and as otherwise required
by applicable law. With respect to the election of directors, our amended and
restated certificate of incorporation provides that holders of class B common
stock vote as a separate class to elect at least 75% of the members of our
board.
Directors may be removed, with or without cause, only by the holders of the
class of common stock or series of preferred stock that, as of the date such
removal is effected, would be entitled to elect such director at the next annual
meeting of stockholders. Vacancies in a directorship may be filled only by
- the remaining directors elected by holders of each class of common stock
or series of preferred stock that elected such director and as of the date
such vacancy is filled, would be entitled to elect such director at the
next annual meeting of the stockholders; or
- if there are no such remaining directors, then by the vote of the holders
of the class or classes of common stock or series of preferred stock,
that, as of the date such vacancy is filled, would be entitled to elect
such director at the next annual meeting of stockholders, voting as a
separate class at a meeting, special or otherwise, of the holders of
common stock of such class or series of preferred stock.
DIVIDENDS. Holders of class A common stock and the class B common stock are
entitled to receive dividends at the same rate if, as and when such dividends
are declared by our board out of assets legally available therefor after payment
of dividends required to be paid on shares of outstanding preferred stock. We
may not make any dividend or distribution to any holder of any class of common
stock unless simultaneously with such dividend or distribution we make the same
dividend or distribution with respect to each outstanding share of common stock
regardless of class. In the case of a dividend or other distribution payable in
shares of class of common stock, including distributions pursuant to stock
splits or divisions of common stock, only shares of class A common stock may be
distributed with respect to class A common stock and only shares of class B
common stock may be distributed with respect to class B common stock. Whenever a
dividend or distribution, including distributions pursuant to stock splits or
divisions of the common stock, is payable in shares of a class of common stock,
the number of shares of each class of common stock payable per share of such
class of common stock will be equal in number. In the case of dividends or other
distributions consisting of our other voting securities or of voting securities
of any corporation which is our wholly-owned subsidiary, we will declare and pay
such dividends in two separate classes of such voting securities, identical in
all respects except that:
- the voting rights of each security issued to the holders of class A common
stock will be one-tenth of the voting rights of each security issued to
holders of class B common stock;
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- such security issued to holders of class B common stock will convert into
the security issued to the holders of class A common stock into class A
common stock and will have the same restrictions on transfer and ownership
applicable to the transfer and ownership of the class B common stock; and
- with respect only to dividends or other distributions of voting securities
of any corporation which is our wholly owned subsidiary, the respective
voting rights of each such security issued to holders of the class A
common stock and class B common stock with respect to election of
directors shall otherwise be as comparable as is practicable to those of
the class A common stock and class B common stock.
In the case of dividends or other distributions consisting of securities
convertible into, or exchangeable for, our voting securities or of voting
securities of any corporation which is our wholly owned subsidiary, we will
provide that such convertible or exchangeable securities and the underlying
securities be identical in all respects (including, without limitation, the
conversion or exchange rate) except that the underlying securities may have the
same difference as they would have if we issued voting securities of our wholly
owned subsidiary rather than issuing securities convertible into or exchangeable
for, such securities. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the
foreseeable future.
RESTRICTIONS ON ADDITIONAL ISSUANCES AND TRANSFER. We may not issue or sell
any shares of class B common stock or any securities (including, without
limitation, any rights, options, warrants or other securities) convertible into,
or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of class B common stock to any person
or entity other than to Metromedia Company, John W. Kluge and Stuart Subotnick,
their affiliates, relatives and other permitted holders that are controlled by
these persons. Additionally, shares of class B common stock may not be
transferred, whether by sale, assignment, gift, bequest, appointment or
otherwise, to a person other than to a permitted holder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing:
- any permitted holder may pledge his, her or its shares of class B common
stock to a financial institution pursuant to a bona fide pledge of such
shares as collateral security for indebtedness due to the pledgee as long
as such shares remain subject to the transfer restrictions and that, in
the event of foreclosure or other similar action by the pledgee, such
pledged shares of class B common stock may only be transferred to a
permitted holder or converted into shares of class A common stock, as the
pledgee may elect; and
- the foregoing transfer restrictions do not apply in the case of a merger,
consolidation or business combination of us with or into another
corporation in which all of the outstanding shares of common stock and
preferred stock regardless of class are purchased by the acquiror.
CONVERSION. Class A common stock has no conversion rights. Shares of class
B common stock are convertible into class A common stock, in whole or in part,
at any time and from time to time at the option of the holders, on the basis of
one share of class A common stock for each share of class B common stock
converted. Additionally, at such time as a person ceased to be a permitted
holder, any share of class B common stock held by such person at such time shall
convert into a share of class A common stock. We agree that:
- we will at all times reserve and keep available out of our authorized but
unissued shares of class A common stock, such number of shares of class A
common stock issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of
class B common stock;
- we will cause any shares of class A common stock issuable upon conversion
of a share of class B common stock that require registration with or
approval of any governmental authority under federal or state law before
such shares may be issued upon conversion to be so registered or approved;
and
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- we will use our best efforts to list the shares of class A common stock
required to be delivered upon conversion prior to such delivery upon such
national securities exchange upon which the outstanding class A common
stock is listed at the time of such delivery.
RECLASSIFICATION AND MERGER. In the event of a reclassification or other
similar transaction as a result of which the shares of class A common stock are
converted into another security, then a holder of class B common stock will be
entitled to receive upon conversion the amount of such other securities that the
holder would have received if the conversion occurred immediately prior to the
record date of such reclassification or other similar transaction. No
adjustments in respect of dividends will be made upon the conversion of any
share of class B common stock. If a share is converted subsequent to the record
date for the payment of a dividend or other distribution on shares of class B
common stock but prior to such payment, then the registered holder of such share
at the close of business on such record date will be entitled to receive the
dividend or other distribution payable on such date regardless of the conversion
thereof or our default in payment of the dividend due on such date.
In the event we enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other
transaction in which shares of common stock are exchanged for or changed into
other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then, and in such
event, the shares of each class of common stock will be exchanged for or changed
into either:
- the same amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property, as
the case may be, into which or for which each share of any other class of
common stock is exchanged for or changed into shares of capital stock,
such shares so exchanged for or changed into may differ only to the extent
that the class A common stock and the class B common stock differ as
provided in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation; or
- if holders of each class of common stock are to receive different
distributions of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property, an
amount of stock, securities, cash and/or property per share having a value
as determined by an independent investment banking firm of national
reputation selected by the board of directors, equal to the value per
share into which or for which each share of any other class of common
stock is exchanged or changed.
LIQUIDATION. In the event of our liquidation, after payment of our debts
and other liabilities and after making provision for the holders of preferred
stock, if any, our remaining assets will be distributable ratably among the
holders of the class A common stock and class B common stock treated as a single
class.
OTHER PROVISIONS. Except as described below, the holders of the class A
common stock and class B common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights.
None of the class A common stock or class B common stock may be subdivided or
combined in any manner unless the other classes are subdivided or combined in
the same proportion. We may not make any offering of options, rights or warrants
to subscribe for shares of class B common stock. If we make an offering of
options, rights or warrants to subscribe for shares of any other class or
classes of capital stock (other than class B common stock) to all holders of a
class of common stock, then we are required to simultaneously make an identical
offering to all holders of the other classes of common stock other than to any
class the holders of which, voting as a separate class, agrees that such
offerings need not be made to such class. All such options, rights or warrants
offerings will offer the respective holders of class A common stock and class B
common stock the right to subscribe at the same rate per share. All outstanding
shares of common stock are, and all shares of common stock offered hereby when
issued will be upon payment therefor, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
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PREFERRED STOCK
The board has the authority, without any further action by our stockholders
to issue from time to time shares of preferred stock in one or more series and
to fix the designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and
restrictions thereof, including voting rights, dividend rights, dividend rates,
conversion rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation
preferences and the number of shares constituting any series. The issuance of
preferred stock with voting rights could have an adverse effect on the voting
power of holders of common stock by increasing the number of outstanding shares
having voting rights. In addition, if the board authorizes preferred stock with
conversion rights, the number of shares of common stock outstanding could
potentially be increased up to the authorized amount. The issuance of preferred
stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for
distribution to holders of common stock. Any such issuance could also have the
effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of the company
and may adversely affect the rights of holders of common stock.
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS
Stockholders' rights and related matters are governed by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, and our certificate of incorporation and the by-laws.
Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, which are
summarized below, may have the effect, either alone or in combination with each
other, of discouraging or making more difficult a tender offer or takeover
attempt that is opposed by our board of directors but that a stockholder might
consider to be in its best interest. Such provisions may also adversely affect
prevailing market prices for the common stock. We believe that such provisions
are necessary to enable us to develop our business in a manner that will foster
our long-term growth without disruption caused by the threat of a takeover not
deemed by our board of directors to be in our best interests and those of our
stockholders.
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
Our by-laws establish advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals
and the nomination, other than by or at the direction of the board of directors,
of candidates for election as directors. These procedures provide that the
notice of stockholder proposals and stockholder nominations for the election of
directors at an annual meeting must be in writing and received by our secretary
at least 60 days but not more than 90 days prior to the scheduled date of the
annual meeting. However, if public disclosure of our annual meeting date is made
less than 70 days before the annual meeting, notice by a stockholder will be
considered timely if it is delivered not later than the 10th day following the
earlier of (i) the day on which public disclosure of the date of the annual
meeting was made or (ii) the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting
was mailed. The notice of nominations for the election of directors must set
forth certain information concerning the stockholder giving the notice and each
nominee.
By requiring advance notice of nominations by stockholders, these procedures
will afford our board of directors an opportunity to consider the qualifications
of the proposed nominees and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by the
board of directors, to inform stockholders about these qualifications. By
requiring advance notice of other proposed business, these procedures will
provide our board of directors with an opportunity to inform stockholders of any
business proposed to be conducted at a meeting, together with any
recommendations as to the board of directors' position on action to be taken on
such business. This should allow stockholders to better decide whether to attend
a meeting or to grant a proxy for the disposition of any such business.
DILUTION
Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is
authorized to create and issue, whether or not in connection with the issuance
and sale of any of its stock or other securities or property, rights entitling
the holders to purchase from us shares of stock or other securities of us or of
any other
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corporation. Our board of directors is authorized to issue these rights even
though the creation and issuance of these rights could have the effect of
discouraging third parties from seeking, or impairing their right to seek, to:
(1) acquire a significant portion of our outstanding securities;
(2) engage in any transaction which might result in a change of control of
the corporation; or
(3) enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with another
party to accomplish these transactions or for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of any of our securities.
SECTION 203 OF THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits certain
transactions between a Delaware corporation and an "interested stockholder",
which is defined as a person who, together with any affiliates and/or associates
of such person, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 15% or more of the
outstanding voting shares of a Delaware corporation. This provision prohibits
certain business combinations between an interested stockholder and a
corporation for a period of three years after the date the interested
stockholder acquired its stock, unless:
- the business combination is approved by the corporation's board of
directors prior to the date the interested stockholder acquired shares;
- the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of the voting stock of
the corporation in the transaction in which it became an interested
stockholder; or
- the business combination is approved by a majority of the board of
directors and by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding
voting stock owned by disinterested stockholders at an annual or special
meeting.
A business combination is defined broadly to include mergers,
consolidations, sales or other dispositions of assets having an aggregate value
of 10% or more of the consolidated assets of the corporation, and certain
transactions that would increase the interested stockholder's proportionate
share ownership in the corporation. A Delaware corporation, under a provision in
its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, may elect not to be governed by
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. We are subject to the
restrictions imposed by Section 203.
Under certain circumstances, Section 203 makes it more difficult for a
person who could be an "interested stockholder" to effect various business
combinations with a corporation for a three-year period, although the
stockholders may elect to exclude a corporation from the restrictions imposed
thereunder. Our certificate of incorporation does not exclude us from the
restrictions imposed under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
It is anticipated that the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law may encourage companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate
in advance with the board of directors, since the stockholder approval
requirement would be avoided if a majority of the directors then in office
approves, prior to the date on which a stockholder becomes an interested
stockholder, either the business combination or the transaction which results in
the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. Mr. Stephen Garafalo and
Metromedia Company are interested stockholders under the Delaware General
Corporation Law. However since their acquisition of our securities was approved
in advance by our board, they would not be prohibited from engaging in a
business transaction with us.
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LIMITATIONS OF DIRECTORS' LIABILITY
Our certificate of incorporation provides that none of our directors will be
personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director except for liability:
- for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to us or our
stockholders,
- for acts of omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
- under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or
- for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit.
The effect of these provisions will be to eliminate our rights and our
stockholders (through stockholders' derivatives suits on behalf of us) to
recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director (including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior), except
in the situations described above. These provisions will not limit the liability
of directors under federal securities laws and will not affect the availability
of equitable remedies such as an injunction or rescission based upon a
director's breach of his duty of care.
TRANSFER AGENT
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our class A common stock is ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock
or common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt
securities, preferred stock or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement
and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series
of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into
between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will
act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or
beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of
the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in
its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the warrant agreement that will
be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such warrants.
DEBT WARRANTS
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of debt warrants
will describe the terms of the debt warrants, including the following: (a) the
title of the debt warrants; (b) the offering price for the debt warrants, if
any; (c) the aggregate number of the debt warrants; (d) the designation and
terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants; (e)
if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities with which the
debt warrants are issued and the number of such debt warrants issued with each
debt security; (f) if applicable, the date from and after which the debt
warrants and any debt securities issued therewith will be separately
transferable; (g) the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon
exercise of a debt warrant and the price at which the principal amount of debt
securities may be purchased upon exercise (which price may be payable in cash,
securities, or other property); (h) the date on which the right to exercise the
debt warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall expire; (i)
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the debt warrants that may be
exercised at any one time; (j) whether the debt warrants represented by the debt
warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the
debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; (k) information with
respect to book-entry procedures, if any; (1) the currency or currency units in
which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; (m) if
applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax
considerations; (n) the antidilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any;
(o) the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such debt warrants;
and (p) any additional terms of the debt warrants, including terms, procedures,
and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the debt warrants.
STOCK WARRANTS
The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of preferred
stock warrants or common stock warrants will describe the terms of the warrants,
including the following: (a) the title of the warrants; (b) the offering price
for the warrants, if any; (c) the aggregate number of the warrants; (d) the
designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon
exercise of the warrants; (e) if applicable, the designation and terms of the
offered securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of the
warrants issued with each such offered security; (f) if applicable, the date
from and after which the warrants and any offered securities issued therewith
will be separately transferable; (g) the number of shares of common stock or
preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which
the shares may be purchased upon exercise; (h) the date on which the right to
exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall
expire; (i) if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that
may be exercised at any one time; (j) the currency or currency units in which
the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable, (k) if
applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax
considerations; (l) the antidilution provisions of the warrants, if any; (m) the
redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such warrants; and (n) any
additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations
relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.
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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The selling stockholders may be our directors, executive officers, former
directors, employees or certain holders of our common stock, including
Metromedia Company and its general partners. The prospectus supplement for any
offering of the common stock by selling stockholders will include the following
information:
- the names of the selling stockholders;
- the nature of any position, office, or other material relationship which
the selling stockholder has had within the last three years with us or any
of our predecessors or affiliates;
- the number of shares held by each of the selling stockholders before the
offering;
- the percentage of the common stock held by each of the selling
stockholders after the offering; and
- the number of shares of the common stock offered by each of the selling
stockholders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one
or more transactions at a fixed price or prices (which may be changed from time
to time), at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to
such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Each prospectus
supplement will describe the method of distribution of the securities offered
therein.
We are also registering shares of our class A common stock on behalf of the
selling stockholders. We and any selling stockholders may sell securities
directly, through agents designated from time to time, through underwriting
syndicates led by one or more managing underwriters or through one or more
underwriters acting alone. The selling stockholders may also distribute
securities through one or more special purpose entities, which may enter into
forward purchase arrangements with selling stockholders and distribute their own
securities. In connection with an offering of securities of such a special
purpose entity, the selling stockholders may also enter into securities loan
agreements with the underwriters of the entity's securities in order to
facilitate such underwriters' market-making activities in the entity's
securities. Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the securities
to which the prospectus supplement relates, the names of the selling
stockholders and the number of shares of class A common stock to be sold by
each, the name or names of any underwriters or agents with whom we or the
selling stockholders, or both, have entered into arrangements with respect to
the sale of the securities, the public offering or purchase price of the
securities and the net proceeds we or the selling stockholders will receive from
the sale. In addition, each prospectus supplement will describe any underwriting
discounts and other items constituting underwriters' compensation, any discounts
and commissions allowed or paid to dealers, if any, any commissions allowed or
paid to agents, and the securities exchange or exchanges, if any, on which the
securities will be listed. Dealer trading may take place in certain of the
securities, including securities not listed on any securities exchange.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we or the selling
stockholders, or both, will authorize underwriters or agents to solicit offers
by certain institutions to purchase securities from us or the selling
stockholders, or both, pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for
payment and delivery at a future date. Institutions with which the contracts may
be made include, among others:
- commercial and savings banks;
- insurance companies;
- pension funds;
- investment companies; and
- educational and charitable institutions.
29
<PAGE>
In all cases, the institutions must be approved by us or the selling
stockholders, or both. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the obligations of any purchaser under any contract will not be
subject to any conditions except that (i) the purchase of the securities will
not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to
which the purchaser is subject and (ii) if the securities are also being sold to
underwriters acting as principals for their own account, the underwriters will
have purchased the securities not sold for delayed delivery. The underwriters
and such other persons will not have any responsibility in respect of the
validity or performance of such contracts.
Any selling stockholder, underwriter or agent participating in the
distribution of the securities may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term
is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold and any
discounts or commissions received by them, and any profit realized by them on
the same or resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Securities Act.
Certain of any such underwriters and agents including their associates, may
be customers of, engage in transactions with and perform services for us and our
subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. One or more of our affiliates
may from time to time act as an agent or underwriter in connection with the sale
of the securities to the extent permitted by applicable law. The participation
of any such affiliate in the offer and sale of the securities will comply with
Rule 2720 of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. regarding the offer and sale of securities of an affiliate.
Under agreements which may be entered into by us, the underwriters, dealers
and agents who participate in the distribution of securities may be entitled to
indemnification by us against or contribution toward some liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the securities
are not expected to be listed on a securities exchange, except for the class A
common stock, which is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market, and
any underwriters or dealers will not be obligated to make a market in
securities. We cannot predict the activity or liquidity of any trading in the
securities.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of class A common
stock or any other securities by the selling stockholders. We will, however,
bear certain expenses in connection with the registration of the securities
being offered under this prospectus by the selling stockholders, including all
costs incident to the offering and sale of the securities to the public other
than any commissions and discounts of underwriters, dealers or agents and any
transfer taxes.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, New York, New York, and certain
matters may be passed upon for the underwriters or agents, if any, by Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Los Angeles, California. Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP has represented us on other unrelated matters.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc.
appearing in Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1998, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
AboveNet's financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference
from our Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated October 14, 1999 have been audited
by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
30
<PAGE>
auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference,
and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given
upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The Combined Statement of Assets to be Acquired and Liabilities to be
Assumed of Palo Alto Internet Exchange as of December 26, 1998 and December 27,
1997 and the related Combined Statement of Revenues and Direct Expenses for the
period June 12, 1998 through December 26, 1998, the period December 28, 1997
through June 11, 1998 and the fiscal year ended December 27, 1997 and December
29, 1996, that are incorporated by reference in this document have been so
included in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the
Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy
any document we file with the SEC at the SEC's following public reference
facilities:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Public Reference Room New York Regional Office Chicago Regional Office
450 Fifth Street, N.W. 7 World Trade Center Citicorp Center
Room 1024 Suite 1300 500 West Madison Street
Washington, D.C. 20549 New York, New York 10048 Suite 1400
Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511
</TABLE>
You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing
to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on
the operations of the public reference facilities. Our SEC filings are also
available at the offices of The Nasdaq Stock Market at 1735 K Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006.
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION WE FILE WITH THE SEC
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with
them, which means: incorporated documents are considered part of this
prospectus; we can disclose important information to you by referring you to
those documents; and information that we file with the SEC will automatically
update and supersede this incorporated information.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which were filed with
the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
- Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended on December 31, 1998;
- Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31,
1999;
- Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 1999;
- Our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 1999;
- Our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 10, 1999, as amended by our
Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated October 14, 1999;
- The "Risk Factors--Risk Factors Applicable to AboveNet" and "Business of
AboveNet" sections and the financial statements of Palo Alto Internet
Exchange contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated August
5, 1999 (File No. 333-84541); and
31
<PAGE>
- The description of our class A common stock contained in our Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, filed on October 17, 1997.
We also incorporate by reference each of the following documents that we
will file with the SEC after the date of the initial filing of the registration
statement and prior to the time we sell all of the securities offered by this
prospectus:
- Reports filed under Section 13(a) and (c) of the Exchange Act;
- Definitive proxy or information statements filed under Section 14 of the
Exchange Act in connection with any subsequent shareholders meeting; and
- Any reports filed under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference in this document
through us, or from the SEC through the SEC's web site or at the addresses
listed above. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without
charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is
specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus. You can
obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them
in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc.
One North Lexington Avenue
White Plains, New York 10601
Attention: Investor Relations
Telephone: (914) 421-6700
If you request any incorporated documents from us, we will mail them to you
by first class mail, or another equally prompt means, within one business day
after we receive your request.
32
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Registration fee to the Securities and Exchange Commission........................ $ 625,500
Accounting fees and expenses...................................................... $ 150,000
Legal fees and expenses........................................................... $ 50,000
Miscellaneous expenses............................................................ $ 25,000
---------
Total....................................................................... $ 850,000
</TABLE>
The foregoing items, except for the registration fee to the Securities and
Exchange Commission, are estimated. All expenses of the offering, other than
selling discounts, commissions and legal fees and expenses incurred separately
by the selling stockholders, will be paid by the Registrant.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a Delaware
corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a
"proceeding") (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by
reason of the fact that this person is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by this person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
this person acted in good faith and in a manner this person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
his or her conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any person
under such section in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation to procure judgment in its favor, as provided in the preceding
sentence, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect thereof unless,
and then only to the extent that, a court of competent jurisdiction shall
determine upon application that this person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses as the court shall deem proper. A Delaware
corporation must indemnify any person who was successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter in any proceeding, by reason of the fact that this person
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by this person in connection therewith. A Delaware corporation may pay
for the expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or director
in defending a proceeding in advance of the final disposition upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of this director or officer to repay such amount if
it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be
indemnified by the corporation.
The Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides
that the Registrant will indemnify any person, including persons who are not
directors or officers of the Registrant, to the extent permitted by Section 145
of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 102(b) (7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a
Delaware corporation may in its articles of incorporation eliminate or limit the
personal liability of a director to the corporation
II-1
<PAGE>
or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director except for liability: for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty
to the corporation or its stockholder; for acts or omissions not in good faith
or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; under
Section 174 (pertaining to certain prohibited acts including unlawful payment of
dividends or unlawful purchase or redemption of the corporation's capital
stock); or for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit. The Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation eliminates the liability of directors for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach
of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (ii)
for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit, and provides that if the Delaware General Corporation
Law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the
personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the
Registrant shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the
Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.
The Delaware General Corporation Law permits the purchase of insurance on
behalf of directors and officers against any liability asserted against
directors and officers and incurred by such persons in their capacity, or
arising out of their status as such, whether or not the corporation would have
the power to indemnify officers and directors against this liability. The
Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation allows the
Registrant to maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any
director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant or another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense,
liability or loss, whether or not the Registrant would have the power to
indemnify this person against this expense, liability or loss under the Delaware
General Corporation Law. The Registrant has obtained liability coverage, which
includes coverage to reimburse the Registrant for amounts required or permitted
by law to be paid to indemnify directors and officers.
The Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits
the liability of directors thereof to the extent permitted by Section 102(b)(7)
of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
The Registrant's Directors' and Officers' liability insurance policy is
designed to reimburse the Registrant for payments made by it pursuant to the
foregoing indemnification. This policy has aggregate coverage of $25 million.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this prospectus, and, if given or
made, this information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to
which it relates or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such
securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under
any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the
affairs of the Registrant since the date hereof or that the information
contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(A) EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ----------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt)
1.2* Form of Underwriting Agreement (Equity)
</TABLE>
II-2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ----------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger among AboveNet Communications Inc., Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. and
Magellan Acquisition, Inc., dated June 22, 1999 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current
Report on Form 8-K filed as of June 30, 1999).
3.1 Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (incorporated
by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-33653)).
3.2 Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-33653)).
4.1 Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-33653)).
4.2 Form of Indenture between Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. and The Bank of New York.
5.1 Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison regarding the legality of the securities.
12.1 Statement re Computation of Ratios
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.3 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.4 Consent of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this
Registration Statement).
24.1 Power of Attorney from officers and directors (included in the signature pages hereto).
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New
York, as trustee under the Indenture.
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* To be filed by a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
incorporated by reference from documents filed with the SEC under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(B) FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULES.
None.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against these liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by this director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether this
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of this issue.
II-3
<PAGE>
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Securities Act of 1933 if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration
Fee" table in the effective Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof; and
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus,
after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the
subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription
period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the
underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public
offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set
forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be
filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
II-4
<PAGE>
497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the
purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection
(a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the "Act") in accordance with the
rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of
the Act.
II-5
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New
York, on October 15, 1999.
METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK, INC.
By: /s/ STEPHEN A. GAROFALO
-----------------------------------------
Name: Stephen A. Garofalo
Title: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Silvia
Kessel, Arnold L. Wadler and Gerard Benedetto, and each or either of them, his
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities to sign this Registration Statement (with all exhibits thereto) on
Form S-3 any and all supplements and amendments (including post-effective
amendments and including, without limitation, Registration Statements filed
pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
successor thereto (the "Securities Act")) to this Registration Statement and to
cause the same to be filed, with all exhibits thereto and the other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
granting to said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite or
desirable to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement and the foregoing Power-of-Attorney have been signed by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------ --------------------------- -------------------
<C> <S> <C>
/s/ STEPHEN A. GAROFALO Chief Executive Officer and
- ------------------------------ Chairman of the Board of October 15, 1999
Stephen A. Garofalo Directors
/s/ GERARD BENEDETTO Vice President--Chief
- ------------------------------ Financial Officer October 15, 1999
Gerard Benedetto
/s/ HOWARD M. FINKELSTEIN President, Chief Operating
- ------------------------------ Officer and Director October 15, 1999
Howard M. Finkelstein
/s/ VINCENT A. GALLUCCIO Senior Vice President and
- ------------------------------ Director October 15, 1999
Vincent A. Galluccio
/s/ SILVIA KESSEL Executive Vice President
- ------------------------------ and Director October 15, 1999
Silvia Kessel
Director
- ------------------------------ , 1999
John W. Kluge
</TABLE>
II-6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DATE
SIGNATURE TITLE -
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
Director
- ------------------------------ , 1999
David Rand
/s/ DAVID ROCKEFELLER Director
- ------------------------------ October 15, 1999
David Rockefeller
/s/ STUART SUBOTNICK Director
- ------------------------------ October 15, 1999
Stuart Subotnick
Director
- ------------------------------ , 1999
Sherman Tuan
/s/ ARNOLD L. WADLER Executive Vice President,
- ------------------------------ General Counsel, October 15, 1999
Arnold L. Wadler Secretary and Director
Director
- ------------------------------ , 1999
Leonard White
</TABLE>
II-7
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ----------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt)
1.2* Form of Underwriting Agreement (Equity)
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger among AboveNet Communications Inc., Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. and
Magellan Acquisition, Inc., dated June 22, 1999 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current
Report on Form 8-K filed as of June 30, 1999).
3.1 Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (incorporated
by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-33653)).
3.2 Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-33653)).
4.1 Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-33653)).
4.2 Form of Indenture between Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. and The Bank of New York.
5.1 Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison regarding the legality of the securities.
12.1 Statement re Computation of Ratios.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.3 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.4 Consent of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this
Registration Statement).
24.1 Power of Attorney from officers and directors (included in the signature pages hereto).
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New
York, as trustee under the Indenture.
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* To be filed by a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
incorporated by reference from documents filed with the SEC under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4.2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
METROMEDIA FIBER
NETWORK, INC.
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee
Indenture
Dated as of
------------------
Debt Securities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET*
Between
Provisions of Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein) and
Indenture dated as of _________________ between METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK, INC.
and The Bank of New York, a national banking association, as Trustee:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SECTION OF THE ACT SECTION OF INDENTURE
<S> <C>
310(a)(1) and (2)...................................................6.9
310(a)(3) and (4)..........................................Inapplicable
310(b).....................................6.8 and 6.10(a), (b) and (d)
310(c).....................................................Inapplicable
311(a).............................................................6.14
311(b).............................................................6.14
311(c).....................................................Inapplicable
312(a)......................................................4.1 and 4.2
312(b)..............................................................4.2
312(c)..............................................................4.2
313(a)..............................................................4.3
313(b)(1)..................................................Inapplicable
313(b)(2)...........................................................4.3
313(c).......................................4.3, 5.11, 6.10, 6.11, 8.2
and 11.2
313(d)..............................................................4.3
314(a)......................................................3.5 and 4.2
314(b).....................................................Inapplicable
314(c)(1) and (2)..................................................10.5
314(c)(3)..................................................Inapplicable
314(d).....................................................Inapplicable
314(e).............................................................10.5
314(f).....................................................Inapplicable
315(a), (c) and (d).................................................6.1
315(b).............................................................5.11
315(e).............................................................5.12
316(a)(1)..................................................5.9 and 5.10
316(a)(2)..................................................Not required
316(a) (last sentence)..............................................7.4
316(b)..............................................................5.7
317(a)..............................................................5.2
317(b)...................................................3.4(a) and (b)
318(a).............................................................10.7
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
*This Cross Reference Sheet is not part of the Indenture.
3
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 CERTAIN TERMS DEFINED..............................................1
ARTICLE II
SECURITIES
SECTION 2.1 FORMS GENERALLY.....................................................6
SECTION 2.2 FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION........................................................7
SECTION 2.3 AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES................................8
SECTION 2.4 AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY OF SECURITIES..........................10
SECTION 2.5 EXECUTION OF SECURITIES............................................13
SECTION 2.6 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION......................................13
SECTION 2.7 DENOMINATION AND DATE OF
SECURITIES; PAYMENT OF INTEREST......................................14
SECTION 2.8 REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE................................14
SECTION 2.9 MUTILATED, DEFACED, DESTROYED,
LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES...........................................18
SECTION 2.10 CANCELLATION OF SECURITIES; DESTRUCTION
THEREOF..............................................................19
SECTION 2.11 TEMPORARY SECURITIES..............................................19
ARTICLE III
COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER
SECTION 3.1 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST..................................20
SECTION 3.2 OFFICES FOR PAYMENTS, ETC..........................................21
SECTION 3.3 APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFICE
OF TRUSTEE...........................................................22
SECTION 3.4 PAYING AGENTS......................................................22
SECTION 3.5 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES............................................23
SECTION 3.6 CORPORATE EXISTENCE................................................23
SECTION 3.7 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES..........................................23
SECTION 3.8 PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS..................................23
SECTION 3.9 LUXEMBOURG PUBLICATIONS............................................24
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ARTICLE IV
SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 ISSUER TO FURNISH TRUSTEE INFORMATION
AS TO NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS.........................24
SECTION 4.2 REPORTS BY THE ISSUER..............................................24
SECTION 4.3 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.............................................24
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 5.1 EVENT OF DEFAULT DEFINED, ACCELERATION
OF MATURITY; WAIVER OF DEFAULT.......................................26
SECTION 5.2 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS BY TRUSTEE;
TRUSTEE MAY PROVE DEBT...............................................30
SECTION 5.3 APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS............................................32
SECTION 5.4 SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT..............................................33
SECTION 5.5 RESTORATION OF RIGHTS ON ABANDONMENT
OF PROCEEDINGS.......................................................33
SECTION 5.6 LIMITATIONS ON SUITS BY SECURITY
HOLDERS..............................................................33
SECTION 5.7 UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF SECURITYHOLDERS
TO INSTITUTE CERTAIN SUITS...........................................34
SECTION 5.8 POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY
OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER OF DEFAULT....................................34
SECTION 5.9 CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF SECURITIES...................................35
SECTION 5.10 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS...........................................35
SECTION 5.11 TRUSTEE TO GIVE NOTICE OF DEFAULT, BUT
MAY WITHHOLD IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES................................35
SECTION 5.12 RIGHT OF COURT TO REQUIRE FILING OF
UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS.............................................36
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ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE;
DURING DEFAULT; PRIOR TO DEFAULT.....................................36
SECTION 6.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE......................................38
SECTION 6.3 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS,
DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES OR APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS
THEREOF..............................................................39
SECTION 6.4 TRUSTEE AND AGENTS MAY HOLD SECURITIES
OR COUPONS; COLLECTIONS, ETC.........................................39
SECTION 6.5 MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE.............................................39
SECTION 6.6 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNIFICATION OF
TRUSTEE AND ITS PRIOR CLAIM..........................................39
SECTION 6.7 RIGHT OF TRUSTEE TO RELY ON OFFICER'S
CERTIFICATE, ETC.....................................................40
SECTION 6.8 INDENTURES NOT CREATING POTENTIAL
CONFLICTING INTERESTS FOR THE TRUSTEE................................40
SECTION 6.9 QUALIFICATION OF TRUSTEE; CONFLICTING
INTERESTS............................................................40
SECTION 6.10 PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS
TRUSTEE..............................................................40
SECTION 6.11 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT
OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE.................................................41
SECTION 6.12 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR
TRUSTEE..............................................................42
SECTION 6.13 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR
SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS OF TRUSTEE....................................43
SECTION 6.14 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST
THE ISSUER...........................................................44
SECTION 6.15 APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT...............................44
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 7.1 EVIDENCE OF ACTION TAKEN BY SECURITY-
HOLDERS..............................................................45
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SECTION 7.2 PROOF OF EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
OF HOLDING OF SECURITIES.............................................45
SECTION 7.3 HOLDERS TO BE TREATED AS OWNERS....................................46
SECTION 7.4 SECURITIES OWNED BY ISSUER DEEMED
NOT OUTSTANDING......................................................46
SECTION 7.5 RIGHT OF REVOCATION OF ACTION TAKEN................................46
ARTICLE VIII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 8.1 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF
SECURITYHOLDERS......................................................47
SECTION 8.2 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF
SECURITYHOLDERS......................................................48
SECTION 8.3 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE...................................50
SECTION 8.4 DOCUMENTS TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE...................................50
SECTION 8.5 NOTATION ON SECURITIES IN RESPECT OF
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES..............................................51
ARTICLE IX
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE;
UNCLAIMED MONEYS
SECTION 9.1 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE...........................51
SECTION 9.2 APPLICATION BY TRUSTEE OF FUNDS DEPOSITED FOR
PAYMENT OF SECURITIES................................................55
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SECTION 9.3 REPAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENT..........................55
SECTION 9.4 RETURN OF MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE AND PAYING
AGENT UNCLAIMED FOR TWO YEARS........................................55
SECTION 9.5 INDEMNITY FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT OF OBLIGATIONS......................56
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.1 INCORPORATORS, SHAREHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND
DIRECTORS OF ISSUER EXEMPT FROM INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY.................56
SECTION 10.2 PROVISIONS OF INDENTURE FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF PARTIES AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES AND COUPONS.....................56
SECTION 10.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF ISSUER BOUND BY
INDENTURE............................................................57
SECTION 10.4 NOTICES AND DEMANDS ON ISSUER, TRUSTEE AND
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES AND COUPONS....................................57
SECTION 10.5 OFFICER'S CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS OF COUNSEL;
STATEMENTS TO BE CONTAINED THEREIN...................................58
SECTION 10.6 PAYMENTS DUE ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND
HOLIDAYS.............................................................59
SECTION 10.7 CONFLICT OF ANY PROVISION OF INDENTURE WITH
TRUST INDENTURE ACT..................................................59
SECTION 10.8 NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN............................................59
SECTION 10.9 COUNTERPARTS......................................................59
SECTION 10.10 EFFECT OF HEADINGS...............................................59
SECTION 10.11 SECURITIES IN A COMPOSITE CURRENCY,
CURRENCY UNIT, FOREIGN CURRENCY OR IN ECU............................59
SECTION 10.12 JUDGMENT CURRENCY................................................60
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 11.1 APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE..........................................61
SECTION 11.2 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; PARTIAL REDEMPTIONS.........................61
SECTION 11.3 PAYMENT OF SECURITIES CALLED FOR REDEMPTION.......................62
SECTION 11.4 EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES FROM
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ELIGIBILITY FOR SELECTION FOR REDEMPTION.............................63
SECTION 11.5 MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL SINKING FUNDS..............................63
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THIS INDENTURE, dated as of ______________________, by and between
METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), and
The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"),
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issue from time to time of
its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued
in one or more series (the "Securities") up to such principal amount or amounts
as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery
and administration of the Securities; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid indenture
and agreement according to its terms have been done;
NOW, THEREFORE:
In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by
the holders thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for
the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time
of the Securities and of the coupons, if any, appertaining thereto as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 CERTAIN TERMS DEFINED. The following terms (except as
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly requires)
for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto
shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section. All other terms
used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), or the definitions of which in the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), are referred to in
the Trust Indenture Act, including terms defined therein by reference to the
Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the
context otherwise requires), shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in
the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities Act as in effect from time to
time. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and the term "generally accepted accounting principles" means such
accounting principles as are generally accepted at the time of any computation
unless a different time shall be specified with respect to such series of
Securities as provided for in Section 2.3. The words "herein," "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole
and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms
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defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and
include the plural as well as the singular.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act or any successor provision.
"Authenticating Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.15.
"Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper (which, in the case of The
City of New York, will, if practicable, be THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (Eastern
Edition), in the case of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland (the "United Kingdom"), will, if practicable, be THE FINANCIAL TIMES
(London Edition) and, in the case of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
("Luxembourg"), will, if practicable, be the LUXEMBURGER WORT) published in an
official or common language of the country of publication customarily published
at least once a day for at least five days in each calendar week and of general
circulation in The City of New York, the United Kingdom or Luxembourg, as
applicable. If it shall be impractical in the opinion of the Trustee to make any
publication of any notice required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any
publication or other notice in lieu thereof which is made or given with the
approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such
notice.
"Board of Directors" means either the Board of Directors of the Issuer
or any committee of such Board duly authorized to act on its behalf.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified
by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer to have been duly
adopted or consented to by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and
effect, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day" means, with respect to any Security, a day that is not a
day on which banking institutions in the city (or in any of the cities, if more
than one) in which amounts are payable, as specified in the form of such
Security, are authorized or required by any applicable law or regulation to be
closed.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time
to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the
execution and delivery of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and
performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the
body performing such duties on such date.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which the
corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office is, as of the date of this Indenture,
located at _____________________________________________.
"Coupon" means any interest coupon appertaining to an Unregistered
Security.
"Covenant Defeasance" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
9.1(C).
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"Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series
issuable or issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Securities, the
Person designated as Depositary by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 until a
successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Depositary" shall mean or include
each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more
than one such Person, "Depositary" as used with respect to the Securities of any
such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Registered Global
Securities of that series.
"Dollar" or "$" means the coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and
private debts.
"ECU" means the European Currency Unit as defined and revised from time
to time by the European Monetary System of the European Community and/or Euros.
"Euro" or "[euro]" means the currency adopted by those countries
participating in the third stage of European Monetary Union.
"Event of Default" means any event or condition specified as such in
Section 5.1.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Fair Value" when used with respect to any Voting Stock means the fair
value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.
"Foreign Currency" means a currency issued by the government of a
country other than the United States of America.
"Holder," "Holder of Securities," "Securityholder" or any other similar
term means (a) in the case of any Registered Security, the person in whose name
such Security is registered in the security register kept by the Issuer for that
purpose in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) in the case of any
Unregistered Security, the bearer of such Security, or any Coupon appertaining
thereto, as the case may be.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and delivered
or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented
or both, and shall include the forms and terms of particular series of
Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States
Department of the Treasury, or any successor entity.
"Issuer" means Metromedia Fiber Newtork, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
and its successors and assigns.
"Issuer Order" means a written statement, request or order of the
Issuer signed in its name by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the
president, any vice president or the treasurer of the Issuer.
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"Judgment Currency" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.12.
"Non-U.S. Person" means any person that is not a "U.S. person" as such
term is defined in Rule 902 of the Securities Act.
"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by the chairman of
the Board of Directors, the president or any vice president or the treasurer of
the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall comply with
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and include the statements provided for
in Section 10.5.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by legal
counsel who may be an employee of the Issuer or other counsel satisfactory to
the Trustee. Each such opinion shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act and include the statements provided for in Section 10.5.
"Original Issue Date" of any Security (or portion thereof) means the
earlier of (a) the date of such Security or (b) the date of any Security (or
portion thereof) for which such Security was issued (directly or indirectly) on
registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.
"Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security that provides for
an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.
"Outstanding" (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4), when used
with reference to Securities, means, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4,
as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee under this Indenture, except:
(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of
which moneys or U.S. Government Obligations (as provided for in Section 9.1)
in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee
or with any paying agent (other than the Issuer) or shall have been set
aside, segregated and held in trust by the Issuer for the Holders of such
Securities (if the Issuer shall act as its own paying agent), PROVIDED, that
if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the
maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as herein
provided, or provisions satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for
giving such notice; and
(c) Securities which shall have been paid or in substitution for which
other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the
terms of Section 2.9 (except with respect to any such Security as to which
proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security
4
<PAGE>
is held by a person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Issuer).
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of
Outstanding Securities of any or all series have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal
amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be
Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that
would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration
of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.
"Periodic Offering" means an offering of Securities of a series from
time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without
limitation, the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the stated maturity
or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect
thereto, are to be determined by the Issuer or its agents upon the issuance of
such Securities.
"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.
"Principal" whenever used with reference to the Securities or any
Security or any portion thereof, shall be deemed to include "and premium, if
any," PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such inclusion of premium, if any, shall under no
circumstances result in the double counting of such premium for the purpose of
any calculation required hereunder.
"Record date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
"Registered Global Security" means a Security evidencing all or a part
of a series of Registered Securities, issued to the Depositary for such series
in accordance with Section 2.4, and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 2.4
and any other legend required by the Depositary for such series.
"Registered Security" means any Security registered on the Security
register of the Issuer.
"Required Currency" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.12.
"Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee means any
officer of the Trustee assigned to administer corporate trust matters to whom
any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
"Security" or "Securities" (except as otherwise provided in Section
7.4) has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture, or, as the
case may be, Securities that have been authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture.
5
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"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Senior Securities" means Securities other than Subordinated
Securities.
"Subordinated Securities" means Securities that by the terms
established pursuant to Subsection 2.3(9) are subordinate to any specified debt
of the Issuer.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation of which at least a majority of the
outstanding stock having the voting power to elect a majority of the Board of
Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock
of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have
voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time of
determination directly or indirectly owned by the Issuer, or by one or more of
its Subsidiaries, or by the Issuer and one or more of its Subsidiaries.
"Trustee" means the Person identified as "Trustee" in the first
paragraph hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article VI, shall also
include any successor trustee. "Trustee" shall also 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 Securities of any series shall
mean the trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
"Unregistered Security" means any Security other than a Registered
Security.
"U.S. Government Obligations" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 9.1(A).
"Voting Stock" means stock of any class or classes having general
voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the board of
directors, managers or trustees of the corporation in question, PROVIDED, that,
for the purposes hereof, stock which carries only the right to vote
conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered voting stock
whether or not such event shall have happened.
"Yield to Maturity" means the yield to maturity on a series of
securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if
applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and
calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.
ARTICLE II
SECURITIES
SECTION 2.1 FORMS GENERALLY. The Securities of each series and the
Coupons, if any, to be attached thereto shall be substantially in such form (not
inconsistent with this Indenture) as shall be established by or pursuant to one
or more Board Resolutions (as set forth in a Board Resolution or, to the extent
established pursuant to but not set forth in a Board Resolution, an Officer's
Certificate detailing
6
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such establishment) or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each
case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other
variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have imprinted
or otherwise reproduced thereon such legend or legends or endorsements, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be required to comply
with any law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with any
rules of any securities exchange or to conform to general usage, all as may be
determined by the officers executing such Securities and Coupons, if any, as
evidenced by their execution of such Securities and Coupons.
The definitive Securities and Coupons, if any, shall be printed,
lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any
other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities and
Coupons, if any, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities and Coupons,
if any.
SECTION 2.2 FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. The
Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in
substantially the following form:
"This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
The Bank of New York, as Trustee
By
-------------------------------
Authorized Signatory"
If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with
respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication to be borne by the Securities of each such series shall be
substantially as follows:
"This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
---------------------------------
as Authenticating Agent
By
-------------------------------
Authorized Signatory"
7
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SECTION 2.3 AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES. The aggregate
principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and to the extent
established pursuant to but not set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officer's
Certificate detailing such establishment) or established in one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the initial issuance of Securities of
any series,
(1) the designation of the Securities of the series, which shall
distinguish the Securities of the series from the Securities of all other
series, and which may be part of a series of Securities previously issued;
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
the 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 the
series pursuant to Section 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 8.5 or 11.3);
(3) if other than Dollars, the coin, currency or currencies in which
the Securities of the series are denominated (including, but not limited to,
any composite currency, currency units, Foreign Currency or ECU);
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the
series is payable or the method of determination thereof;
(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear
interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue,
on which such interest shall be payable, the terms and conditions of any
deferral of interest and the additional interest, if any, thereon, the
right, if any, of the Issuer to extend the interest payment periods and the
duration of the extensions and (in the case of Registered Securities) the
date or dates on which a record shall be taken for the determination of
Holders to whom interest is payable and/or the method by which such rate or
rates or date or dates shall be determined;
(6) the place or places where and the manner in which, the principal of
and any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, if other than
as provided in Section 3.2;
(7) the right, if any, of the Issuer to redeem Securities, in whole or
in part, at its option and the period or periods within which, or the date
or dates on which, the price or prices at which and any terms and conditions
upon which Securities of the series may be so redeemed, pursuant to any
sinking fund or otherwise;
8
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(8) the obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem, purchase or repay
Securities of the series pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund
or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price
or prices at which and the period or periods within which or the date or
dates on which and any terms and conditions upon which Securities of the
series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant
to such obligation;
(9) the terms, if any, on which the Securities of such series will be
subordinate to other debt of the Issuer;
(10) if other than denominations of $1,000 or [EURO] 1,000, as the
case may be, and any integral multiple thereof in the case of Registered
Securities, or $1,000 and $5,000, or [EURO] 1,000 and [EURO] 5,000, in the
case of Unregistered Securities, the denominations in which Securities of
the series shall be issuable;
(11) the percentage of the principal amount at which the Securities
will be issued, and, 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;
(12) if other than the coin, currency or currencies in which the
Securities of the series are denominated, the coin, currency or currencies
in which payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such
series shall be payable, including composite currencies or currency units;
(13) if the principal of or interest on the Securities of the series
are to be payable, at the election of the Issuer or a Holder thereof, in a
coin or currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated,
the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which,
such election may be made;
(14) if the amount of payments of principal of and interest on the
Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or
formula based on a coin, currency, composite currency or currency unit other
than that in which the Securities of the series are denominated, the manner
in which such amounts shall be determined;
(15) whether the Securities of the series will be issuable as
Registered Securities (and if so, whether such Securities will be issuable
as Registered Global Securities) or Unregistered Securities (with or without
Coupons), or any combination of the foregoing, any restrictions applicable
to the offer, sale or delivery of Unregistered Securities or the payment of
interest thereon and, if other than as provided in Section 2.8, the terms
upon which Unregistered Securities of any series may be exchanged for
Registered Securities of such series and vice versa;
(16) whether and under what circumstances the Issuer will pay
additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a person who is
not a U.S. person in respect of any tax,
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assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether
the Issuer will have the option to redeem the Securities of the series
rather than pay such additional amounts;
(17) if the Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive
form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security
of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents
or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such
certificates, documents or conditions;
(18) any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying agents,
transfer agents or registrars of any other agents with respect to the
Securities of such series;
(19) any deletion from modification of or addition to the Events of
Default or covenants with respect to the Securities of such series;
(20) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or
exchangeable for any other security or property of the Issuer or its
subsidiaries, including, without limitation, securities of another Person
held by the Issuer or its Affiliates and, if so, the terms thereof; and
(21) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one series and Coupons, if any, appertaining
thereto shall be substantially identical, except in the case of Registered
Securities as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided by or
pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officer's Certificate referred to above or
as set forth in any indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one
series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time,
consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to
such Board Resolution, such Officer's Certificate or in any indenture
supplemental hereto.
SECTION 2.4 AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Issuer may
deliver Securities of any series having attached thereto appropriate Coupons, if
any, executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication together with the
applicable documents referred to below in this Section 2.4, and the Trustee
shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities and Coupons, if any, to
or upon the order of the Issuer (contained in the Issuer Order referred to below
in this Section) or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to
such recipients as may be specified from time to time by an Issuer Order. The
maturity date, original issue date, interest rate and any other terms of the
Securities of such series and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto shall be
determined by or pursuant to such Issuer Order and procedures. If provided for
in such procedures, such Issuer Order may authorize authentication and delivery
pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Issuer or its duly
authorized agent or agents, which instructions, if oral, shall be promptly
confirmed in writing. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities,
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the Trustee shall be entitled to receive (in the case of subparagraphs (2), (3)
and (4) below only at or before the time of the first request of the Issuer to
the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series) and (subject to Section
6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, the following enumerated
documents unless and until such documents have been superseded or revoked:
(1) an Issuer Order requesting such authentication and setting forth
delivery instructions if the Securities and Coupons, if any, are not to be
delivered to the Issuer, PROVIDED that, with respect to Securities of a
series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Issuer Order may be
delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee
of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (b) the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from
time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate
principal amount established for such series, pursuant to an Issuer Order or
pursuant to procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from
time to time by an Issuer Order, (c) the maturity date or dates, original
issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of
Securities of such series shall be determined by an Issuer Order or pursuant
to such procedures and (d) if provided for in such procedures, such Issuer
Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or
electronic instructions from the Issuer or its duly authorized agent or
agents, which instructions, if oral, shall be promptly confirmed in writing;
(2) any Board Resolution, Officer's Certificate and/or executed
supplemental indenture referred to in Section 2.1 and 2.3 by or pursuant to
which the forms and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, were
established;
(3) an Officer's Certificate setting forth the form or forms and terms
of the Securities and Coupons, if any, stating that the form or forms and
terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, have been established pursuant
to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 and comply with this Indenture, and covering such
other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request; and
(4) At the option of the Issuer, either one or more Opinions of
Counsel, or a letter addressed to the Trustee permitting it to rely on one
or more Opinions of Counsel, substantially to the effect that:
(a) the form or forms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, have
been duly authorized and established in conformity with the provisions
of this Indenture;
(b) in the case of an underwritten offering, the terms of the
Securities have been duly authorized and established in conformity with
the provisions of this Indenture, and, in the case of an offering that
is not underwritten, certain terms of the Securities have been
established pursuant to a Board Resolution, an Officer's Certificate or
a supplemental indenture in accordance with this Indenture, and when
such other terms as are to be established pursuant to procedures set
forth in an Issuer Order shall have been
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established, all such terms will have been duly authorized by the
Issuer and will have been established in conformity with the provisions
of this Indenture; and
(c) such Securities and Coupons, if any, when executed by the
Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture and delivered to and duly paid for by the
purchasers thereof, and subject to any conditions specified in such
Opinion of Counsel, will have been duly issued under this Indenture,
will be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, and will be valid
and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms except as the enforceability thereof may be
limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation,
moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally, (ii) rights of acceleration, if any, and (iii) the
availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable
principles of general applicability and such counsel need express no
opinion with regard to the enforceability of Section 6.6 or of a
judgment denominated in a currency other than Dollars.
In rendering such opinions, any counsel may qualify any opinions as to
enforceability by stating that such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and
other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and is subject
to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Such counsel may rely upon
opinions of other counsel (copies of which shall be delivered to the Trustee)
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, in which case the opinion shall state
that such counsel believes he and the Trustee are entitled so to rely. Such
counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters,
he has relied, to the extent he deems proper, upon certificates of officers of
the Issuer and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver
any Securities under this section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel,
determines that such action may not lawfully be taken by the Issuer or if the
Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or board of trustees, executive
committee or a trust committee of directors or trustees shall determine that
such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders
or would affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the
Securities, this Indenture or otherwise.
If the Issuer shall establish pursuant to Section 2.3 that the
Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Registered
Global Securities, then the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in
accordance with this Section and the Issuer Order with respect to such series,
authenticate and deliver one or more Registered Global Securities that (i) shall
represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of all of the Securities of such series issued and not yet cancelled,
(ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Registered
Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be
delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or delivered or held pursuant to
such Depositary's instructions and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the
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following effect: "Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for
Securities in definitive registered form, this Security may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of the Depositary or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary
or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee
of such successor Depositary."
Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.3 must, at the time of
its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or
regulation.
SECTION 2.5 EXECUTION OF SECURITIES. The Securities and each Coupon
appertaining thereto, if any, shall be signed on behalf of the Issuer by the
chairman or vice chairman of its Board of Directors or its president, or any
executive (senior or other), a vice president or its treasurer, under its
corporate seal (except in the case of Coupons) which may, but need not, be
attested. Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the
present or any future such officers. The seal of the Issuer may be in the form
of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise
reproduced on the Securities. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in
any such reproduction of the seal or any such signature shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee.
In case any officer of the Issuer who shall have signed any of the
Securities or Coupons, if any, shall cease to be such officer before the
Security or Coupon so signed (or the Security to which the Coupon so signed
appertains) shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of
by the Issuer, such Security or Coupon nevertheless may be authenticated and
delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such Security or Coupon
had not ceased to be such officer of the Issuer; and any Security or Coupon may
be signed on behalf of the Issuer by such persons as, at the actual date of the
execution of such Security or Coupon, shall be the proper officers of the
Issuer, although at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture any
such person was not such an officer.
SECTION 2.6 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. Only such Securities as
shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form
hereinbefore recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of
its authorized officers, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or
be valid or obligatory for any purpose. No Coupon shall be entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture or shall be valid and obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication on the Security to which such Coupon
appertains shall have been duly executed by the Trustee. The execution of such
certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the Issuer 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.
SECTION 2.7 DENOMINATION AND DATE OF SECURITIES; PAYMENT OF INTEREST.
The Securities of each series shall be issuable as Registered Securities or
Unregistered
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Securities in denominations established as contemplated by Section 2.3 or,
with respect to the Registered Securities of any series, if not so
established, in denominations of $1,000 (or [EURO] 1,000, as applicable) and
any integral multiple thereof. If denominations of Unregistered Securities of
any series are not so established, such Securities shall be issuable in
denominations of $1,000 and $5,000 (or [EURO] 1,000 and [EURO] 5,000). The
Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered or otherwise
distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as the officers
of the Issuer executing the same may determine with the approval of the
Trustee, as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.
Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Each Unregistered Security shall be dated as provided in the Board Resolution
referred to in Section 2.3. The Securities of each series shall bear interest,
if any, from the date, and such interest shall be payable on the dates,
established as contemplated by Section 2.3.
The person in whose name any Registered Security of any series is
registered at the close of business on any record date applicable to a
particular series with respect to any interest payment date for such series
shall be entitled to receive the interest, if any, payable on such interest
payment date notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Registered
Security subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date,
except if and to the extent the Issuer shall default in the payment of the
interest due on such interest payment date for such series, in which case such
defaulted interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names Outstanding
Registered Securities for such series are registered at the close of business on
a subsequent record date (which shall be not less than five Business Days prior
to the date of payment of such defaulted interest) established by notice given
by mail by or on behalf of the Issuer to the Holders of Registered Securities
not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date. The term "record
date" as used with respect to any interest payment date (except a date for
payment of defaulted interest) for the Securities of any series shall mean the
date specified as such in the terms of the Registered Securities of such series
established as contemplated by Section 2.3, or, if no such date is so
established, if such interest payment date is the first day of a calendar month,
the fifteenth day of the preceding calendar month or, if such interest payment
date is the fifteenth day of a calendar month, the first day of such calendar
month, whether or not such record date is a Business Day.
SECTION 2.8 REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE. (a) The Issuer will
keep at each office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in
Section 3.2 for each series of Securities a register or registers in which,
subject to such reasonable regulations as the Issuer may prescribe, it will
provide for the registration of Registered Securities of such series and the
registration of transfer of Registered Securities of such series. Such register
shall be in written form in the English language or in any other form capable of
being converted into such form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times
such register or registers shall be open for inspection by the Trustee.
Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Registered
Security of any series at any such office or agency to be maintained for the
purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a
new
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Registered Security or Registered Securities of the same series, maturity date,
interest rate and original issue date in authorized denominations for a like
aggregate principal amount.
Unregistered Securities (except for any temporary global Unregistered
Securities) and Coupons (except for Coupons attached to any temporary global
Unregistered Securities) shall be transferable by delivery.
At the option of the Holder thereof, Registered Securities of any
series (other than a Registered Global Security, except as set forth below) may
be exchanged for a Registered Security or Registered Securities of such series
having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon
surrender of such Registered Securities to be exchanged at the agency of the
Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2
and upon payment, if the Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter
provided. If the Securities of any series are issued in both registered and
unregistered form, at the option of the Holder thereof, except as otherwise
specified pursuant to Section 2.3, Unregistered Securities of any series may be
exchanged for Registered Securities of such series having authorized
denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such
Unregistered Securities to be exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall
be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2, with, in the case
of Unregistered Securities that have Coupons attached, all unmatured Coupons and
all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining, and upon payment, if the
Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided. At the option of
the Holder thereof, if Unregistered Securities of any series, maturity date,
interest rate and original issue date are issued in more than one authorized
denomination, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3, such
Unregistered Securities may be exchanged for Unregistered Securities of such
series having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount,
upon surrender of such Unregistered Securities to be exchanged at the agency of
the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section
3.2 or as specified pursuant to Section 2.3, with, in the case of Unregistered
Securities that have Coupons attached, all unmatured Coupons and all matured
Coupons in default thereto appertaining, and upon payment, if the Issuer shall
so require, of the charges hereinafter provided. Registered Securities of any
series may not be exchanged for Unregistered Securities of such series unless
(1) otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 and (2) the Issuer has delivered
to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the Issuer has received from the
IRS a ruling or (y) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the
applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect
that the inclusion of terms permitting Registered Securities to be exchanged for
Unregistered Securities would result in no United States federal income tax
effect adverse to the Issuer or to any Holder. Whenever any Securities are so
surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive. All Securities and Coupons, if any, surrendered upon any
exchange or transfer provided for in this Indenture shall be promptly cancelled
and disposed of by the Trustee, and the Trustee shall deliver a certificate of
disposition thereof to the Issuer.
All Registered Securities presented for registration of transfer,
exchange, redemption or payment shall (if so required by the Issuer or the
Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a
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written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer
and the Trustee duly executed, by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in
writing.
The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any exchange or
registration of transfer of Securities. No service charge shall be made for any
such transaction.
The Issuer shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of
(a) any Securities of any series for a period of 15 days preceding the first
mailing of notice of redemption of Securities of such series to be redeemed or
(b) any Securities selected, called or being called for redemption, in whole or
in part, except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion
thereof not so to be redeemed.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.8, unless and
until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive
registered form, a Registered Global Security representing all or a portion of
the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of
such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by
such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or
a nominee of such successor Depositary.
If at any time the Depositary for any Registered Securities of a series
represented by one or more Registered Global Securities notifies the Issuer that
it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Registered
Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Registered Securities shall
no longer be eligible under Section 2.4, the Issuer shall appoint a successor
Depositary eligible under Section 2.4 with respect to such Registered
Securities. If a successor Depositary eligible under Section 2.4 for such
Registered Securities is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the
Issuer receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Issuer's
election pursuant to Section 2.3 that such Registered Securities be represented
by one or more Registered Global Securities shall no longer be effective and the
Issuer will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer's Certificate
for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series,
will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive
registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registered
Global Security or Securities representing such Registered Securities in
exchange for such Registered Global Security or Securities.
The Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that
the Registered Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more
Registered Global Securities shall no longer be represented by a Registered
Global Security or Securities. In such event the Issuer will execute, and the
Trustee, upon receipt of any Officer's Certificate for the authentication and
delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver,
Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any
authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the Registered Global Security or Securities representing
such Registered Securities, in exchange for such Registered Global Security or
Securities.
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If specified by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to
Securities represented by a Registered Global Security, the Depositary for such
Registered Global Security may surrender such Registered Global Security in
exchange in whole or in part for Securities of the same series in definitive
registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Issuer and such
Depositary. Thereupon, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, without service charge,
(i) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Registered
Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations
as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and
in exchange for such Person's beneficial interest in the Registered Global
Security; and
(ii) to such Depositary a new Registered Global Security in a
denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount
of the surrendered Registered Global Security and the aggregate principal
amount of Registered Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to
clause (i) above.
Upon the exchange of a Registered Global Security for Securities in
definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, such
Registered Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee or an agent of the
Issuer or the Trustee. Securities in definitive registered form without coupons
issued in exchange for a Registered Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.8
shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the
Depositary for such Registered Global Security, pursuant to instructions from
its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or
an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver
such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities
are so registered.
All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall
be valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to
the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such
transfer or exchange.
Notwithstanding anything herein or in the terms of any series of
Securities to the contrary, none of the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the
Issuer or the Trustee (any of which, other than the Issuer, shall rely on an
Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel) shall be required to exchange
any Unregistered Security for a Registered Security if such exchange would
result in United States federal income tax consequences adverse to the Issuer
(such as, for example, the inability of the Issuer to deduct from its income, as
computed for United States federal income tax purposes, the interest payable on
the Unregistered Securities) under then applicable United States federal income
tax laws.
SECTION 2.9 MUTILATED, DEFACED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES.
In case any temporary or definitive Security or any Coupon appertaining to any
Security shall be mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer in
its discretion may execute and, upon the written request of any officer of the
Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new
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Security of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue
date, bearing a number or other distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously
outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced Security,
or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen
with Coupons corresponding to the Coupons appertaining to the Securities so
mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, or in exchange or substitution
for the Security to which such mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen
Coupon appertained, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the
Coupons so mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case, the
applicant for a substitute Security or Coupon shall furnish to the Issuer and to
the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to indemnify and defend and to save each of
them harmless and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to
their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security or Coupon
and of the ownership thereof, and in the case of mutilation or defacement shall
surrender the Security and related Coupons to the Trustee or such agent.
Upon the issuance of any substitute Security or Coupon, the Issuer 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) or its agent connected therewith. In case
any Security or Coupon which has matured or is about to mature or has been
called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or defaced or be destroyed,
lost or stolen, the Issuer may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or
authorize the payment of the same or the relevant Coupon (without surrender
thereof except in the case of a mutilated or defaced Security or Coupon), if the
applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and
any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or indemnity as any of them
may require to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction,
loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee
and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of such Security or Coupons and of the ownership
thereof.
Every substitute Security or Coupon of any series issued pursuant to
the provisions of this Section by virtue of the fact that any such Security or
Coupon is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual
obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security
or Coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone and shall be entitled to
all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set
forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other
Securities or Coupons of such series duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
All Securities and Coupons shall be held and owned upon the express condition
that, to the extent permitted by law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive
with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, defaced or destroyed,
lost or stolen Securities and Coupons and shall preclude any and all other
rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter
enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable
instruments or other securities without their surrender.
SECTION 2.10 CANCELLATION OF SECURITIES; DESTRUCTION THEREOF. All
Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange, or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking
or analogous fund, if any, if surrendered
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to the Issuer or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee or any agent of the
Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee or its agent for cancellation or, if
surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it; and no Securities or
Coupons shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of
the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee or its agent shall dispose of
cancelled Securities and Coupons held by it and deliver a certificate of
disposition to the Issuer. If the Issuer or its agent shall acquire any of the
Securities or Coupons, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or
satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities or Coupons
unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee or its agent for
cancellation.
SECTION 2.11 TEMPORARY SECURITIES. Pending the preparation of
definitive Securities for any series, the Issuer may execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities for such series (printed,
lithographed, typewritten or otherwise reproduced, in each case in form
satisfactory to the Trustee). Temporary Securities of any series shall be
issuable as Registered Securities without coupons, or as Unregistered Securities
with or without coupons attached thereto, of any authorized denomination, and
substantially in the form of the definitive Securities of such series but with
such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary
Securities, all as may be determined by the Issuer with the concurrence of the
Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. Temporary
Securities may contain such references to any provisions of this Indenture as
may be appropriate. Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Issuer and
be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially
the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities. Without
unreasonable delay the Issuer shall execute and shall furnish definitive
Securities of such series and thereupon temporary Registered Securities of such
series may be surrendered in exchange therefor without charge at each office
or agency to be maintained by the Issuer for that purpose pursuant to Section
3.2 and, in the case of Unregistered Securities, at any agency maintained by
the Issuer for such purpose as specified pursuant to Section 2.3, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary
Securities of such series an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive
Securities of the same series having authorized denominations and, in the
case of Unregistered Securities, having attached thereto any appropriate
Coupons. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall be
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities
of such series, unless otherwise established pursuant to Section 2.3. The
provisions of this Section are subject to any restrictions or limitations on
the issue and delivery of temporary Unregistered Securities of any series
that may be established pursuant to Section 2.3 (including any provision that
Unregistered Securities of such series initially be issued in the form of a
single global Unregistered Security to be delivered to a depositary or agency
located outside the United States and the procedures pursuant to which
definitive or global Unregistered Securities of such series would be issued
in exchange for such temporary global Unregistered Security).
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ARTICLE III
COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER
SECTION 3.1 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. The Issuer covenants and
agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and
punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and interest on, if any,
each of the Securities of such series (together with any additional amounts
payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) at the place or places, at the
respective time or times and in the manner provided in such Securities and in
the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto and in this Indenture. The interest on
Securities with Coupons attached (together with any additional amounts payable
pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall be payable only upon
presentation and surrender of the several Coupons for such interest installments
as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature. If any temporary Unregistered
Security provides that interest thereon may be paid while such Security is in
temporary form, the interest on any such temporary Unregistered Security
(together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such
Security) shall be paid, as to the installments of interest evidenced by Coupons
attached thereto, if any, only upon presentation and surrender thereof, and, as
to the other installments of interest, if any, only upon presentation of such
Securities for notation thereon of the payment of such interest, in each case
subject to any restrictions that may be established pursuant to Section 2.3. The
interest, if any, on Registered Securities (together with any additional amounts
payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall be payable only to or
upon the written order of the Holders thereof and, at the option of the Issuer,
may be paid by wire transfer or by mailing checks for such interest payable to
or upon the written order of such Holders at their last addresses as they appear
on the Securities register of the Issuer.
SECTION 3.2 OFFICES FOR PAYMENTS, ETC. So long as any Registered
Securities are authorized for issuance pursuant to this Indenture or are
outstanding hereunder, the Issuer will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, an office or agency where the Registered Securities of each
series may be presented for payment, where the Securities of each series may be
presented for exchange as is provided in this Indenture and, if applicable,
pursuant to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of each series may
be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided.
The Issuer will maintain one or more offices or agencies in a city or
cities located outside the United States (including any city in which such an
agency is required to be maintained under the rules of any stock exchange on
which the Securities of such series are listed) where the Unregistered
Securities, if any, of each series and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto may
be presented for payment. No payment on any Unregistered Security or Coupon will
be made upon presentation of such Unregistered Security or Coupon at an agency
of the Issuer within the United States nor will any payment be made by transfer
to an account in, or by mail to an address in, the United States unless pursuant
to applicable United States laws and regulations then in effect such payment can
be made without tax consequences adverse to the Issuer. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, payments in Dollars of Unregistered Securities of any series
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and Coupons appertaining thereto which are payable in Dollars may be made at an
agency of the Issuer maintained in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York if such payment in Dollars at each agency maintained by the Issuer outside
the United States for payment on such Unregistered Securities is illegal or
effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.
The Issuer will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in
respect of the Securities of any series, the Coupons appertaining thereto or
this Indenture may be served.
The Issuer will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of
each such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. In case the
Issuer shall fail to maintain any agency required by this Section to be located
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or shall fail to give such
notice of the location or for any change in the location of any of the above
agencies, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Issuer may from time to time designate one or more additional
offices or agencies where the Securities of a series and any Coupons
appertaining thereto may be presented for payment, where the Securities of that
series may be presented for exchange as provided in this Indenture and pursuant
to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of that series may be
presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and the
Issuer may from time to time rescind any such designation, as the Issuer may
deem desirable or expedient; PROVIDED, that no such designation or rescission
shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligations to maintain the
agencies provided for in this Section. The Issuer shall give to the Trustee
prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.
SECTION 3.3 APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE. The
Issuer, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee,
will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee, so that there
shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each series of Securities
hereunder.
SECTION 3.4 PAYING AGENTS. Whenever the Issuer shall appoint a paying
agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, it
will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument
in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
this Section,
(a) that it will hold all sums received by it as such agent for the
payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series
(whether such sums have been paid to it by the Issuer or by any other
obligor on the Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the
Holders of the Securities of such series, or Coupons appertaining thereto,
if any, or of the Trustee;
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(b) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Issuer
(or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to make any
payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series
when the same shall be due and payable; and
(c) that it will pay any such sums so held in trust by it to the
Trustee upon the Trustee's written request at any time during the
continuance of the failure referred to in the foregoing clause (b).
The Issuer will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or
interest on the Securities of such series, deposit with the paying agent a sum
sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due, and (unless such
paying agent is the Trustee) the Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any
failure to take such action.
If the Issuer shall act as its own paying agent with respect to the
Securities of any series, it will, on or before each due date of the principal
of or interest on the Securities of such series, set aside, segregate and hold
in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series or the
Coupons appertaining thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest
so becoming due. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to
take such action.
Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, but subject
to Section 9.1, the Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a
satisfaction and discharge with respect to one or more or all series of
Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the
Trustee all sums held in trust for any such series by the Issuer or any paying
agent hereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the
Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.
Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement
to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions
of Sections 9.3 and 9.4.
SECTION 3.5 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES. The Issuer will furnish to the
Trustee on or before January 31 in each year (beginning with January 31, 2000) a
brief certificate (which need not comply with Section 10.5) from the principal
executive, financial or accounting officer of the Issuer stating that in the
course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an officer of
the Issuer he or she would normally have knowledge of any default or
non-compliance by the Issuer in the performance of any covenants or conditions
contained in this Indenture, stating whether or not he or she has knowledge of
any such default or non-compliance and, if so, describing each such default or
non-compliance of which the signer has knowledge and the nature thereof.
SECTION 3.6 CORPORATE EXISTENCE. The Issuer will do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate
existence and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the
Issuer and its Subsidiaries; PROVIDED, that the Issuer shall not be required to
preserve any such right, license or franchise, if, in the
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judgment of the Issuer, the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the
conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and
the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the
Securityholders.
SECTION 3.7 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES. The Issuer will cause all
properties used in or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of
any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair, and working
order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all
necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof,
all as in the judgment of the Issuer may be necessary, so that the business
carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted
at all times, except to the extent that the Issuer may be prevented from so
doing by circumstances beyond its control; PROVIDED, that nothing in this
Section shall prevent the Issuer from discontinuing the operation or maintenance
of any of such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance
or disposal is, in the judgment of the Issuer desirable in the conduct of the
business of the Issuer or any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material
respect to the Securityholders.
SECTION 3.8 PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS. The Issuer will pay or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become
delinquent: (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or
imposed upon the Issuer or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or
property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; and (b) all lawful claims for labor,
materials and supplies, which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the
property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; PROVIDED, that the Issuer shall not be
required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax,
assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and PROVIDED FURTHER that
the Issuer shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax,
assessment, charge or claim if the Issuer shall determine that such payment is
not advantageous to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the failure so to pay or discharge is not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the Securityholders.
SECTION 3.9 LUXEMBOURG PUBLICATIONS. In the event of the publication of
any notice pursuant to Section 5.11, 6.10(a), 6.11, 8.2, 9.4 or 11.2, the party
making such publication in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and
London shall also, to the extent that notice is required to be given to Holders
of Securities of any series by applicable Luxembourg law or stock exchange
regulation, as evidenced by an Officer's Certificate delivered to such party,
make a similar publication in Luxembourg.
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ARTICLE IV
SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 ISSUER TO FURNISH TRUSTEE INFORMATION AS TO NAMES AND
ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS. If and so long as the Trustee shall not be the
Security registrar for the Securities of any series, the Issuer and any other
obligor on the Securities will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a
list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and
addresses of the Holders of the Registered Securities of such series pursuant to
Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) semi-annually not more than 5 days after each record date for the
payment of interest on such Registered Securities, as hereinabove specified,
as of such record date and on dates to be determined pursuant to Section 2.3
for non-interest bearing Registered Securities in each year; and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in
writing, within thirty days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request
as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is
furnished.
SECTION 4.2 REPORTS BY THE ISSUER. The Issuer covenants to file with
the Trustee, within 15 days after the Issuer is required to file the same with
the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents,
and other reports that the Issuer may be required to file with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or pursuant to
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.3 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.
(a) On or before the first July 15 which occurs not less than 60 days
after the earliest date of issuance of any Securities and on or before July
15 in each year thereafter, so long as any Securities are Outstanding
hereunder, the Trustee shall transmit by mail as provided below to the
Securityholders of each series of outstanding Securities, as hereinafter in
this Section provided, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15 with
respect to:
(i) its eligibility under Section 6.10 and its qualification under
Section 6.9, or in lieu thereof, if to the best of its knowledge it has
continued to be eligible and qualified under such Sections, a written
statement to such effect;
(ii) the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee
elects to so state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof)
made by the Trustee (as such) which remain unpaid on the date of such
report and for the reimbursement of which it
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claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities
of such series, on any property or funds held or collected by it as
Trustee, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect)
to report such advances if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate
not more than 0.5% of the principal of the Securities of such series
outstanding on the date of such report;
(iii) the amount, interest rate and maturity date of all other
indebtedness owing by the Issuer (or any other obligor on the
Securities of such series) to the Trustee in its individual capacity on
the date of such report, with a brief description of any property held
as collateral security therefor, except any indebtedness based upon a
creditor relationship;
(iv) the property and funds, if any, physically in the possession
of the Trustee (as such) in respect of the Securities of such series on
the date of such report;
(v) any additional issue of Securities of such series which the
Trustee has not previously reported; and
(vi) any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of its
duties under this Indenture which the Trustee has not previously
reported and which in the Trustee's opinion materially affects the
Securities of such series, except action in respect of a default,
notice of which has been or is to be withheld by it in accordance with
the provisions of Section 5.11.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders of each series,
as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, a brief report with respect
to the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to
state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee
(as such) in respect of the Securities of such series since the date of the
last report transmitted pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section (or if no such report has yet been so transmitted, since the date of
this Indenture) for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien
or charge prior to that of the Securities of such series on property or
funds held or collected by it as Trustee and which it has not previously
reported pursuant to this subsection (b), except that the Trustee shall not
be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances
remaining unpaid at any time aggregate 10% or less of the principal amount
of Securities of such series outstanding at such time, such report to be
transmitted within 90 days after such time.
(c) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted by mail to
all Holders of Securities of such series, as the names and addresses of such
Holders appear upon the Securities register as of a date not more than 15
days prior to the mailing thereof.
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(d) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Securityholders, be furnished to the Issuer and be filed by the Trustee
with each stock exchange upon which the Securities of such series are listed
and also with the Commission. The Issuer agrees to notify the Trustee when
and as Securities of any series become listed on any national securities
exchange.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 5.1 EVENT OF DEFAULT DEFINED, ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; WAIVER
OF DEFAULT. "Event of Default" with respect to Securities of any series,
wherever used herein, means any one of the following events which shall have
occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and
whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law
or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or
regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of
the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and
payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided
that, a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Issuer in
accordance with the terms of such Securities shall not constitute a failure
to pay interest; or
(b) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal or
premium (if any) on any of the Securities of such series as and when the
same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption,
by declaration or otherwise; or
(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund installment as and when
the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such
series; or
(d) failure on the part of the Issuer duly to observe or perform any
other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Issuer in the
Securities of such series or contained in this Indenture (other than a
covenant or agreement included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a
series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 60 days after
the date on which written notice specifying such failure, stating that such
notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder and demanding that the Issuer
remedy the same, shall have been given by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, to the Issuer by the Trustee, or to the Issuer and
the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of the series to which such covenant or agreement
relates; or
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(e) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or
order for relief in respect of the Issuer in an involuntary case under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator (or similar official) of the Issuer for any substantial part of
its or their property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its or
their affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect
for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(f) the Issuer shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or
consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any
such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official)
of the Issuer or for any substantial part of its or their property, or make
any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(g) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture
or Board Resolution under which such series of Securities is issued or in
the form of Security for such series.
If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b) or (c) occurs and
is continuing, then, and in each and every such case, except for any series of
Securities the principal of which shall have already become due and payable,
either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities of each such affected series then Outstanding hereunder
(each such series voting as a separate class) by notice in writing to the Issuer
(and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire
principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms of such series) of all Securities of such series, and the interest accrued
thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such
declaration, the same shall become immediately due and payable.
Except as otherwise provided in the terms of any series of Senior
Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if an Event of Default described in clause
(d) or (g) above with respect to all series of the Senior Securities then
Outstanding, occurs and is continuing, then, and in each and every such case,
unless the Principal of all of the Senior Securities shall have already become
due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of all of the Senior Securities then Outstanding
hereunder (treated as one class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the
Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if
the Senior Securities of any series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such
portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series)
of all of the Senior Securities then Outstanding, and the interest accrued
thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon such declaration,
the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default
described in clause (e) or (f) above occurs and is continuing, then the
principal amount of all the Senior Securities then Outstanding, and the interest
accrued thereon, if any, shall become and be immediately due and payable without
any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
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Except as otherwise provided in the terms of any series of Subordinated
Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if an Event of Default described in clause
(d) or (g) above with respect to all series of Subordinated Securities then
Outstanding, occurs and is continuing, then, and in each and every such case,
unless the Principal of all of the Subordinated Securities shall have already
become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25%
in aggregate principal amount of all of the Subordinated Securities then
Outstanding hereunder (treated as one class) by notice in writing to the Issuer
(and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire
principal (or, if the Subordinated Securities of any series are Original Issue
Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in
the terms of such series) of all of the Subordinated Securities then
Outstanding, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable
immediately, and upon such declaration, the same shall become immediately due
and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) above occurs
and is continuing, then the principal amount of all of the Subordinated
Securities then Outstanding, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, shall
become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act
on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
If an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (g) occurs and is
continuing, which Event of Default is with respect to less than all series of
Senior Securities then Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case,
except for any series of Senior Securities the principal of which shall have
already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Securities of each such
affected series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series voting as a
separate class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given
by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Securities of
such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all
Securities of such series, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due
and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration, the same shall become
immediately due and payable.
If an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (g) occurs and is
continuing, which Event of Default is with respect to less than all series of
Subordinated Securities then Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case,
except for any series of Subordinated Securities the principal of which shall
have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not
less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Securities of
each such affected series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series voting as
a separate class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if
given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the
Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion
of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all
Securities of such series, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due
and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration, the same shall become
immediately due and payable.
The foregoing provisions are subject to the condition that if, at any
time after the principal (or, if the Securities are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms
thereof) of the Securities of any series (or of all the Securities, as the case
may be) shall have
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been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the
payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter
provided,
(A) the Issuer shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
(i) all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities
of such series (or all the Securities, as the case may be); and
(ii) the principal of any and all Securities of such series (or of
all the Securities, as the case may be) which shall have become due
otherwise than by acceleration; and
(iii) interest upon such principal and, to the extent that payment
of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue
installments of interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest or
Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities)
specified in the Securities of such series (or at the respective rates
of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case
may be) to the date of such payment or deposit; and
(iv) all amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6;
and
(B) all Events of Default under the Indenture, other than the
non-payment of the principal of Securities which shall have become due by
acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as
provided herein,
then and in every such case the Holders of a majority, or any applicable
supermajority, in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities of such
series voting as a separate class (or all the Securities, as the case may be,
voting as a single class), then Outstanding, by written notice to the Issuer
and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to such series (or
with respect to all the Securities, as the case may be) and rescind and annul
such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and
annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall
impair any right consequent thereon.
For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of
any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared
due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such
declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the
principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for
all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be
due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of
the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such
acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts
owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue
Discount Securities.
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SECTION 5.2 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS BY TRUSTEE; TRUSTEE MAY PROVE
DEBT. The Issuer covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment
of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of any series when such
interest shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have
continued for a period of 30 days, or (b) in case default shall be made in the
payment of all or any part of the principal of any of the Securities of any
series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of
the Securities of such series or upon any redemption or by declaration or
otherwise, then upon demand of the Trustee, the Issuer will pay to the Trustee
for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series the whole amount
that then shall have become due and payable on all Securities of such series,
and such Coupons, for principal and interest, as the case may be (with interest
to the date of such payment upon the overdue principal and, to the extent that
payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue
installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to
Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the
Securities of such series); and in addition thereto, such further amount as
shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and such
other amount due the Trustee under Section 6.6 in respect of Securities of such
series.
Until such demand is made by the Trustee, the Issuer may pay the
principal of and interest on the Securities of any series to the registered
Holders, whether or not the Securities of such series be overdue.
In case the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name as trustee of an express trust, shall be
entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in
equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any
such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such
judgment or final decree against the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities
and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or
other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated, all the moneys adjudged or
decreed to be payable.
In case there shall be pending proceedings relative to the Issuer or
any other obligor upon the Securities under Title 11 of the United States Code
or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization,
liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or
taken possession of the Issuer or its property or such other obligor, or in case
of any other comparable judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or other
obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or
such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the
Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration
or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand
pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by
intervention in such proceedings or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of
principal and interest (or, if the Securities of any series are Original
Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the
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principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and
unpaid in respect of the Securities of any series, and to file such other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the
claims of the Trustee (including any claim for amounts payable to the
Trustee under Section 6.6) and of the Securityholders allowed in any
judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the
Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other
obligor; and
(b) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on
behalf of the holders of the Securities of any series in any election of a
receiver, assignee, trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement,
reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings,
custodian or other person performing similar functions in respect of any
such proceedings; and
(c) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with
respect to the claims of the Securityholders and of the Trustee on their
behalf; and any trustee, receiver, or liquidator, custodian or other similar
official performing similar functions in respect of any such proceedings is
hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make payments to the
Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee its costs
and expenses of collection and all other amounts due to it pursuant to
Section 6.6.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any
Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Securities of any series or the rights of any Holder
thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any
Securityholder in any such proceeding, except as aforesaid in clause (b).
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or
under any of the Securities of any series or Coupons appertaining to such
Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the
Securities of such series or Coupons appertaining to such Securities or the
production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any
such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own
name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be
awarded to the Trustee for ratable distribution to the Holders of the Securities
or Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect of which such action was
taken, after payment of all sums due to the Trustee under Section 6.6 in respect
of such Securities.
In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings
involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the
Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders
of the Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect to which
such action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such
Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities parties to any such
proceedings.
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SECTION 5.3 APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. Any moneys collected by the
Trustee pursuant to this Article in respect of any series shall be applied in
the following order at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of
the distribution of such moneys on account of principal or interest, upon
presentation of the several Securities and Coupons appertaining to such
Securities in respect of which monies have been collected and stamping (or
otherwise noting) thereon the payment, or issuing Securities of such series in
reduced principal amounts in exchange for the presented Securities of like
series if only partially paid, or upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses applicable to such series
of Securities in respect of which monies have been collected, including all
amounts due to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee pursuant to Section
6.6 in respect to such series of Securities;
SECOND: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in
respect of which moneys have been collected shall not have become and be
then due and payable, to the payment of interest on the Securities of such
series in default in the order of the maturity of the installments on such
interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected
by the Trustee and is permitted by applicable law) upon the overdue
installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield
to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in
such Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled
thereto, without discrimination or preference;
THIRD: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in
respect of which moneys have been collected shall have become and shall be
then due and payable, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and
unpaid upon all the Securities of such series for principal and interest,
with interest upon the overdue principal, and (to the extent that such
interest has been collected by the Trustee and is permitted by applicable
law) upon the overdue installations of interest at the same rate as the rate
of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount
Securities) specified in the Securities of such series; and in case such
moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and
unpaid upon the Securities of such series, then to the payment of such
principal and interest or Yield to Maturity, without preference or priority
of principal over interest or Yield to Maturity, or of interest or Yield to
Maturity over principal, or of any installment of interest over any other
installment of interest or of any Security of such series over any other
Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and
accrued and unpaid interest or Yield to Maturity; and
FOURTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer or any
other person lawfully entitled thereto.
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SECTION 5.4 SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT. In case an Event of Default has
occurred, has not been waived and is continuing, the Trustee may in its
discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this
Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem
most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in
equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise
of any power granted in this Indenture or to enforce any other legal or
equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
SECTION 5.5 RESTORATION OF RIGHTS ON ABANDONMENT OF PROCEEDINGS. In
case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture
and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason,
or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such
case the Issuer and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former
positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the
Issuer, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such
proceedings had been taken.
SECTION 5.6 LIMITATIONS ON SUITS BY SECURITY HOLDERS. No Holder of any
Security of any series or of any Coupon appertaining thereto shall have any
right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute
any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise upon
or under or with respect to this Indenture or such Security, or for the
appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar
official or for any other remedy hereunder or thereunder, unless (a) such Holder
previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default
with respect to Securities of such series and of the continuance thereof, as
hereinbefore provided, and (b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding (treated as a
single class) shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such
action or proceedings in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have
offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the
costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and (c) the
Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action or proceeding, and (d)
no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the
Trustee pursuant to Section 5.9; it being understood and intended, and being
expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Security or Coupon with
every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of
Securities of any series or Coupons appertaining to such Securities shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of
this Indenture or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any
other such taker or Holder of Securities or Coupons appertaining to such
Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any
other such taker or Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture or any
Security, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and
common benefit of all Holders of Securities of the applicable series and Coupons
appertaining to such Securities. For the protection and enforcement of the
provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall
be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
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SECTION 5.7 UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF SECURITYHOLDERS TO INSTITUTE CERTAIN
SUITS. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and any provision
of any Security, the right of any Holder of any Security or Coupon to receive
payment of the principal of and interest on such Security or Coupon on or after
the respective due dates expressed in such Security or Coupon or the applicable
redemption dates provided for in such Security, or to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be
impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 5.8 POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT
WAIVER OF DEFAULT. Except as provided in Section 5.6, no right or remedy herein
conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or
Coupons is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy and every right
and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition
to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at
law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or
remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or
employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of Securities or
Coupons to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default
occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power or
shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an
acquiescence therein. Every power and remedy given by this Indenture, any
Security or law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or Coupons may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or, subject to Section 5.6, by the Holders of Securities or Coupons.
SECTION 5.9 CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF SECURITIES. The Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected (with
each such series voting as a separate class) at the time Outstanding shall have
the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by this Indenture;
PROVIDED, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law
and the provisions of this Indenture; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that (subject to
the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to
follow any such direction if (a) the Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall
determine that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken;
or (b) if the Trustee by its board of directors, the executive committee or a
trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee shall
determine in good faith that the action or proceedings so directed would involve
the Trustee in personal liability; or (c) if the Trustee in good faith shall so
determine that the actions or forbearances specified in or pursuant to such
direction would be unduly prejudicial to the interests of Holders of the
Securities of all affected series not joining in the giving of said direction,
it being understood that (subject to Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have no duty
to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial
to such Holders.
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Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee in its
discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not
inconsistent with such direction or directions by Securityholders.
SECTION 5.10 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS. Prior to the declaration of
acceleration of the maturity of the Securities of any series as provided in
Section 5.1, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of such series at the time Outstanding (voting as a single class) may
on behalf of the Holders of all such Securities waive any past default or Event
of Default described in Section 5.1 and its consequences, except a default in
respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected. In the case of any
such waiver, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all such Securities
shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively,
and such default shall cease to exist and be deemed to have been cured and not
to have occurred for purposes of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend
to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 5.11 TRUSTEE TO GIVE NOTICE OF DEFAULT, BUT MAY WITHHOLD IN
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. The Trustee shall, within ninety days after the
occurrence of a default with respect to the Securities of any series, give
notice of all defaults with respect to that series known to the Trustee (i) if
any Unregistered Securities of that series are then Outstanding, to the Holders
thereof, by publication at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough
of Manhattan, The City of New York and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper
in London (and, if required by Section 3.9, at least once in an Authorized
Newspaper in Luxembourg) and (ii) to all Holders of Securities of such series in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture
Act, unless in each case such defaults shall have been cured before the mailing
or publication of such notice (the term "default" for the purpose of this
Section being hereby defined to mean any event or condition which is, or with
notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default); PROVIDED,
that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or
interest on any of the Securities of such series, or in the payment of any
sinking fund installment on such series, the Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive
committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible
Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such
notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series.
SECTION 5.12 RIGHT OF COURT TO REQUIRE FILING OF UNDERTAKING TO PAY
COSTS. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security or
Coupon by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court
may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or
remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in
such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court
may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys'
fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits
and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the
provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the
Trustee, to any suit instituted by any
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Securityholder or group of Securityholders of any series holding in the
aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
such series, or, in the case of any suit relating to or arising under clause
(d) or (g) of Section 5.1 (if the suit relates to Securities of more than one
but less than all series), 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities
then Outstanding and affected thereby, or in the case of any suit relating to
or arising under clause (d) or (g) (if the suit under clause (d) or (g)
relates to all the Securities then Outstanding) or (e) or (f) of Section 5.1,
10% in aggregate principal amount of all Securities then Outstanding, or to
any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment
of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the due date
expressed in such Security or any date fixed for redemption.
ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE; DURING DEFAULT;
PRIOR TO DEFAULT. Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to
the Securities of a particular series and after the curing or waiving of all
Events of Default which may have occurred with respect to such series, the
Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to such series of
Securities. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a
series has occurred and has not been cured or waived, the Trustee shall exercise
with respect to such series of Securities such of the rights and powers vested
in it by this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities, and use the
same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act or its own willful misconduct, except that
(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of any series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events
of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to the
Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable
except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and
the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any statements,
certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee
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and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case
of any such statements, certificates or opinions which by any provision
hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in
good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee,
unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the
pertinent facts; and
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of
the Holders pursuant to Section 5.9 relating to the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this
Indenture.
None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable ground for believing that the
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
The provisions of this Section 6.1 are in furtherance of and subject to
Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 6.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE. In furtherance of and
subject to the Trust Indenture Act, and subject to Section 6.1:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, Officer's Certificate or any other
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, security or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Issuer mentioned
herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate (unless
other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein or in
the terms established in respect of any series); and any resolution of the
Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof
certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel and any written advice or any
Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it
hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon in accordance with such
advice or Opinion of Counsel;
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(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred therein or thereby;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by
it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the
discretion, rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and after
the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, the Trustee shall not be
bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, coupon,
security or other paper or document unless (i) requested in writing so to do
by the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities of all series affected then Outstanding (treated as one
class) or (ii) otherwise provided in the terms of any series of Securities
pursuant to Section 2.3; PROVIDED, that, if the payment within a reasonable
time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be
incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the
Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to
it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable
indemnity against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to proceeding;
the reasonable expenses of every such investigation shall be paid by the
Issuer or, if paid by the Trustee or any predecessor trustee, shall be
repaid by the Issuer upon demand; and
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys not regularly in its employ and the Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent
or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
SECTION 6.3 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS, DISPOSI TION OF
SECURITIES OR APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS THEREOF. The recitals contained herein and
in the Securities, except the Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be
taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility
for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representation as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or Coupons. The
Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuer of any
of the Securities or of the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 6.4 TRUSTEE AND AGENTS MAY HOLD SECURITIES OR COUPONS;
COLLECTIONS, ETC. The Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or of the Trustee, in
its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of
Securities or Coupons with the same
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rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent and may otherwise
deal with the Issuer and receive, collect, hold and retain collections from the
Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such
agent.
SECTION MONEYS 6.5 HELD BY TRUSTEE. Subject to the provisions of
Section 9.4 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or
applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they
were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent
required by mandatory provisions of law. Neither the Trustee nor any agent of
the Issuer or the Trustee shall be under any liability for interest on any
moneys received by it hereunder.
SECTION 6.6 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEE AND ITS PRIOR
CLAIM. The Issuer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time,
and the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable compensation (which shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an
express trust) and the Issuer covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the
Trustee and each predecessor trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by or on behalf of it in
accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of
all agents and other persons not regularly in its employ) except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith.
The Issuer also covenants to indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor trustee
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred
without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection
with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or the trusts hereunder
and its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself
against or investigating any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations
of the Issuer under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and
each predecessor trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each
predecessor trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute
additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Such
additional indebtedness shall be a senior claim to that of the Securities upon
all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds
held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities or
Coupons, and the Securities are hereby subordinated to such senior claim.
SECTION 6.7 RIGHT OF TRUSTEE TO RELY ON OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE, ETC.
Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the trusts of
this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be
proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action
hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the
part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an
Officer's Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the
absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full
warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the
provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
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SECTION 6.8 INDENTURES NOT CREATING POTENTIAL CONFLICT ING INTERESTS
FOR THE TRUSTEE. The following indentures are hereby specifically described for
the purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act: this Indenture
with respect to series of Securities that are of an equal priority.
SECTION 6.9 QUALIFICATION OF TRUSTEE; CONFLICTING INTER ESTS. The
Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 6.10 PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS TRUSTEE. The Trustee
for each series of Securities hereunder shall at all times be a corporation or
banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and which is authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision
or examination by Federal, state or District of Columbia authority. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or
to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then
for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the
Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this
Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
specified in Section 6.11.
The provisions of this Section 6.10 are in furtherance of and subject
to Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 6.11 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time
resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by giving written
notice of resignation to the Issuer and (i) if any Unregistered Securities of a
series affected are then Outstanding, by giving notice of such resignation to
the Holders thereof, by publication at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and at least once in an
Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.9, at least once
in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), (ii) if any Unregistered Securities
of a series affected are then Outstanding, by mailing notice of such resignation
to the Holders thereof who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee
pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act at such addresses as
were so furnished to the Trustee and (iii) by mailing notice of such resignation
to the Holders of then Outstanding Registered Securities of each series affected
at their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books. Upon receiving
such notice of resignation, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor
trustee or trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument
in duplicate, executed by authority of the Board of Directors, one copy of which
instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the
successor trustee or trustees. If no successor trustee shall have been so
appointed with respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30
days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning trustee may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
trustee, or any Securityholder who
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has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series
for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.12, on
behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for
the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such
notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor
trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of
Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any series of
Securities after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any
Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or
Securities of such series for at least six months; or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of Section 6.10 and Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture
Act and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the
Issuer or by any Securityholder; or
(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to
any series of Securities, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent,
or a receiver or liquidator of the Trustee or of its property shall be
appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the
Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of
rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;
then, in any such case, the Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect to the
applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee for such series
by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors
of the Issuer, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so
removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of
Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Securityholder who has been a
bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six
months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the
appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series. Such court may
thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and so prescribe,
remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of each series at the time outstanding may at any time remove the
Trustee with respect to Securities of such series and appoint a successor
trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by delivering to the
Trustee so removed, to the successor trustee so appointed and to the Issuer
the evidence provided for in Section 7.1 of the action in that regard taken
by the Securityholders.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any
series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such
series pursuant to any of the provisions of
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this Section 6.11 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by
the successor trustee as provided in Section 6.12.
SECTION 6.12 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE. Any
successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.11 shall execute and
deliver to the Issuer and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting
such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the
predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become
effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and obligations
with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if
originally named as trustee for such series hereunder; but, nevertheless, on the
written request of the Issuer or of the successor trustee, upon payment of its
charges then unpaid, the trustee ceasing to act shall, subject to Section 9.4,
pay over to the successor trustee all moneys at the time held by it hereunder
and shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor
trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations. Upon request of any
such successor trustee, the Issuer shall execute any and all instruments in
writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor
trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall,
nevertheless, retain a prior claim upon all property or funds held or collected
by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.6.
If a successor trustee is appointed with respect to the Securities of
one or more (but not all) series, the Issuer, the predecessor trustee and each
successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall
execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such
provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor trustee with respect to the
Securities of any series as to which the predecessor trustee is not retiring
shall continue to be vested in the predecessor trustee, and shall add to or
change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide
for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental
indenture shall constitute such trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that
each such trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under separate
indentures.
No successor trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall
accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.12 unless at the time of such
acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.10.
Upon acceptance of appointment by any successor trustee as provided in
this Section 6.12, the Issuer shall give notice thereof (a) if any Unregistered
Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof, by
publication of such notice at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and at least once in an Authorized
Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.9, at least once in an
Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), (b) if any Unregistered Securities of a
series affected are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof who have filed
their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the
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Trust Indenture Act, by mailing such notice to such Holders at such addresses as
were so furnished to the Trustee (and the Trustee shall make such information
available to the Issuer for such purpose) and (c) to the Holders of Registered
Securities of each series affected, by mailing such notice to such Holders at
their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books. If the acceptance of
appointment is substantially contemporaneous with the resignation, then the
notice called for by the preceding sentence may be combined with the notice
called for by Section 6.11. If the Issuer fails to give such notice within ten
days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor
trustee shall cause such notice to be given at the expense of the Issuer.
SECTION 6.13 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO
BUSINESS OF TRUSTEE. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a
party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business of the
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, PROVIDED, that such
corporation shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act
and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.10, without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the
trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities of any series shall have
been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may
adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee and deliver
such Securities so authenticated; and, in case at that time any of the
Securities of any series shall not have been authenticated, any such successor
to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any
predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such
cases such certificate of authentication shall have the full force which under
this Indenture or the Securities of such series it is provided that the
certificate of authentication of the Trustee shall have; PROVIDED, that the
right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or
to authenticate Securities of any series in the name of any predecessor trustee
shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or
consolidation.
SECTION 6.14 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE ISSUER. The
Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding
any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A
Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of
the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated.
SECTION 6.15 APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT. As long as any
Securities of a series remain Outstanding, the Trustee may, by an instrument in
writing, appoint with the approval of the Issuer an authenticating agent (the
"Authenticating Agent") which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the
Trustee to authenticate Securities, including Securities issued upon exchange,
registration of transfer, partial redemption or pursuant to Section 2.9.
Securities of each such series authenticated by such Authenticating Agent shall
be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be
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valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee.
Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery
of Securities of any series by the Trustee or to the Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and
delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent for such series and
a Certificate of Authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by such
Authenticating Agent. Such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America or of any State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $45,000,000
(determined as provided in Section 6.10 with respect to the Trustee) and subject
to supervision or examination by federal or state authority.
Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted, or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which any Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency business
of any Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be the Authenticating Agent with
respect to all series of Securities for which it served as Authenticating Agent
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent. Any Authenticating Agent may at any
time, and if it shall cease to be eligible shall, resign by giving written
notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Issuer.
Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination,
or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.15 with respect to one or more
series of Securities, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Issuer Order appoint
a successor Authenticating Agent and the Issuer shall provide notice of such
appointment to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the
extent provided in Section 11.4. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon
acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights,
powers, duties and responsibilities of its predecessor hereunder, with like
effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent. The Issuer agrees to pay
to the Authenticating Agent for such series from time to time reasonable
compensation. The Authenticating Agent for the Securities of any series shall
have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such at the
direction of the Trustee.
Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 and 7.3 shall be applicable to any
Authenticating Agent.
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ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 7.1 EVIDENCE OF ACTION TAKEN BY SECURITYHOLDERS. Any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action
provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified percentage in
principal amount of the Securityholders of any or all series may be embodied in
and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed
by such specified percentage of Securityholders in person or by agent duly
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appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered
to the Trustee. Proof of execution of any instrument or of a writing appointing
any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and
(subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the
Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Article.
SECTION 7.2 PROOF OF EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND OF HOLDING OF
SECURITIES. Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the execution of any instrument by
a Securityholder or his agent or proxy may be proved in accordance with such
reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such
manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Registered
Securities shall be proved by the Security register or by a certificate of the
registrar thereof.
SECTION 7.3 HOLDERS TO BE TREATED AS OWNERS. The Issuer, the Trustee
and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may deem and treat the person in
whose name any Security shall be registered upon the Security register for such
series as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security
shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing
thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal
of and, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, interest on such Security
and for all other purposes; and neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent
of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
The Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may treat the
Holder of any Unregistered Security and the Holder of any Coupon as the absolute
owner of such Unregistered Security or Coupon (whether or not such Unregistered
Security or Coupon shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment
thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes and neither the Issuer,
the Trustee, nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any such person, or upon
his order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid,
effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any
such Unregistered Security or Coupon.
SECTION 7.4 SECURITIES OWNED BY ISSUER DEEMED NOT OUTSTANDING. In
determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of
Outstanding Securities of any or all series have concurred in any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by
Securityholders under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Issuer
or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination
is being made or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled
by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any other
obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made
shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any
such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such action only Securities which
the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned
which 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 Securities and
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that the pledgee is not the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or
any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct
or indirect common control with the Issuer or any other obligor on the
Securities. In case of a dispute as to such right, the advice of counsel shall
be full protection in respect of any decision made by the Trustee in accordance
with such advice. Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall furnish to the
Trustee promptly an Officer's Certificate listing and identifying all
Securities, if any, known by the Issuer to be owned or held by or for the
account of any of the above-described persons; and, subject to Sections 6.1 and
6.2, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer's Certificate as
conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all
Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such
determination.
SECTION 7.5 RIGHT OF REVOCATION OF ACTION TAKEN. At any time prior to
(but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of
the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in
this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Security the
serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included among the serial
numbers of the Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action
may, by filing written notice at the Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of
holding as provided in this Article, revoke such action so far as concerns such
Security. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any
Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders and owners of such Security and of any Securities issued in exchange or
substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of
whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon any such Security.
Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this
Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the
Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities affected by such
action.
ARTICLE VIII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 8.1 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
The Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (which
resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may
provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance
with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may from time to time and
at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or
more of the following purposes:
(a) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee as
security for the Securities of one or more series any property or assets;
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(b) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Issuer, or
successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation of
the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer pursuant to any
applicable covenants herein and pursuant to the terms of the Securities as
set forth in Section 2.3;
(c) to add to the covenants of the Issuer such further covenants,
restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Issuer and the Trustee shall
consider to be for the protection of the Holders of Securities or Coupons,
and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default
in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an
Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several
remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; PROVIDED, that in
respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision
such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace
after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in
the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon
such an Event of Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee
upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to
waive such an Event of Default;
(d) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any
supplemental indenture, or to make any other provisions as the Issuer may
deem necessary or desirable, PROVIDED, that no such action shall adversely
affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities or Coupons;
(e) to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series or of
the Coupons appertaining to such Securities as permitted by Sections 2.1 and
2.3; and
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder
by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series
and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section
6.12.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Issuer in the
execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate
agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the
conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder,
but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental
indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under
this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section
may be executed without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at
the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 8.2.
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SECTION 8.2 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
(A) Except as set forth in paragraph (C) below, with the consent
(evidenced as provided in Article VII) of the Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding
of all series of Senior Securities affected by such supplemental indenture
(voting as one class), the Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board
of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such
action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined
in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may, from
time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental
hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in
force and effect at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner
the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or of the
Coupons appertaining to such Securities.
(B) Except as set forth in paragraph (C) below, with the consent
(evidenced as provided in Article VII) of the Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding
of all series of Subordinated Securities affected by such supplemental indenture
(voting as one class), the Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board
of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such
action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined
in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may, from
time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental
hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in
force and effect at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner
the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or of the
Coupons appertaining to such Securities.
(C) No such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the final maturity
of any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on
redemption thereof, or make the principal thereof (including any amount in
respect of original issue discount), or interest thereon payable in any coin or
currency other than that provided in the Securities and Coupons or in accordance
with the terms thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original
Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of
the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1 or the amount thereof provable in
bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.2, or alter the provisions of Section 10.11 or
10.12 or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for
the payment thereof when due or, if the Securities provide therefor, any right
of repayment at the option of the Securityholder, in each case without the
consent of the Holder of each Security so affected, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of Securities of any series, the consent of the Holders of which is
required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders
of each Security so affected.
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(D) A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant
or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely
for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which
modifies the rights of Holders of Securities of such series, or of Coupons
appertaining to such Securities, with respect to such covenant or provision,
shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of
Securities of any other series or of the Coupons appertaining to such
Securities.
Upon the request of the Issuer, accompanied by a copy of a resolution
of the Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or
parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such
action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order)
certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer authorizing
the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the
Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of the Securities as aforesaid
and other documents, if any, required by Section 7.1, the Trustee shall join
with the Issuer in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such
supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities
under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its
discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental
indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under
this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the
substance thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee
shall give notice thereof (i) to the Holders of then Outstanding Registered
Securities of each series affected thereby, by mailing a notice thereof by
first-class mail to such Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the
Security register, (ii) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected
thereby are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof who have filed their names
and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust
Indenture Act, by mailing a notice thereof by first-class mail to such Holders
at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee and (iii) if any
Unregistered Securities of a series affected thereby are then Outstanding, to
all Holders thereof, by publication of a notice thereof at least once in an
Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and at
least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section
3.9, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), and in each case
such notice shall set forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental
indenture. Any failure of the Issuer to give such notice, or any defect therein,
shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such
supplemental indenture.
SECTION 8.3 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE. Upon the execution of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture shall
be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the
respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities
under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders of Securities of
each series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and
enforced hereunder
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subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms
and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be
part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 8.4 DOCUMENTS TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE. The Trustee, subject to
the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, may receive an Officer's Certificate and
an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture
executed pursuant to this Article 8 complies with the applicable provisions of
this Indenture.
SECTION 8.5 NOTATION ON SECURITIES IN RESPECT OF SUPPLE MENTAL
INDENTURES. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee for such series as
to any matter provided for by such supplemental indenture or as to any action
taken by Securityholders. If the Issuer or the Trustee shall so determine, new
Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the
Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture
contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Issuer,
authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of
such series then Outstanding.
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ARTICLE IX
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE;
UNCLAIMED MONEYS
SECTION 9.1 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.
(A) The following provisions shall apply to the Securities of each
series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution, Officers
Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section
2.3. If at any time (i) the Issuer shall have paid or caused to be paid the
principal of and interest on all the Securities of any series Outstanding
hereunder and all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto (other than
Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto which have been
destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in
Section 2.9) as and when the same shall have become due and payable, or (ii)
the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all
Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and all unmatured Coupons
appertaining thereto (other than any Securities of such series and Coupons
appertaining thereto which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and
which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) or (iii)
in the case of any series of Securities where the exact amount (including the
currency of payment) of principal of and interest due on which can be
determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause (b) below,
(a) all the Securities of such series and all unmatured Coupons appertaining
thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have
become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable
within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption, and (b) the Issuer shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to
be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust the entire amount in
(i) cash (other than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to the
Issuer in accordance with Section 9.4), (ii) in the case of any series of
Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, direct
obligations of the United States of America, backed by its full faith and
credit ("U.S. Government Obligations"), maturing as to principal and interest
at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash
sufficient to pay at such maturity or upon such redemption, as the case may
be, or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
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expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay
(x) the principal and interest on all Securities of such series and Coupons
appertaining thereto on each date that such principal or interest is due and
payable and (y) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such
payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and
the Securities of such series; and if, in any such case, the Issuer shall also
pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer, then
this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to (i) rights of
registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such Series and of
Coupons appertaining thereto pursuant to Section 2.8 and the Issuer's right of
optional redemption, if any, (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed,
lost or stolen Securities or Coupons, (iii) rights of holders of Securities and
Coupons appertaining thereto pursuant to Section 2.8 to receive payments of
principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates
therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders to
receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) any optional redemption
rights of such series of Securities to the extent to be exercised to make such
call for redemption within one year, (v) the rights, obligations, duties and
immunities of the Trustee hereunder, including those under Section 6.6, (vi) the
rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining
thereto as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with
the Trustee payable to all or any of them, and (vii) the obligations of the
Issuer under Section 3.2) and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied
by an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and
expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging such
satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture; PROVIDED, that the rights of
Holders of the Securities and Coupons to receive amounts in respect of principal
of and interest on the Securities and Coupons held by them shall not be delayed
longer than required by then-applicable mandatory rules or policies of any
securities exchange upon which the Securities are listed. The Issuer agrees to
reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and
properly incurred and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter
reasonably and properly rendered by the Trustee in connection with this
Indenture or the Securities of such series.
(B) The following provisions shall apply to the Securities of each
series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution, Officer's
Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section 2.3.
In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to the next preceding
paragraph, in the case of any series of Securities the exact amounts (including
the currency of payment) of principal of and interest due on which can be
determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause (a) below,
the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness
on all the Securities of such a series and the Coupons appertaining thereto on
the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) below, and the
provisions of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series and
Coupons appertaining thereto shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i)
rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and
of Coupons appertaining thereto pursuant to Section 2.8 and the Issuer's right
of optional redemption, if any, (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced,
destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons, (iii) rights of Holders of
Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto to receive payments of principal
thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor (but
not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders to receive mandatory
sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) any optional redemption rights of such
series of Securities to the extent to be
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exercised to make such call for redemption within one year, (v) the rights,
obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, (vi) the rights of
the Holders of Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto as
beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee
payable to all or any of them and (vii) the obligations of the Issuer under
Section 3.2) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall at the
Issuer's request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same, if
(a) with reference to this provision the Issuer has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust
funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely
to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series and Coupons
appertaining thereto (i) cash in an amount, or (ii) in the case of any
series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, U.S.
Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times
and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash or (iii) a
combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (A) the principal and interest on
all Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto on each date
that such principal or interest is due and payable and (b) any mandatory
sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and
payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of
such series;
(b) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Issuer
is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel from
a nationally recognized law firm based on the fact that (x) the Issuer has
received from, or there has been published by, the IRS a ruling or (y) since
the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable United States
federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such opinion
shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series and Coupons
appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for United
States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance
and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the
same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been
the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(d) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds
will not be subject to avoidance as a preferential transfer under Section
547(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (except with respect to any
Holder that is an "insider" of the Issuer within the meaning of the United
States Bankruptcy Code); and
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(e) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent
provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this provision have
been complied with.
(C) The Issuer shall be released from its obligations under Sections
3.6 and 3.7 and unless otherwise provided for in the Board Resolution,
Officer's Certificate or Indenture supplemental hereto establishing such
series of Securities, from all covenants and other obligations referred to in
Section 2.3(19) or 2.3(21) with respect to such series of Securities, and any
Coupons appertaining thereto, outstanding on and after the date the
conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "covenant
defeasance"). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with
respect to the Outstanding Securities of any series, the Issuer may omit to
comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or
limitation set forth in such Section, whether directly or indirectly by
reason of any reference elsewhere herein to such Section or by reason of any
reference in such Section to any other provision herein or in any other
document and such omission to comply shall not constitute an Event of Default
under Section 5.1, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities
and Coupons shall be unaffected thereby. The following shall be the
conditions to application of this subsection C of this Section 9.1, unless
otherwise provided for in the Board Resolution, Officer's Certificate or
Indenture supplemental hereto establishing such series of Securities:
(a) The Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with
the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following
payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the
benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series and coupons
appertaining thereto, (i) cash in an amount, or (ii) in the case of any
series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, U.S.
Government Obligations maturing as to principal and interest at such times
and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash or (iii) a
combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (A) the principal and interest on
all Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereof and (B) any
mandatory sinking fund payments on the day on which such payments are due
and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities
of such series;
(b) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or
both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall
have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(c) Such covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a
conflicting interest as defined in Section 6.9 and for purposes of the Trust
Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Issuer;
(d) Such covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation
of, or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument to which the
Issuer is a party or by which it is bound;
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(e) Such covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities then listed
on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be
delisted;
(f) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate and an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm
to the effect that the Holders of the Securities of such series and Coupons
appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for United
States federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance
and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts,
in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
covenant defeasance had not occurred;
(g) The Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds
will not be subject to avoidance as a preferential transfer under Section
547(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (except with respect to any
Holder that is an "insider" of the Issuer within the meaning of the United
States Bankruptcy Code); and
(h) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by
this provision have been complied with.
SECTION 9.2 APPLICATION BY TRUSTEE OF FUNDS DEPOSITED FOR PAYMENT OF
SECURITIES. Subject to Section 9.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee (or
other trustee) pursuant to Section 9.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it
to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the
Issuer acting as its own paying agent), to the Holders of the particular
Securities of such series and of Coupons appertaining thereto for the payment or
redemption of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all
sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest; but such money
need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
SECTION 9.3 REPAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENT. In connection
with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities
of any series, all moneys then held by any paying agent under the provisions of
this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities shall, upon demand of
the Issuer, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying
agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
SECTION 9.4 RETURN OF MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT UNCLAIMED
FOR TWO YEARS. Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying
agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of any
series and of any Coupons attached thereto and not applied but remaining
unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such principal or interest
shall have become due and payable, shall, upon the written request of the Issuer
and unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or
abandoned or unclaimed
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property law, be repaid to the Issuer by the Trustee for such series or such
paying agent, and the Holder of the Securities of such series and of any Coupons
appertaining thereto shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of
applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property laws, thereafter look only
to the Issuer for any payment which such Holder may be entitled to collect, and
all liability of the Trustee or any paying agent with respect to such moneys
shall thereupon cease; PROVIDED, that the Trustee or such paying agent, before
being required to make any such repayment with respect to moneys deposited with
it for any payment (a) in respect of Registered Securities of any series, shall
at the expense of the Issuer, mail by first-class mail to Holders of such
Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register, and
(b) in respect of Unregistered Securities of any series, shall at the expense of
the Issuer cause to the published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and once in an Authorized Newspaper
in London (and, if required by Section 3.9, once in an Authorized Newspaper in
Luxembourg), notice, that such moneys remain and that, after a date specified
therein, which shall not be less than thirty days from the date of such mailing
or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be
repaid to the Issuer.
SECTION 9.5 INDEMNITY FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. The Issuer
shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed
on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to
Section 9.1 or the principal or interest received in respect of such
obligations.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.1 INCORPORATORS, SHAREHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF
ISSUER EXEMPT FROM INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY. No recourse under or upon any
obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any
Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against
any incorporator, as such, or against any past, present or future shareholder,
officer or director, as such, of the Issuer or of any successor, either directly
or through the Issuer or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or
constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal
or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived
and released by the acceptance of the Securities and the Coupons, if any,
appertaining thereto by the Holders thereof and as part of the consideration for
the issue of the Securities and the Coupons appertaining thereto.
SECTION 10.2 PROVISIONS OF INDENTURE FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF PARTIES
AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES AND COUPONS. Nothing in this Indenture, in the
Securities or in the Coupons appertaining thereto, expressed or implied, shall
give or be construed to give to any person, firm or corporation, other than the
parties thereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities or
Coupons, if any, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Indenture or
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under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and
provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors
and of the Holders of the Securities or Coupons, if any.
SECTION 10.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF ISSUER BOUND BY INDENTURE. All
the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained
by or in behalf of the Issuer shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so
expressed or not.
SECTION 10.4 NOTICES AND DEMANDS ON ISSUER, TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS OF
SECURITIES AND COUPONS. Any notice or demand which by any provision of this
Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by
the Holders of Securities or Coupons, if any, to or on the Issuer may be given
or served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as
otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed (until another address of the
Issuer is filed by the Issuer with the Trustee) to _______________, Attention:
Secretary. Any notice, direction, request or demand by the Issuer or any Holder
of Securities or Coupons, if any, to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have
been sufficiently given or served by being deposited postage prepaid,
first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed
(until another address of the Trustee is filed by the Trustee with the Issuer)
to, ________________ Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Registered
Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein
expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class mail, postage prepaid,
to each Holder entitled thereto, at his last address as it appears in the
Security register.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to holders of Unregistered
Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise expressly
provided herein) by giving notice to such Holders (a) by publication of such
notice at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and,
if required by Section 3.9, once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), and
(ii) by mailing such notice to the Holders of Unregistered Securities who have
filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2)
of the Trust Indenture Act at such addresses as were so furnished to the
Trustee.
In any case where notice to such 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 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.
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In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular
mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail notice to the Issuer when such
notice is required to the given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture,
then any manner of giving such notice as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.
SECTION 10.5 OFFICER'S CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS OF COUNSEL; STATEMENTS
TO BE CONTAINED THEREIN. Upon any application or demand by the Issuer to the
Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the
Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate stating that all
conditions precedent 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 have been complied with,
except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the
furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this
Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional
certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the person
making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) 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, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, 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 (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer may
be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion
of or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows that the certificate
or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his
certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in
the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous. Any
certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates
to factual matters or information with respect to which is in the possession of
the Issuer, upon the certificate, statement or opinion of or representations by
an officer or officers of the Issuer, unless such counsel knows that the
certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to the matters
upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are
erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are
erroneous.
Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer or of
counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a
certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of
accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the
case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion of or representations with
respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or
opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.
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Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public
accountants filed with and directed to the Trustee shall contain a statement
that such firm is independent.
SECTION 10.6 PAYMENTS DUE ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS. If the
date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Securities of any series or
any Coupons appertaining thereto or the date fixed for redemption or repayment
of any such Security or Coupon shall not be a Business Day, then payment of
interest or principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next
succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of
maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the
period after such date.
SECTION 10.7 CONFLICT OF ANY PROVISION OF INDENTURE WITH TRUST
INDENTURE ACT. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits,
qualifies or conflicts with duties imposed by, or with another provision (an
"incorporated provision") included in this Indenture by operation of Sections
310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties or
incorporated provision shall control.
SECTION 10.8 NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY
AND COUPON SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
SUCH STATE INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTION 5-140 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL
OBLIGATIONS LAW.
SECTION 10.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Indenture may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 10.10 EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Article and Section headings
herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect
the construction hereof.
SECTION 10.11 SECURITIES IN A COMPOSITE CURRENCY, CURRENCY UNIT,
FOREIGN CURRENCY OR IN ECU. Unless otherwise specified in an Officer's
Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Indenture with respect to
a particular series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any
action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate
principal amount of Securities of all series or all series affected by a
particular action at the time Outstanding and, at such time, there are
Outstanding Securities of any series which are denominated in a coin, currency
or currencies other than Dollars (including, but not limited to, any composite
currency, currency units, Foreign Currency or ECUs), then the principal amount
of Securities of such series which shall be deemed to be Outstanding for the
purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be
obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate. For purposes of this
Section 10.11, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in
The City of New York for cable transfers
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of such currency or currencies as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York as of the most recent available date; PROVIDED THAT, in the case of ECUs,
Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the
Commission of the European Communities (or any successor thereto) as published
in the Official Journal of the European Communities (such publication or any
successor publication, the "Journal") as of the most recent available date. If
such Market Exchange Rate is not so available for any reason with respect to
such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without
liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of
the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of
exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country
of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of the ECU shall be
Brussels, Belgium, or such other quotations or, in the case of ECU, rates of
exchange as the Trustee shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph
shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of
Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars in
connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms
of this Indenture.
All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market
Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding
paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest
error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and
irrevocably binding upon the Issuer and all Holders.
SECTION 10.12 JUDGMENT CURRENCY. The Issuer agrees, to the fullest
extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the
purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum
due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any series
(the "Required Currency") into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered
(the "Judgment Currency"), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which
in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The
City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on
which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York
Banking Day, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of
exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking
procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required
Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the
day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations
under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be
discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment
(whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency
other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or
recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of
the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii)
shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the
purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such
actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so
expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being
obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the
foregoing, "New York Banking Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a
legal holiday in The
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City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York
are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 11.1 APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE. The provisions of this Article
shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before
their maturity or to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a
series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for
Securities of such series.
SECTION 11.2 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; PARTIAL REDEMPTIONS. Notice of
redemption to the Holders of Registered Securities of any series to be redeemed
as a whole or in part at the option of the Issuer shall be given by mailing
notice of such redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days
and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to such Holders
of Securities of such series at their last addresses as they shall appear upon
the registry books. Notice of redemption to the Holders of Unregistered
Securities to be redeemed as a whole or in part, who have filed their names and
addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture
Act shall be given by mailing notice of such redemption, by first class mail,
postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more than 60 prior to the date fixed
for redemption, to such Holders at such addresses as were so furnished to the
Trustee (and, in the case of any such notice given by the Issuer, the Trustee
shall make such information available to the Issuer for such purpose). Notice of
redemption to all other Holders of Unregistered Securities shall be published in
an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and in
an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.9, in an
Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), in each case, once in each of three
successive calendar weeks, the first publication to be not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Any notice which is mailed
in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly
given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice. Failure to give notice by
mail, or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security of a series
designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of
the proceedings for the redemption of such Security of such series.
The notice of redemption to each such Registered Holder shall specify
the principal amount of each Security of such series held by such Registered
Holder to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price, the
place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and
surrender of such Securities and, in the case of Securities with Coupons
attached thereto, of all Coupons appertaining thereto maturing after the date
fixed for redemption, that such redemption is pursuant to the mandatory or
optional sinking fund, or both, if such be the case, that interest accrued to
the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in such notice and that
on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be
redeemed will cease to accrue. In case any Security of a series is to be
redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption to Registered Holders of
Securities of the series
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shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall
state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, 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.
The notice of redemption of Securities of any series to be redeemed at
the option of the Issuer shall be given by the Issuer or, at the Issuer's
request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.
On or before the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption
given as provided in this Section, the Issuer will deposit with the Trustee or
with one or more paying agents (or, if the Issuer is acting as its own paying
agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 3.4) an
amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities
of such series so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption price,
together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. The Issuer will
deliver to the Trustee at least 70 days prior to the date fixed for redemption,
or such shorter period as shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Officer's
Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed.
In case of a redemption at the election of the Issuer prior to the expiration of
any restriction on such redemption, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee,
prior to the giving of any notice of redemption to Holders pursuant to this
Section, an Officer's Certificate stating that such restriction has been
complied with.
If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the
Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deemed appropriate and fair, in
its sole discretion, Securities of such series to be redeemed in whole or in
part. Securities may be redeemed in part in multiples equal to the minimum
authorized denomination for Securities of such series or any multiple thereof.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Securities of
such series selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities of such
series selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed. For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities of any series
shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in
part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or
is to be redeemed.
SECTION 11.3 PAYMENT OF SECURITIES CALLED FOR REDEMPTION. If notice of
redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or portions of
Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and
at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together
with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said
date (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of such Securities at the
redemption price, together with interest accrued to said date) interest on the
Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to
accrue, and the unmatured Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto shall be void,
and, except as provided in Sections 6.5 and 9.4, such Securities shall cease
from and after the date fixed for redemption to be entitled to any benefit or
security under this Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no right in
respect of such Securities except the right to receive the redemption price
thereof and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption. On presentation
and
62
<PAGE>
surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice,
together with all Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the date
fixed for redemption, said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be
paid and redeemed by the Issuer at the applicable redemption price, together
with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; PROVIDED, that
payment of interest becoming due on or prior to the date fixed for redemption
shall be payable in the case of Securities with Coupons attached thereto, to the
Holders of the Coupons for such interest upon surrender thereof, and in the case
of Registered Securities, to the Holder of such Registered Securities registered
as such on the relevant record date, subject to the terms and provisions of
Section 2.3 and 2.7 hereof.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid or duly
provided for, bear interest from the date fixed for redemption at the rate of
interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of an Original Issue Discount
Security) borne by such Security.
If any Security with Coupons attached thereto is surrendered for
redemption and is not accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after the
date fixed for redemption, the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may
be waived by the Issuer and the Trustee, if there be furnished to each of them
such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them harmless.
Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Issuer
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order
of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Issuer, a new Security or
Securities of such series, of authorized denominations, in principal amount
equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
SECTION 11.4 EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES FROM ELIGIBILITY FOR
SELECTION FOR REDEMPTION. Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for
selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and certificate
number in an Officer's Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 40 days
prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given as being owned
of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by, either (a)
the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such written statement as
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with the Issuer.
SECTION 11.5 MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL SINKING FUNDS. The minimum amount
of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any
series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment," and any
payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of the
Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund
payment." The date on which a sinking fund payment is to be made is herein
referred to as the "sinking fund payment date."
In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment
with respect to any series of Securities in cash, the Issuer may at its option
(a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of such
63
<PAGE>
series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except upon redemption
pursuant to the mandatory sinking fund) by the Issuer or receive credit for
Securities of such series (not previously so credited) theretofore purchased or
otherwise acquired (except as aforesaid) by the Issuer and delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10, (b) receive credit for
optional sinking fund payments (not previously so credited) made pursuant to
this Section, or (c) receive credit for Securities of such series (not
previously so credited) redeemed by the Issuer through any optional redemption
provision contained in the terms of such series. Securities so delivered or
credited shall be received or credited by the Trustee at the sinking fund
redemption price specified in such Securities.
On or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund payment date
for any series, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate
(which need not contain the statements required by Section 10.5) (a) specifying
the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of
cash and the portion to be satisfied by credit of Securities of such series and
the basis for such credit, (b) stating that none of the Securities of such
series has theretofore been so credited, (c) stating that no defaults in the
payment of interest or Events of Default with respect to such series have
occurred (which have not been waived or cured) and are continuing and (d)
stating whether or not the Issuer intends to exercise its right to make an
optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series and, if so, specifying
the amount of such optional sinking fund payment which the Issuer intends to pay
on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Any Securities of
such series to be credited and required to be delivered to the Trustee in order
for the Issuer to be entitled to credit therefor as aforesaid which have not
theretofore been delivered to the Trustee shall be delivered for cancellation
pursuant to Section 2.10 to the Trustee with such Officer's Certificate (or
reasonably promptly thereafter if acceptable to the Trustee). Such Officer's
Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its receipt by the Trustee, the Issuer
shall become unconditionally obligated to make all the cash payments or payments
therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund
payment date. Failure of the Issuer, on or before any such 60th day, to deliver
such Officer's Certificate and Securities specified in this paragraph, if any,
shall not constitute a default but shall constitute, on and as of such date, the
irrevocable election of the Issuer (i) that the mandatory sinking fund payment
for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be
paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit Securities of such
series in respect thereof and (ii) that the Issuer will make no optional sinking
fund payment with respect to such series as provided in this Section.
If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or both)
to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus any
unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall exceed
$50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any composite currency, currency units,
Foreign Currency or ECU) or a lesser sum in Dollars (or the equivalent thereof
in any composite currency, currency units, Foreign Currency or ECU) if the
Issuer shall so request with respect to the Securities of any particular series,
such cash shall be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date to
the redemption of Securities of such series at the sinking fund redemption price
together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If such amount
shall be $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any composite currency, currency
units, Foreign Currency or ECU) or less and the Issuer makes
64
<PAGE>
no such request then it shall be carried over until a sum in excess of $50,000
(or the equivalent thereof in any composite currency, currency units, Foreign
Currency or ECU) is available. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided
in Section 11.2, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date a sufficient
principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said cash, as nearly as
may be, and shall (if requested in writing by the Issuer) inform the Issuer of
the serial numbers of the Securities of such series (or portions thereof) so
selected. Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for redemption under
this Section if they are identified by registration and certificate number in an
Officer's Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 60 days prior to the
sinking fund payment date as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not
pledged or hypothecated by, either (a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically
identified in such Officer's Certificate as directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer. The
Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Issuer (or the Issuer, if it
shall so request the Trustee in writing) shall cause notice of redemption of the
Securities of such series to be given in substantially the manner provided in
Section 11.2 (and with the effect provided in Section 11.3) for the redemption
of Securities of such series in part at the option of the Issuer. The amount of
any sinking fund payments not so applied or allocated to the redemption of
Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment
for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance
with the provisions of this Section. Any and all sinking fund moneys held on the
stated maturity date of the Securities of any particular series (or earlier, if
such maturity is accelerated), which are not held for the payment or redemption
of particular Securities of such series shall be applied, together with other
moneys, if necessary, sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the
principal of, and interest on, the Securities of such series at maturity.
On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Issuer shall pay to
the Trustee in cash or shall otherwise provide for the payment of all interest
accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on the
next following sinking fund payment date.
The Trustee shall not redeem or cause to be redeemed any Securities of
a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of Securities
for such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a
default in payment of interest on such Securities or of any Event of Default
except that, where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall
theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed
such Securities, provided that it shall have received from the Issuer a sum
sufficient for such redemption. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking
fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default shall
occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund, shall, during the
continuance of such default or Event of Default be deemed to have been collected
under Article Five and held for the payment of all such Securities. In case such
Event of Default shall have been waived as provided in Section 5.10 or the
default cured on or before the sixtieth day preceding the sinking fund payment
date in any year, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next succeeding
sinking fund payment date in accordance with this Section to the redemption of
such Securities.
65
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed and attested as of the date first written above.
METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK, INC.
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
Attest:
By:
----------------------
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Trustee
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
Attest:
By:
----------------------
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5.1
[Letterhead of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison]
October 14, 1999
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc.
One North Lexington Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333- )
------------------------------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-__) (the "Registration Statement") filed by Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), as provided by the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), and the rules and regulations under the Act, we have been
requested to render our opinion as to the legality of the securities being
registered under the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement relates
to the issuance and sale from time to time under Rule 415 of the General
<PAGE>
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. 2
Rules and Regulations of the Commission under the Act of the following
securities of the Company with an aggregate initial public offering of up to
$2,250,000,000 (or the equivalent in one or more foreign currencies):
(i) senior, senior subordinated or subordinated debt securities, in one
or more series (the "Debt Securities"), which may be issued under the Indenture
(the "Indenture") proposed to be entered into among the Company and the trustee
or trustees (the "Trustees") to be appointed prior to the issuance of the Debt
Securities;
(ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company (the "Preferred Stock"), in one or more series;
(iii) warrants to purchase securities of the Company (the "Warrants")
to be issued pursuant to a warrant agreement (the "Warrant Agreement") between
the Company and a warrant agent (the "Warrant Agent") to be appointed prior to
the issuance of the Warrants; and
(iv) shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company (the "Class A Common Stock").
The Debt Securities, the Preferred Stock, the Warrants and the Class A
Common Stock are collectively referred as the "Offered Securities." Capitalized
terms used in this letter and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings
given those terms in the Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. 3
In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals, conformed
copies or photocopies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
the following documents (collectively, the "Documents"):
(i) the Registration Statement; and
(ii) the form of Indenture filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement (the "Indenture").
In addition, we have examined: (i) those corporate records of the
Company as we have considered appropriate, including copies of its Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, as in effect on the date of
this letter (collectively, the "Charter Documents"), and certified copies of
resolutions of the board of directors, or a committee of the board of directors,
of the Company relating to the issuance of Offered Securities; and (ii) those
other certificates, agreements and documents as we deemed relevant and necessary
as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
In our examination of the documents referred to above, we have assumed,
without independent investigation, (i) the enforceability of the documents
reviewed by us against each party to them other than the Company, (ii) that the
Offered Securities will be substantially issued as described in the Registration
Statement and in the form reviewed by us and that any information omitted from
the form will be properly added, (iii) the genuineness of all signatures, (iv)
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (v) the
conformity to the
<PAGE>
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. 4
original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic,
reproduced or conformed copies of validly existing agreements or other
documents, (vi) the authenticity of the latter documents, (vii) that the
statements regarding matters of fact in the certificates, records, agreements,
instruments and documents that we examined are accurate and complete, and (viii)
the legal capacity of all individuals who have executed or will execute any of
the documents which we examined.
In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have relied upon the
factual matters contained in the representations and warranties of the Company
made in the documents and upon certificates of public officials and officers of
the Company.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the stated assumptions,
exceptions and qualifications, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Indenture has been duly authorized and, when executed and
delivered by the Company and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery
by the applicable Trustees, will be a valid and binding agreement, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
be subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or transfer,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally, and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity at law).
<PAGE>
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. 5
2. With respect to any series of Debt Securities (the "Offered Debt
Securities"), when (i) the board of directors of the Company, or any appropriate
committee appointed by it, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken
all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered
Debt Securities and related matters, (ii) the terms of the Offered Debt
Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in
conformity with the Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or the
Charter Documents or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or
instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or
restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over
the Company, (iii) the applicable Indenture has been duly executed and delivered
by the Company and the Trustees, and (iv) the Offered Debt Securities have been
duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the
applicable Indenture and duly delivered to the purchasers of those Offered Debt
Securities upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration, the Offered Debt
Securities, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Indenture and
any other duly authorized, executed and delivered applicable purchase agreement,
will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may
be subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance of transfer,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
<PAGE>
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. 6
creditors' rights generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity at law).
3. With respect to the shares of any series of Preferred Stock (the
"Offered Preferred Stock"), when (i) the board of directors of the Company, or
any appropriate committee appointed by it, and appropriate officers of the
Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and
terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and related matters, including, without
limitation, the adoption of a Certificate of Designation for the Offered
Preferred Stock in the form required by applicable law (the "Certificate of
Designation"), (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Designation with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware has duly occurred, (iii) the
terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and of their issuance and sale have been
duly established in conformity with the Charter Documents, including, without
limitation, the Certificate of Designation, so as not to violate any
applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or
instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement
or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction
over the Company, and (iv) certificates representing the shares of the
Offered Preferred Stock are duly executed, countersigned, registered and
delivered upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration, the shares of the
Offered Preferred Stock when issued and sold in accordance with any duly
authorized, executed and delivered applicable purchase agreement, will be
duly authorized, validly issued,
<PAGE>
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. 7
fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration for these shares
is not less than the par value of those shares.
4. With respect to any Warrants (the "Offered Warrants"), when (i) the
board of directors of the Company, or any appropriate committee appointed by it,
and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate
action to approve the issuance and the terms of the Offered Warrants and related
matters, (ii) the terms of the Offered Warrants and of their issuance and sale
have been duly established in conformity with the Warrant Agreement so as not to
violate any applicable law or the Charter Documents or result in a default under
or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to
comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental
body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) the Warrant Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company,
(iv) the Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Warrant Agent, and (v) the Offered Warrants have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement and
duly delivered to the purchasers of those Offered Warrant upon payment of the
agreed-upon consideration, the Offered Warrants, when issued and sold in
accordance with the Warrant Agreement and any duly authorized, executed and
delivered applicable purchase agreement, will be valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms, except as
<PAGE>
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. 8
enforceability may be subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance or transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and (b) general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity at
law).
5. With respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock (the "Offered
Common Stock"), when (i) the board of directors of the Company, or any
appropriate committee approved by it, and appropriate officers of the Company
have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the shares
of Offered Common Stock, and (ii) certificates representing the shares of
Offered Common Stock are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered
to the purchasers of those shares of the Offered Common Stock upon payment of
the agreed-upon consideration, the shares of Offered Common Stock, when issued
and sold in accordance with any duly authorized, executed and delivered
applicable purchase agreement or upon due exercise of the Offered Warrants under
the Warrant Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, provided that the consideration for those shares is not less than
the par value of those shares.
Our opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of
New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal
laws of the United States of America. Our opinions are rendered only with
respect to the laws, and the rules, regulations and orders under those laws,
that are currently in effect.
<PAGE>
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. 9
We hereby consent to the use of our name in the Registration Statement
and in the prospectus in the Registration Statement as it appears in the caption
"Legal Matters" and to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within
the category of persons whose consent is required by the Act or by the rules and
regulations under the Act.
Very truly yours,
PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 12.1
METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK, INC.
STATEMENT REGARDING COMPUTATION OF RATIOS
(000'S)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Pre-tax profit (loss) from continuing
operations......................... $ (874) $ (4,319) $ (10,359) $ (26,259) $ 4,388 $ (2,056) $ (12,278)
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ----------
Fixed charges:
Interest charges..................... 0 327 3,561 741 6,861 12 30,407
Rent expense......................... 0 49 53 89 319 134 664
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ----------
Total fixed charges.................. 0 376 3,614 830 7,180 146 31,071
Earnings before income taxes and
fixed charges...................... $ (874) $ (3,943) $ (6,745) $ (25,429) $ 11,568 $ (1,910) $ 18,793
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ----------
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ----------
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
(n/a=negative)..................... n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.61 n/a 0.60
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333- ) and related Prospectus of
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. for the registration of Debt Securities,
Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock and Warrants and to the incorporation by
reference therein of our report dated March 4, 1999, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements and schedules of Metromedia Fiber Network,
Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31,
1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
October 13, 1999
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.2
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement
of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. on Form S-3 of our report with respect to
AboveNet Communications, Inc. dated July 28, 1999 (September 8, 1999 as to Note
17), appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A of Metromedia Fiber Network,
Inc. dated October 14, 1999.
We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in this
Registration Statement.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
San Jose, California
October 14, 1999
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Metromedia Fiber
Network, Inc., of our reports dated June 15, 1999 relating to the financial
statements of the Palo Alto Internet Exchange (a business of Compaq Computer
Corporation), which appear in the Registration Statement on Form S-4
(Registration No. 333-84541) of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on August 4, 1999. We also consent to the
reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
October 14, 1999
<PAGE>
================================================================================
FORM T-1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) |__|
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
New York 13-5160382
(State of incorporation (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank) identification no.)
One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
-----------------
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware 11-3168327
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization) identification no.)
One North Lexington Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
-----------------
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
================================================================================
<PAGE>
1. GENERAL INFORMATION. FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:
(A) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO
WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Address
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Superintendent of Banks of the 2 Rector Street, New York,
State of New York N.Y. 10006, and Albany, N.Y. 12203
Federal Reserve Bank of New York 33 Liberty Plaza, New York,
N.Y. 10045
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Washington, D.C. 20429
New York Clearing House Association New York, New York 10005
(B) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.
Yes.
2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.
IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
AFFILIATION.
None.
16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
EXHIBITS IDENTIFIED IN PARENTHESES BELOW, ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSION,
ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AS AN EXHIBIT HERETO, PURSUANT TO
RULE 7A-29 UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 (THE "ACT") AND 17
C.F.R. 229.10(D).
1. A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York
(formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which
contains the authority to commence business and a grant of
powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to
Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement
No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with
Registration Statement No. 33-21672 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1
filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637.)
4. A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-31019.)
6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the
Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement
No. 33-44051.)
7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee
published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its
supervising or examining authority.
-2-
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New
York, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New
York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and
State of New York, on the 14th day of October, 1999.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By: /s/ MARY LAGUMINA
--------------------------------
Name: MARY LAGUMINA
Title: ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
<PAGE>
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Consolidated Report of Condition of
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business June 30, 1999,
published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dollar Amounts
In Thousands
<S> <C>
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin.. $5,597,807
Interest-bearing balances........................... 4,075,775
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities......................... 785,167
Available-for-sale securities....................... 4,159,891
Federal funds sold and Securities purchased under
agreements to resell................................ 2,476,963
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned
income..................................38,028,772
LESS: Allowance for loan and
lease losses............................ 568,617
LESS: Allocated transfer risk
reserve................................. 16,352
Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
allowance, and reserve............................ 37,443,803
Trading Assets......................................... 1,563,671
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
leases)............................................. 683,587
Other real estate owned................................ 10,995
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
associated companies................................ 184,661
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances
outstanding......................................... 812,015
Intangible assets...................................... 1,135,572
Other assets........................................... 5,607,019
-----------
Total assets........................................... $64,536,926
===========
<PAGE>
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices................................. $26,488,980
Noninterest-bearing.......................10,626,811
Interest-bearing..........................15,862,169
In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement
subsidiaries, and IBFs............................ 20,655,414
Noninterest-bearing..........................156,471
Interest-bearing..........................20,498,943
Federal funds purchased and Securities sold under
agreements to repurchase............................ 3,729,439
Demand notes issued to the U.S.Treasury................ 257,860
Trading liabilities.................................... 1,987,450
Other borrowed money:
With remaining maturity of one year or less......... 496,235
With remaining maturity of more than one year
through three years............................... 465
With remaining maturity of more than three years.... 31,080
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and
outstanding......................................... 822,455
Subordinated notes and debentures...................... 1,308,000
Other liabilities...................................... 2,846,649
-----------
Total liabilities...................................... 58,624,027
===========
EQUITY CAPITAL
Common stock........................................... 1,135,284
Surplus................................................ 815,314
Undivided profits and capital reserves................. 4,001,767
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on
available-for-sale securities....................... (7,956)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments....
(31,510)
-----------
Total equity capital................................... 5,912,899
-----------
Total liabilities and equity capital................... $64,536,926
===========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
I, Thomas J. Mastro, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the
above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been
prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief.
Thomas J. Mastro
We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report
of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and
correct.
Thomas A. Reyni )
Alan R. Griffith ) Directors
Gerald L. Hassell )
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