<PAGE> 1
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 12, 1997
REG. NO. 333-22905
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST II
SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANTS AS
SPECIFIED IN THEIR TRUST AGREEMENTS)
OHIO DELAWARE
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) OR ORGANIZATION OF REGISTRANTS)
31-0854434 TO BE APPLIED FOR
(I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA C/O FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45263 38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA
(513) 579-5300 CINCINNATI, OHIO 45263
(ADDRESSES, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, (513) 579-5300
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF EACH REGISTRANT'S
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
</TABLE>
------------------------
PAUL L. REYNOLDS, ESQ.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45263
TEL: (513) 579-4300
FAX: (513) 744-6757
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF EACH REGISTRANT)
------------------------
With A Copy To:
MARK J. WELSHIMER, ESQ.
SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
125 BROAD STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
TEL: (212) 558-4000
FAX: (212) 558-3588
------------------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: from time
to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
------------------------
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 cost-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration 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. [ ]
------------------------
THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
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 THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 12, 1997
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED MARCH , 1997
$200,000,000
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
% CAPITAL SECURITIES, SERIES A
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
---------------------
The % Capital Securities, Series A (the "Series A Capital Securities"),
offered hereby represent preferred beneficial interests in Fifth Third Capital
Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Series A Issuer"). Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (the
"Corporation"), will be the owner of all of the beneficial interests represented
by common securities of the Series A Issuer ("Series A Common Securities" and,
collectively with the Series A Capital Securities, the "Series A Securities").
Wilmington Trust Company is the Property Trustee of the Series A Issuer. The
Series A Issuer exists for the sole purpose of issuing the Series A Securities
and investing the proceeds thereof in $206,186,000 initial principal amount of
% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
(Continued on next page)
---------------------
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE S-5 HEREOF FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION
RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES.
---------------------
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT
INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY.
---------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT
RELATES.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
---------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PROCEEDS TO
INITIAL PUBLIC UNDERWRITING THE SERIES A
OFFERING PRICE(1) COMMISSION(2) ISSUER(1)(3)(4)
------------------ ------------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Series A Capital Security................ $1,000 (3) $1,000
Total........................................ $200,000,000 (3)
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Plus accrued Distributions, if any, from [ ].
(2) The Series A Issuer and the Corporation have each agreed to indemnify the
several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(3) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Series A Capital
Securities will be invested in the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation has agreed to pay to the Underwriters as compensation
("Underwriters' Compensation") for their arranging the investment therein of
such proceeds $10 per Series A Capital Security (or $2,000,000 in the
aggregate) and to reimburse the Underwriters for $60,000 of expenses. See
"Underwriting."
(4) Expenses of the offering which are payable by the Corporation are estimated
to be $310,000.
---------------------
The Series A Capital Securities offered hereby are offered severally by the
Underwriters, as specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and
subject to their right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected
that the Series A Capital Securities will be ready for delivery in book-entry
form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company in New York,
New York, on or about [ ], 1997, against payment therefor in
immediately available funds.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
J.P. MORGAN & CO.
SMITH BARNEY INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
SECURITIES CORPORATION
SALOMON BROTHERS INC UBS SECURITIES
---------------------
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is , 1997.
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
BECOMES EFFECTIVE. NEITHER THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR THE PROSPECTUS TO
WHICH IT RELATES SHALL CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF
AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY
STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO
REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE> 3
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE SERIES A CAPITAL
SECURITIES, INCLUDING OVER-ALLOTMENT, STABILIZING AND SHORT-COVERING
TRANSACTIONS IN SUCH SECURITIES, AND THE IMPOSITION OF A PENALTY BID, DURING AND
AFTER THE OFFERING. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
------------------------
(cover page continued)
Debentures, Series A (the "Series A Subordinated Debentures"), to be issued by
the Corporation. The Series A Subordinated Debentures will mature on March 15,
2027 (the "Stated Maturity"). The Series A Capital Securities will have a
preference under certain circumstances with respect to cash distributions and
amounts payable on liquidation, redemption or otherwise over the Series A Common
Securities. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Subordination of Common
Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus.
Holders of the Series A Capital Securities will be entitled to receive
preferential cumulative cash distributions accruing from [ ] and
payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year,
commencing September 15, 1997, at the annual rate of % of the Liquidation
Amount of $1,000 per Series A Capital Security ("Distributions"). Subject to
certain exceptions, as described herein, the Corporation has the right to defer
payment of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from
time to time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with
respect to each deferral period (each, an "Extension Period"), provided that no
Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and
the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest
thereon at the rate of % per annum, compounded semi-annually, to the extent
permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension
Period subject to the requirements set forth herein. If interest payments on the
Series A Subordinated Debentures are so deferred, Distributions on the Series A
Capital Securities will also be deferred and the Corporation will not be
permitted, subject to certain exceptions described herein, to declare or pay any
cash distributions with respect to the Corporation's capital stock or debt
securities that rank pari passu with or junior to the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. During an Extension Period, interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures will continue to accrue (and the amount of Distributions to which
holders of the Series A Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate) at the
rate of % per annum, compounded semi-annually from the relevant payment date
for such interest, and holders of Series A Capital Securities will be required
to accrue interest income for United States federal income tax purposes. See
"Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest
Payments" and "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and
Original Issue Discount."
The Series A Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and subordinated to all
Senior Debt (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus). Substantially all of
the Corporation's existing indebtedness constitutes Senior Debt. Because the
Corporation is a holding company, the right of the Corporation to participate in
any distribution of assets of any subsidiary including its subsidiary banks upon
any such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to
the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary except to the extent that the
Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated Debentures (and therefore the Series A
Capital Securities) will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and holders thereof should look
only to the assets of the Corporation for payments on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination"
in the accompanying Prospectus.
The Corporation has, through the Series A Guarantee, the Trust Agreement,
the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture and the Expense Agreement
(each as defined herein),
S-2
<PAGE> 4
(cover page continued)
taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of the
Series A Issuer's obligations under the Series A Capital Securities. See
"Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Expense Agreement and the Guarantees -- Full and
Unconditional Guarantee" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Series A Guarantee
of the Corporation guarantees the payment of Distributions and payments on
liquidation or redemption of the Series A Capital Securities, but only in each
case to the extent of funds held by the Series A Issuer, as described herein
(the "Series A Guarantee"). See "Description of Guarantees" in the accompanying
Prospectus. If the Corporation does not make interest payments on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures held by the Series A Issuer, the Series A Issuer will
have insufficient funds to pay Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities.
The Series A Guarantee does not cover payment of Distributions when the Series A
Issuer has insufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In such event, a holder
of Series A Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Indenture to enforce payment of
amounts equal to such Distributions to such holder. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights By Holders of Preferred
Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus. The obligations of the Corporation
under the Series A Guarantee and the Series A Subordinated Debentures are
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the
Corporation.
The Series A Capital Securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in
whole or in part, upon repayment of the Series A Subordinated Debentures at
maturity or their earlier redemption. The Series A Subordinated Debentures are
redeemable prior to maturity at the option of the Corporation (i) on or after
March 15, 2007, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii) in
whole but not in part at any time in certain circumstances as described under
"Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures--Conditional Right to Shorten
Maturity or Redeem upon a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event", upon the
occurrence of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event (each as defined herein).
For a description of the redemption prices for Series A Capital Securities
pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, see "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities -- Redemption" and "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Redemption". The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve
that the Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the Series A
Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having received the
prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is then
required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer and cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Series A Capital Securities in liquidation of the Series A
Issuer. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that, so long as
the Corporation (or any affiliate) is a holder of Common Securities, the
Corporation will not so terminate the Series A Issuer without having received
the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is then
required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies. In the
event of the termination of the Series A Issuer, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by applicable law,
the holders of the Series A Capital Securities will be entitled to receive a
Liquidation Amount of $1,000 per Series A Capital Security plus accumulated and
unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment, which may be in the form of
a distribution of such amount in Series A Subordinated Debentures, subject to
certain exceptions. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
If the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of
Series A Capital Securities upon the liquidation of the Series A Issuer, the
Corporation will use its best efforts to include the Series A Subordinated
Debentures on such stock exchanges or other automated quotation systems, if any,
on which the Series A Capital Securities are then listed or traded.
S-3
<PAGE> 5
(cover page continued)
The Series A Capital Securities will be represented by global certificates
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee.
Beneficial interests in the Series A Capital Securities will be shown on, and
transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by
participants in DTC. Except as described in the accompanying Prospectus, Series
A Capital Securities in certificated form will not be issued in exchange for the
global certificates. See "Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
S-4
<PAGE> 6
The information in this Prospectus Supplement supplements and should be
read in conjunction with the information contained in the accompanying
Prospectus. As used herein, (i) the "Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, between the
Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"),
and (ii) the "Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement
relating to the Series A Issuer among the Corporation, as Depositor, Wilmington
Trust Company, as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee") and as Delaware
Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and the Administrative Trustees named therein
(collectively, with the Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee, the "Issuer
Trustees"). Each of the other capitalized terms used in this Prospectus
Supplement and not otherwise defined in this Prospectus Supplement has the
meaning set forth in the accompanying Prospectus.
RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of the Series A Capital Securities should carefully
review the information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement and in
the accompanying Prospectus and should particularly consider the following
matters. In addition, because holders of Series A Capital Securities may receive
Series A Subordinated Debentures in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the
Series A Issuer, prospective purchasers of Series A Capital Securities are also
making an investment decision with regard to the Series A Subordinated
Debentures and should carefully review all the information regarding the Series
A Subordinated Debentures contained herein.
RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE SERIES A GUARANTEE AND THE
SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The obligations of the Corporation under the Series A Guarantee issued by
the Corporation for the benefit of the holders of Series A Capital Securities
and under the Series A Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and rank
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the
Corporation. Substantially all of the Corporation's existing indebtedness
constitutes Senior Debt. Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right
of the Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any
subsidiary, including its subsidiary banks, upon any such subsidiary's
liquidation or reorganization or otherwise (and thus the ability of holders of
the Series A Capital Securities to benefit indirectly from such distribution),
is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the
extent that the Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that
subsidiary. Accordingly, the Series A Guarantee and the Series A Subordinated
Debentures will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and holders of Series A
Subordinated Debentures should look only to the assets of the Corporation for
payments on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "The Corporation." None of
the Indenture, the Series A Guarantee, the Trust Agreement or the Expense
Agreement places any limitation on the amount of secured or unsecured debt,
including Senior Debt, that may be incurred by the Corporation. See "Description
of Guarantees -- Status of the Guarantees" and "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The ability of the Series A Issuer to pay amounts due on the Series A
Capital Securities is solely dependent upon the Corporation making payments on
the Series A Subordinated Debentures as and when required.
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS; TAX CONSEQUENCES
So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred or is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture to defer payment
of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual with respect to each
Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any
S-5
<PAGE> 7
such deferral, semi-annual Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities by
the Series A Issuer will also be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to
which holders of the Series A Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate
additional Distributions thereon at the rate of % per annum, compounded
semi-annually from the relevant payment date for such Distributions) during any
such Extension Period. During any such Extension Period, the Corporation may not
(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's
capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium,
if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation
that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures subject to certain exceptions described herein. See
"Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest
Payments." Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the
Corporation may further defer the payment of interest, provided that no
Extension Period may exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods or extend beyond
the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the
termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all interest then accrued
and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate of % per annum,
compounded semi-annually from the interest payment date for such interest, to
the extent permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a
new Extension Period subject to the above requirements. There is no limitation
on the number of times that the Corporation may elect to begin an Extension
Period. See "Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Distributions."
Should an Extension Period occur, a holder of Series A Capital Securities
will be required to recognize income (in the form of original issue discount) in
respect of its pro rata share of the Series A Subordinated Debentures held by
the Series A Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result,
a holder of Series A Capital Securities will be required to include such income
in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes in advance of the
receipt of cash attributable to such income, and will not receive the cash
related to such income from the Series A Issuer if the holder disposes of the
Series A Capital Securities prior to the record date for the payment of
Distributions. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income
and Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sale or Redemption of Series A Capital
Securities."
The Corporation has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. However, should
the Corporation elect to exercise such right in the future, the market price of
the Series A Capital Securities is likely to be affected. A holder that disposes
of its Series A Capital Securities during an Extension Period, therefore, might
not receive the same return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold
its Series A Capital Securities.
TAX EVENT OR CAPITAL TREATMENT EVENT -- EXCHANGE OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
FOR SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES, SHORTENING OF MATURITY OF SERIES A
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES OR REDEMPTION
Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment
Event (whether occuring before or after March 15, 2007), the Corporation has the
right, if certain conditions are met, (i) to terminate the Series A Issuer and
cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of
the Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the
Series A Issuer, (ii) to shorten the maturity of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures to a date not earlier than March 15, 2012, or (iii) to redeem the
Series A Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) within 90 days
following the occurrence and continuation of such Tax Event or Capital Treatment
Event and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of the Series A Capital
Securities. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that it will
not exercise such right unless it has received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve to do so, if such approval is then required under applicable guidelines
or policies of the Federal Reserve.
A "Tax Event" means, with respect to Series A Subordinated Debentures held
by the Series A Issuer or another Issuer (as defined in the Prospectus), the
receipt by the Series A Issuer of an
S-6
<PAGE> 8
opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of any amendment to, or change (including any announced proposed change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
such proposed change, pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the
date or issuance of the Series A Capital Securities under the Trust Agreement,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Series A Issuer is, or
will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States
Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on the Series
A Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or in part, for United
States federal income tax purposes or (iii) the Series A Issuer is, or will be
within 90 days of the date of the opinion, subject to more than a de minimis
amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. With respect to
Series A Subordinated Debentures which are no longer held by the Series A Issuer
or another Issuer, "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Corporation of an
opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of any amendment to, or change (including any announced proposed change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
which proposed change, pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the
date of issuance of the Series A Subordinated Debentures under the Indenture,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by the
Corporation on the Series A Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of
the date of such opinion will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or
in part, for United States federal income tax purposes (each of the
circumstances referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the preceding
sentence and the circumstances referred to in this sentence being referred to
herein as an "Adverse Tax Consequence").
A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of
the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a
result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial
decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which
amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is
announced on or after the date of issuance of the Series A Capital Securities
under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the
Corporation will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or
the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of
the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Corporation.
See "-- Possible Tax Law Changes Affecting the Series A Capital Securities"
for a discussion of certain legislative proposals that, if adopted, could give
rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to cause a redemption of
the Series A Capital Securities prior to March 15, 2007.
EXCHANGE OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES FOR SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Series A
Issuer as required by applicable law, cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures
to be distributed to the holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange
therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer. The Corporation has committed
to the Federal Reserve that the Corporation will not exercise such right without
having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such
approval is then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or
policies. See "Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Liquidation of
Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to
Holders."
S-7
<PAGE> 9
Under current United States Federal income tax law and interpretations, a
distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures upon liquidation of the
Series A Issuer should not be a taxable event to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities. However, if a Tax Event were to occur which would cause the Series A
Issuer to be subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, a distribution of
the Series A Subordinated Debentures by the Series A Issuer could be a taxable
event to the Series A Issuer and the holders of the Series A Capital Securities.
See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Distribution of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Series A Capital Securities."
MARKET PRICES
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for Series A Capital
Securities or Series A Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in
exchange for Series A Capital Securities upon liquidation of the Series A
Issuer. Accordingly, the Series A Capital Securities that an investor may
purchase, whether pursuant to the offer made hereby or in the secondary market,
or the Series A Subordinated Debentures that a holder of Series A Capital
Securities may receive on liquidation of the Series A Issuer, may trade at a
discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Series A Capital
Securities offered hereby. As a result of the existence of the Corporation's
right to defer interest payments, the market price of the Series A Capital
Securities (which represent preferred beneficial interests in the Series A
Issuer) may be more volatile than the market prices of other securities on which
original issue discount accrues that are not subject to such deferrals. See
"Certain Terms of the Series A Subordinated Debentures" and "Description of
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures"
in the accompanying Prospectus.
RIGHTS UNDER THE SERIES A GUARANTEE; DIRECT ACTION
The Series A Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Series A Capital
Securities the following payments, to the extent not paid by the Series A
Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the
Series A Capital Securities, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on
hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price with respect to
any Series A Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the Series A
Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Series A
Issuer (unless the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders
of the Series A Capital Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the
Liquidation Amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of
payment, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available
therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Series A Issuer
remaining available for distribution to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities. The Series A Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Wilmington
Trust Company will act as the indenture trustee under the Series A Guarantee
(the "Guarantee Trustee") for the purposes of compliance with the Trust
Indenture Act and will hold the Series A Guarantee for the benefit of the
holders of the Series A Capital Securities. Wilmington Trust Company will also
act as Debenture Trustee for the Series A Subordinated Debentures and as
Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee under the Trust Agreement.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of
the Series A Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee in respect of the Series A Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any
trust power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee.
Any holder of the Series A Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the Series A
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Series A
Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. If the Corporation
were to default on its obligation to pay amounts payable under the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, the Series A Issuer would lack funds for the payment of
Distributions or amounts
S-8
<PAGE> 10
payable on redemption of the Series A Capital Securities or otherwise, and, in
such event, holders of the Series A Capital Securities would not be able to rely
upon the Series A Guarantee for payment of such amounts. Instead, in the event a
Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and such event
is attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest on or
principal of the Series A Subordinated Debentures on the payment date on which
such payment is due and payable, then a holder of Series A Capital Securities
may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation for
enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or interest on such
Series A Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities of such holder
(a "Direct Action"). In connection with such Direct Action, the Corporation will
have a right of set-off under the Indenture to the extent of any payment made by
the Corporation to such holder of Series A Securities in the Direct Action.
Except as described herein, holders of Series A Securities will not be able to
exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any other rights in respect of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred Securities"
and "-- Debenture Events of Default" and "Description of Guarantees" in the
accompanying Prospectus. The Trust Agreement provides that each holder of Series
A Capital Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the
Series A Guarantee and the Indenture.
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
Holders of Series A Capital Securities generally will have limited voting
rights relating only to the modification of the Series A Capital Securities and
the exercise of the Series A Issuer's rights as holder of Series A Subordinated
Debentures and the Series A Guarantee. Holders of Series A Capital Securities
will not be entitled to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Property Trustee,
the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee, and such voting rights are
vested exclusively in the holder of the Series A Common Securities except, with
respect to the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, upon the occurrence of
certain events described in the accompanying Prospectus. The Property Trustee,
the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation may amend the Trust Agreement
without the consent of holders of Series A Capital Securities to ensure that the
Series A Issuer will not be taxable as a corporation or classified for United
States federal income tax purposes as other than a grantor trust, unless such
action materially adversely affects the interests of such holders. See
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment of Each Trust
Agreement" in the accompanying Prospectus.
TRADING CHARACTERISTICS OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
The Series A Capital Securities have not been listed on a national
securities exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market. The absence of such a listing
for the Series A Capital Securities could adversely affect the liquidity of the
Series A Capital Securities.
The Series A Capital Securities may trade at prices that do not fully
reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying
Series A Subordinated Debentures. A holder of Series A Capital Securities that
disposes of its Series A Capital Securities between record dates for payments of
Distributions (and consequently does not receive a Distribution from the Series
A Issuer for the period prior to such disposition) will nevertheless be required
to include accrued but unpaid interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures
through the date of disposition in income as ordinary income and to add such
amount to its adjusted tax basis in the Series A Capital Securities disposed of.
Such holder will recognize a capital loss to the extent the selling price (which
may not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest) is less than its
adjusted tax basis (which will include accrued but unpaid interest). Subject to
certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary
income for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences -- Sale or Redemption of Series A Capital Securities."
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<PAGE> 11
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES AFFECTING THE SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
On February 6, 1997, the revenue portion of President Clinton's 1997 budget
proposal (the "Budget Proposal"), was released. If enacted, the Budget Proposal
would generally deny interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by
a corporation that has a maximum term of more than 15 years and that is not
shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the
instrument is issued to a related party (other than a corporation), where the
holder or some other related party issues a related instrument that is not shown
as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. The above described
provision of the Budget Proposal is proposed to be effective generally for
instruments issued on or after the date of first Congressional committee action.
If a similar provision were to apply to the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
the Corporation would be unable to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. There can be no assurance, however, that current or future
legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the
Corporation to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Such a
change could give rise to a Tax Event, which would permit the Corporation to
cause a redemption of the Series A Capital Securities. See "Certain Terms of
Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption" in this Prospectus Supplement
and "Description of Preferred Securities -- Redemption or Exchange" in the
accompanying Prospectus. See also "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences -- Possible Tax Law Changes."
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
Fifth Third Capital Trust I is a statutory business trust created under
Delaware law pursuant to (i) the Trust Agreement executed by the Corporation, as
Depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee and as Delaware
Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein, and (ii) the filing of a
certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State on March 5, 1997. The
Series A Issuer's business and affairs are conducted by the Issuer Trustees:
Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee and as Delaware Trustee, and two
individual Administrative Trustees who are employees or officers of or
affiliated with the Corporation. The Series A Issuer exists for the exclusive
purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Series A Securities, (ii) using the
proceeds from the sale of Series A Securities to acquire Series A Subordinated
Debentures issued by the Corporation and (iii) engaging in only those other
activities necessary or incidental thereto (such as registering the transfer of
the Series A Capital Securities). Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated
Debentures will be the sole assets of the Series A Issuer, and payments under
the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be the sole revenue of the Series A
Issuer. All of the Series A Common Securities will be owned by the Corporation.
The Series A Common Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made
thereon pro rata, with the Series A Capital Securities, except that upon the
occurrence and continuance of an event of default under the Trust Agreement
resulting from an Event of Default under the Indenture, the rights of the
Corporation, as holder of the Series A Common Securities, to payment in respect
of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise will be
subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Series A Capital Securities.
See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities"
in the accompanying Prospectus. The Corporation will acquire Series A Common
Securities in an aggregate liquidation amount equal to 3% of the total capital
of the Series A Issuer. The Series A Issuer has a term of 55 years, but may
terminate earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement. The principal executive
office of the Series A Issuer is 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio
45263, Attention: Paul L. Reynolds, and its telephone number is (513) 579-5300.
See "The Issuers" in the accompanying Prospectus.
It is anticipated that the Series A Issuer will not be subject to the
reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act").
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<PAGE> 12
THE CORPORATION
The Corporation is a multi-bank holding company subject to the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended, and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The
Corporation was organized in Ohio on October 7, 1974, and on April 15, 1975
became the owner of all of the outstanding capital stock of its principal bank
subsidiary, The Fifth Third Bank (the "Bank"), an Ohio banking corporation
located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
At December 31, 1996, the Corporation also owned five other banks and one
savings bank in Ohio, two banks and two savings banks in Kentucky, one bank in
Indiana, and one bank in Florida, as well as various other non-bank
subsidiaries. At December 31, 1996, the Bank represented more than 45% of the
Corporation's assets, revenues and net income, although the Corporation expects
that the operations of the other subsidiaries will become increasingly
significant. The Bank will in the foreseeable future continue to be the major
source of the Corporation's assets, revenues and net income.
During January 1997, The Fifth Third Savings Bank of Western Kentucky, FSB
was merged into and with Fifth Third Bank of Kentucky, Inc., Fifth Third Savings
Bank of Northern Ohio, FSB was merged into and with Fifth Third Bank of
Northeastern Ohio and Fifth Third Savings Bank of Northern Kentucky, FSB was
merged into and with Fifth Third Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc. At the same
time, the Corporation was deregistered as a savings-and-loan holding company.
At December 31, 1996, the Corporation had total consolidated assets of
approximately $21 billion and stockholders' equity of $2 billion. At December
31, 1996, the Corporation was the fifth largest bank holding company
headquartered in Ohio and the 36th largest in the United States, based upon
consolidated total assets. For the year ended December 31, 1996, the Corporation
earned $335 million in net income.
The Corporation's principal business strategy is to aggressively market its
four business lines in the three state region of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
These four business lines include commercial banking, retail banking, trust and
investment management and data processing services. As part of its business
strategy, the Corporation pursues a strong sales ethic, aggressive expense
control and diverse fee income-based revenue.
The Corporation offers a full line of commercial and retail banking
products and services. These products and services are offered through the
Corporation's banking subsidiaries and their offices.
The Corporation also provides, through its banking subsidiaries, full
service trust and investment services. As of December 31, 1996, approximately
$92 billion of assets were under care; approximately $10 billion of these assets
are managed directly. The Corporation's banking subsidiaries focus on trust and
investment services for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit
organizations. Personal trust services include private banking, tax and real
estate services, trust services and services to private foundations. Services to
corporations and not-for-profit organizations include employee benefits,
corporate trust, stock transfers, securities custody, mutual funds and
foundations and endowments.
The Corporation is also in the data processing business through a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank, Midwest Payment Systems, Inc. ("MPS"),
which provides merchant processing services and electronic funds transfer
("EFT") services for the Corporation and its bank subsidiaries as well as other
retail and financial institutions. MPS is a significant participant in the EFT
business and is a source of substantial fee income to the Corporation.
The principal executive office of the Corporation is located at 38 Fountain
Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, and its telephone number is (513)
579-5300.
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<PAGE> 13
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
The following table presents summary consolidated financial data which has
been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the consolidated
financial statements, notes thereto and other information of the Corporation
included in the documents incorporated herein by reference. This summary is
qualified in its entirety by the detailed information included in such
documents. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the
accompanying Prospectus. The comparability of the data presented is affected by
certain acquisitions that the Corporation has completed in the time periods
presented.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
($000'S EXCEPT RATIO AND PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FOR THE PERIOD
Interest income........................................... $ 1,385,113 $ 1,173,165 $ 922,301 $ 812,914 $ 787,240
Interest expense.......................................... 695,869 609,733 405,548 339,399 359,370
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net interest income....................................... 689,244 563,432 516,753 473,515 427,870
Provision for credit losses............................... 64,014 42,962 35,780 48,037 66,100
Other operating income.................................... 368,415 305,715 255,908 231,150 206,308
Operating expenses (1).................................... 493,330 395,617 371,545 352,720 316,315
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before income taxes................................ 500,315 430,568 365,336 303,908 251,763
Applicable income taxes................................... 165,256 142,883 120,877 97,673 79,742
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income................................................ $ 335,059 $ 287,685 $ 244,459 $ 206,235 $ 172,021
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
PER SHARE
Net income................................................ $ 3.22 2.91 2.53 2.19 1.84
Cash dividends declared................................... $ 1.10 .96 .80 .68 .60
Book value at end of period............................... $ 20.25 17.17 14.41 13.29 11.48
Weighted average common shares (000's).................... 103,994 98,879 96,580 93,973 93,494
AT PERIOD END
Loans and leases.......................................... $12,514,792 11,690,643 10,286,457 9,566,898 8,115,590
Earning assets............................................ $18,960,056 16,035,734 13,947,257 12,245,969 10,538,565
Assets.................................................... $20,548,998 17,052,883 14,957,009 13,128,544 11,390,289
Deposits.................................................. $14,374,656 12,485,780 10,630,878 9,477,306 8,447,812
Long-term debt and convertible subordinated notes......... $ 277,661 425,396 178,713 407,864 309,730
Stockholders' equity...................................... $ 2,144,125 1,724,575 1,398,774 1,277,660 1,076,854
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Return on average assets(1)............................... 1.72% 1.78 1.77 1.71 1.63
Return on average equity(1)............................... 17.2% 18.1 18.6 17.8 16.9
Net interest margin....................................... 3.99% 3.90 4.16 4.39 4.54
Overhead ratio(1) (2)..................................... 45.0% 43.9 46.6 48.6 48.6
CAPITAL RATIOS AT PERIOD END
Equity to assets.......................................... 10.43% 10.11 9.35 9.73 9.45
Tangible equity to tangible assets........................ 9.16% 9.58 8.98 9.36 9.00
Tier 1 risk-adjusted capital(3)........................... 11.37% 11.03 11.26 11.50 11.24
Total risk-adjusted capital(4)............................ 14.06% 14.33 13.21 13.85 14.07
Tier 1 leverage(5)........................................ 9.22% 9.47 9.62 9.59 9.15
ASSET QUALITY DATA
Nonperforming loans and leases............................ $ 30,167 37,555 21,168 21,339 36,465
Nonperforming assets...................................... $ 35,237 40,680 27,330 39,835 78,087
Reserve for credit losses................................. $ 187,278 177,388 155,918 144,537 121,452
Net charge-offs........................................... $ 59,962 29,861 17,474 27,074 45,765
Nonperforming loans and leases to period-end loans and
leases.................................................. .24% .32 .21 .22 .45
Nonperforming assets to period-end loans and leases plus
other real estate owned................................. .28% .35 .27 .42 .96
Reserve for credit losses to nonperforming loans and
leases.................................................. 620.80% 472.34 736.57 677.34 333.06
Reserve for credit losses to period end loans and
leases.................................................. 1.50% 1.52 1.52 1.51 1.50
Net loan charge-offs to average loans and leases
outstanding............................................. .49% .27 .18 .31 .64
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES(6)
Including deposit interest................................ 1.71x 1.70 1.89 1.89 1.69
Excluding deposit interest................................ 3.93x 3.49 4.75 5.77 5.47
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 14
(1) Operating expenses for 1996 include the impact of the special SAIF
assessment of $16.6 million pretax ($10.8 million after tax or $.10 per
share). For comparability, excluding the impact of this assessment, return
on average assets, return on average equity and the overhead ratio would
have been 1.78%, 17.8% and 43.5%, respectively.
(2) Operating expense divided by the sum of taxable equivalent net interest
income and other operating income.
(3) The Corporation's Tier 1 capital consists of stockholders' equity (excluding
net unrealized gains or losses on securities available for sale), less
certain intangibles.
(4) The Corporation's total capital consists of Tier 1 capital, qualifying
subordinated debt and the reserve for credit losses, subject to limitation.
At least half of a bank holding company's total capital is to be comprised
of Tier 1 capital.
(5) The Tier 1 leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to
average quarterly assets, less certain intangible assets. Federal Reserve
guidelines require a minimum leverage ratio of 3% for bank holding companies
that meet certain specified criteria, including that they have the highest
regulatory rating. All other bank holding companies will be required to
maintain a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 3% plus an additional cushion of at
least 100 to 200 basis points.
(6) Earnings represent income before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed
charges include interest expense and the proportion deemed representative of
the interest factor of rental expense, net of income from subleases.
USE OF PROCEEDS
All of the proceeds from the sale of Series A Capital Securities will be
invested by the Series A Issuer in Series A Subordinated Debentures. The
Corporation intends that the proceeds from the sale of such Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be added to its general corporate funds and will be
used for general corporate purposes.
The Corporation is required by the Federal Reserve to maintain certain
levels of capital for bank regulatory purposes. On October 21, 1996, the Federal
Reserve announced that cumulative preferred securities having the
characteristics of the Series A Capital Securities which qualify as a minority
interest could be included as Tier 1 capital for bank holding companies. Such
Tier 1 capital treatment, together with the Corporation's ability to deduct, for
income tax purposes, interest payable on the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
will provide the Corporation with a more cost-effective means of obtaining
capital for regulatory purposes than other Tier 1 capital alternatives currently
available to it.
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<PAGE> 15
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and as adjusted to give
effect to the consummation of the offering of the Series A Capital Securities.
The following data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto of the Corporation and its subsidiaries
incorporated herein by reference.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1996
------------------------
ACTUAL ADJUSTED
---------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Total long-term debt(a)............................................. $ 277,661 $ 477,661
---------- ----------
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock...................................................... $ 235,090 235,090
Capital surplus................................................... 525,038 525,038
Retained earnings................................................. 1,367,653 1,367,653
Unrealized gains on securities available for sale................. 16,598 16,598
Treasury stock.................................................... (254) (254)
---------- ----------
Total stockholder's equity.......................................... 2,144,125 2,144,125
---------- ----------
Total capitalization................................................ $2,421,786 $2,621,786
========== ==========
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) Long-term debt, as adjusted, includes the Series A Subordinated Debentures
issued by the Corporation to the Series A Issuer. The Series A Subordinated
Debentures will mature on March 15, 2027. The Corporation owns all of the
Series A Common Securities of the Series A Issuer.
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<PAGE> 16
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
For financial reporting purposes, the Series A Issuer will be treated as a
subsidiary of the Corporation and, accordingly, the accounts of the Series A
Issuer will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the
Corporation. The Series A Capital Securities will be presented as a component of
long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets of the Corporation, and
appropriate disclosures about the Series A Capital Securities, the Series A
Guarantee and the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes
to the consolidated financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, the
Corporation will record Distributions payable on the Series A Capital Securities
as interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.
CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
GENERAL
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Capital Securities supplements the description of the terms and provisions of
the Capital Securities set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the
heading "Description of Preferred Securities," to which description reference is
hereby made. This summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Capital Securities, which describes the material provisions thereof, does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the Trust Agreement to which reference is hereby made. The form of
the Trust Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus Supplement and accompanying Prospectus form a part.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Series A Capital Securities represent beneficial interests in the
Series A Issuer. Each Series A Capital Security will be entitled to preferential
Distributions at the annual rate of % of the stated Liquidation Amount of
$1,000, payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each
year (each a "Distribution Date"), to the holders of the Series A Capital
Securities at the close of business on the fifteenth day (whether or not a
Business Day (as defined below)) next preceding the relevant Distribution Date.
Distributions will accumulate from [ ]. The first Distribution
payment date for the Series A Capital Securities will be September 15, 1997. The
amount of Distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
Distributions are payable on the Series A Capital Securities is not a Business
Day, then payment of the Distributions payable on such date will be made on the
next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any additional
Distributions or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if
such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be
made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force
and effect as if made on the date such payment was originally payable. The
Paying Agent for the Capital Securities shall be The Fifth Third Bank. See
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Distributions" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
DEFERRAL OF DISTRIBUTIONS
So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture to defer payment
of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive
semi-annual periods with respect to each Extension Period, provided that no
Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any such deferral of interest
payments by the Corporation, semi-annual Distributions on the Series A Capital
Securities will also be deferred by the Series A Issuer during any such
Extension Period. Distributions to which holders of the Series A Capital
Securities are entitled will accumulate
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<PAGE> 17
additional Distributions thereon at the rate per annum of % thereof,
compounded semi-annually from the relevant payment date for such Distributions.
The term "Distributions" as used herein shall include any such additional
Distributions. During any such Extension Period, the Corporation may not (i)
declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire,
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital
stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any,
on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation that
rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures subject to certain exceptions described herein. See
"Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest
Payments". Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the
Corporation may further defer the payment of interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, provided that no Extension Period may exceed 10
consecutive semi-annual periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
interest thereon at the rate of % per annum, compounded semi-annually, to
the extent permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a
new Extension Period. There is no limitation on the number of times that the
Corporation may elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Certain Federal Income
Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
The Corporation has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures.
REDEMPTION
Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, whether at Stated Maturity or upon earlier redemption
as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such repayment or redemption
shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount (as defined in
the accompanying Prospectus) of the Series A Securities, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days notice prior to the date fixed for repayment or
redemption, at a redemption price, with respect to the Series A Capital
Securities (the "Redemption Price"), equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount
of such Series A Capital Securities plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions
thereon to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Date"), and the related
amount of the premium, if any, paid by the Corporation upon the concurred
redemption of such Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Certain Terms of
Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption." If less than all of the Series
A Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date,
then the proceeds from such repayment or redemption, including any premium paid
by the Corporation, shall be allocated to the redemption pro rata of the Series
A Capital Securities and the Series A Common Securities. The Corporation has
committed to the Federal Reserve that the Corporation will not exercise its
right to redeem the Series A Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated
Maturity without having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do
so, if such approval is then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital
guidelines or policies.
The Corporation has the right to redeem the Series A Subordinated
Debentures (i) on or after March 15, 2007, in whole at any time or in part from
time to time or (ii) in whole but not in part at any time, in certain
circumstances as described under "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures--Conditional Right to Shorten Maturity or Redeem upon a Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event", within 90 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event
or Capital Treatment Event (or, if the approval of the Federal Reserve is then
required for such redemption, on such later date as promptly as practicable
after such approval is obtained). A redemption of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would cause a mandatory redemption of the Series A Securities.
The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption under (i) above, shall
equal the following prices expressed in percentages of the Liquidation Amount,
together with accumulated but unpaid
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<PAGE> 18
Distribution to but excluding the Redemption Date. If redeemed during the
12-month period beginning :
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REDEMPTION
YEAR PRICE
-------------------------------------------------------- ----------
<S> <C>
2007....................................................
2008....................................................
2009....................................................
2010....................................................
2011....................................................
2012....................................................
2013....................................................
2014....................................................
2015....................................................
2016....................................................
</TABLE>
and at 100% on or after , 2017.
The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption following a Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event as described under (ii) above, shall equal the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such Series A Capital Securities together with accumulated
and unpaid Distributions to but excluding the Redemption Date.
LIQUIDATION OF SERIES A ISSUER AND DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS
The Corporation will have the right at any time to liquidate the Series A
Issuer and cause Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation
of the Series A Issuer. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve
that, so long as the Corporation (or any affiliate) is a holder of Series A
Common Securities, the Corporation will not exercise such right without having
received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is
then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
Under current United States Federal income tax law, a distribution of
Series A Subordinated Debentures in exchange for Series A Capital Securities
should not be a taxable event to holders of the Series A Capital Securities.
Should there be a change in law, a change in legal interpretation, a Tax Event
or other circumstances, however, the distribution of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures could be a taxable event to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Distribution of
Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Series A Capital Securities."
If the Corporation elects to liquidate the Series A Issuer and thereby
causes the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the
Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series
A Issuer, the Corporation will continue to have the right to redeem the Series A
Subordinated Debentures in certain circumstances as described under "Certain
Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption."
LIQUIDATION VALUE
The amount payable on the Series A Capital Securities in the event of any
liquidation of the Series A Issuer is $1,000 per Series A Capital Security plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions, which may be in the form of a distribution
of a Like Amount in Series A Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain
exceptions. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution
Upon Termination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
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<PAGE> 19
REGISTRATION OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
The Series A Capital Securities will be represented by global certificates
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Series
A Capital Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected
only through, records maintained by Participants in DTC (as defined in the
accompanying Prospectus). Except as described below and in the accompanying
Prospectus, Series A Capital Securities in certificated form will not be issued
in exchange for the global certificates. See "Book-Entry Issuance" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
A global security shall be exchangeable for Series A Capital Securities
registered in the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only if (i) DTC
notifies the Series A Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
depositary for such global security and no successor depositary shall have been
appointed, or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under
the Exchange Act, at a time when DTC is required to be so registered to act as
such depositary, (ii) the Series A Issuer in its sole discretion determines that
such global security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) there shall have
occurred and be continuing an event of default under the Indenture with respect
to the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Any global security that is
exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for
definitive certificates registered in such names as DTC shall direct. It is
expected that such instructions will be based upon directions received by DTC
from its Participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such
global security. In the event that Series A Capital Securities are issued in
definitive form, such Series A Capital Securities will be in denominations of
$1,000 and integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or exchanged at the
offices described below.
Payments on Series A Capital Securities represented by a global security
will be made to DTC, as the depositary for the Series A Capital Securities. In
the event Series A Capital Securities are issued in certificated form, the
Liquidation Amount and Distributions will be payable, the transfer of the Series
A Capital Securities will be registrable, and Series A Capital Securities will
be exchangeable for Series A Capital Securities of other denominations of a like
aggregate Liquidation Amount, at the corporate trust office of the Property
Trustee in New York, New York, or at the offices of any paying agent or transfer
agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees, provided that payment of any
Distribution may be made at the option of the Administrative Trustees by check
mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto or by wire transfer. In
addition, if the Series A Capital Securities are issued in certificated form,
the record dates for payment of Distributions will be fifteen days prior to the
relevant Distribution payment date. For a description of DTC and the terms of
the depositary arrangements relating to payments, transfers, voting rights,
redemptions and other notices and other matters, see "Book-Entry Issuance" in
the accompanying Prospectus.
S-18
<PAGE> 20
CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
GENERAL
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures supplements the description of the terms and provisions
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures set forth in the accompanying Prospectus
under the headings "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures", to which
description reference is hereby made. The summary of certain terms and
provisions of the Series A Subordinated Debentures set forth below, which
describes the material provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture
to which reference is hereby made. The form of Indenture has been filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and
accompanying Prospectus form a part.
Concurrently with the issuance of the Series A Capital Securities, the
Series A Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof, together with the
consideration paid by the Corporation for the Series A Common Securities, in the
Series A Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation. The Series A
Subordinated Debentures will bear interest at the annual rate of % of the
principal amount thereof, payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and
September 15 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing
Setember 15, 1997, to the person in whose name each Series A Subordinated
Debenture is registered, subject to certain exceptions, at the close of business
on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date. It is anticipated
that, until the liquidation, if any, of the Series A Issuer, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be held in the name of the Property Trustee in
trust for the benefit of the holders of the Series A Securities. The amount of
interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of
the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that
is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any
such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date such
payment was originally payable. Accrued interest that is not paid on the
applicable Interest Payment Date will bear additional interest on the amount
thereof (to the extent permitted by law) at the rate per annum of % thereof,
compounded semi-annually from the relevant Interest Payment Date. The term
"interest" as used herein shall include semi-annual interest payments, interest
on semi-annual interest payments not paid on the applicable Interest Payment
Date and Additional Sums (as defined below), as applicable.
The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be issued as a series of junior
subordinated deferrable interest debentures under the Indenture. The Series A
Subordinated Debentures will mature on March 15, 2027 (the "Stated Maturity").
The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and will rank junior
and be subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation.
See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the
accompanying Prospectus. Substantially all of the Corporation's existing
indebtedness constitutes Senior Debt. Because the Corporation is a holding
company, the right of the Corporation to participate in any distribution of
assets of any subsidiary upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise (and thus the ability of holders of the Series A Capital Securities to
benefit indirectly from such distribution), is subject to the prior claims of
creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that the Corporation may
itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and holders of Series A
Subordinated Debentures should look only to the assets of the Corporation for
payments on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. The Indenture does not limit
the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the
Corporation, including Senior Debt, whether
S-19
<PAGE> 21
under the Indenture or any existing or other indenture that the Corporation may
enter into in the future or otherwise. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture at any time or
from time to time during the term of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to
defer payment of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures for a period
not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect to each Extension
Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity
of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. At the end of such Extension Period,
the Corporation must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the
Subordinated Debentures (together with interest on such unpaid interest at the
annual rate of %, compounded semi-annually from the relevant Interest Payment
Date, to the extent permitted by applicable law). During an Extension Period,
interest will continue to accrue and holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures
(or holders of Series A Capital Securities while such series is outstanding)
will be required to accrue interest income for United States federal income tax
purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and
Original Issue Discount."
During any such Extension Period, the Corporation may not (i) declare or
pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock or
(ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation (including
other Junior Subordinated Debentures) that rank pari passu in all respects with
or junior in interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures (other than (a)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the
Corporation in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Corporation (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or
conversion of any class or series of the Corporation's capital stock (or any
capital stock of a subsidiary of the Corporation) for any class or series of the
Corporation's capital stock or of any class or series of the Corporation's
indebtedness for any class or series of the Corporation's capital stock, (c) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the
Corporation may further defer the payment of interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, provided that no Extension Period may exceed 10
consecutive semi-annual periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
interest thereon at the rate of % per annum, compounded semi-annually from the
relevant Interest Payment Date, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the
Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject to the above
requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period,
except at the end thereof. The Corporation must give the Property Trustee, the
Administrative Trustees and the Debenture Trustee notice of its election to
begin such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of
(i) the date interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures would have been
payable except for the election to begin such Extension Period,
S-20
<PAGE> 22
(ii) the date the Administrative Trustees are required to give notice to any
applicable stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Series A
Capital Securities are then listed or quoted or to holders of Series A
Subordinated Debentures of the record date or (iii) the date such interest is
payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record
date. The Debenture Trustee shall give notice of the Corporation's election to
begin a new Extension Period to the holders of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. There is no limitation on the number of times that the Corporation
may elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" in the accompanying Prospectus.
ADDITIONAL SUMS
If the Series A Issuer is required to pay any additional taxes, duties or
other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Corporation will pay
as additional amounts on the Series A Subordinated Debentures such amounts
("Additional Sums") as shall be required so that the Distributions payable by
the Series A Issuer shall not be reduced as a result of any such additional
taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
REDEMPTION
The Series A Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at
the option of the Corporation (i) on or after March 15, 2007, in whole at any
time or in part from time to time, or (ii) in whole but not in part at any time,
in certain circumstances as described under "--Conditional Right to Shorten
Maturity Redeem upon a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event", within 90 days
following the occurrence of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event. The
Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that it will not exercise its
right to redeem the Series A Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated
Maturity without having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do
so, if such consent is then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital
guidelines or policies. The proceeds of any such redemption will be used by the
Series A Issuer to redeem the Series A Securities.
The Redemption Price in the case of a redemption under (i) above shall
equal the following prices expressed in percentages of the principal amount,
together with accrued but unpaid interest to but excluding the Redemption Date.
If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning :
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REDEMPTION
YEAR PRICE
----------------------------- -----------
<S> <C>
2007.........................
2008.........................
2009.........................
2010.........................
2011.........................
2012.........................
2013.........................
2014.........................
2015.........................
2016.........................
</TABLE>
and at 100% on or after , 2017.
The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption following a Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event as described under (ii) above, shall equal 100% of the
principal amount of such Series A Subordinated Debentures together with accrued
and unpaid interest to but excluding the Redemption Date.
S-21
<PAGE> 23
DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
As described under "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders", under certain circumstances involving the
termination of the Series A Issuer, Series A Subordinated Debentures may be
distributed to the holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange
therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Series A Issuer as provided by applicable law.
If distributed to holders of Series A Capital Securities, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will initially be issued in the form of one or more
global securities and DTC, or any successor depositary for the Series A Capital
Securities, will act as depositary for the Series A Subordinated Debentures. It
is anticipated that the depositary arrangements for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would be substantially identical to those in effect for the Series A
Capital Securities. If Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the
holders of Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of
the Series A Issuer, the Corporation will use its best efforts to include the
Series A Subordinated Debentures on such stock exchanges or automated quotation
system, if any, on which the Series A Capital Securities are then listed or
quoted. There can be no assurance as to the market price of any Series A
Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed to the holders of Series A
Capital Securities.
CONDITIONAL RIGHT TO SHORTEN MATURITY OR REDEEM UPON A TAX EVENT OR CAPITAL
TREATMENT EVENT
If a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event occurs and either (i) in the
opinion of counsel to the Corporation experienced in such matters, there would
in all cases, after effecting the termination of the Series A Issuer and the
distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the
Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series
A Issuer, be more than an insubstantial risk that an Adverse Tax Consequence (as
defined in "Risk Factors--Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event--Exchange of
Series A Capital Securities for Series A Subordinated Debentures, Shortening of
Maturity of Series A Debentures or Redemption") would continue to exist, (ii) in
the reasonable determination of the Corporation, there would in all cases, after
effecting the termination of the Series A Issuer and the distribution of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the Series A Capital
Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer, be more
than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat an
amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities as
"Tier 1 Capital" (or the equivalent thereof) or (iii) the Series A Subordinated
Debentures are not held by the Series A Issuer, then the Corporation shall have
the right (a) to shorten the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures to the minimum extent required, but in any event to a date not
earlier than March 15, 2012 (the action referred to in this clause (a) being
referred to herein as a "Maturity Advancement"), such that, in the opinion of
counsel to the Corporation experienced in such matters, after advancing the
Stated Maturity, interest paid on the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be
deductible for federal income tax purposes, or (b) if either (x) in the opinion
of counsel to the Corporation experienced in such matters, there would in all
cases, after effecting a Maturity Advancement, be more than an insubstantial
risk that an Adverse Tax Consequence would continue to exist or (y) in the
reasonable determination of the Corporation, there would in all cases, after
effecting a Maturity Advancement, be more than an insubstantial risk that the
Corporation will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Series A Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the then
equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the
Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Corporation, to redeem
the Series A Subordinated Debentures, in whole but not in part, at any time
within 90 days following the occurrence of the Tax Event or Capital Treatment
Event at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. See "Certain Terms
of Series A Capital Securities--Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution
of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders" and "--Redemption" and "Certain
Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures--General" and "--Redemption".
S-22
<PAGE> 24
Holders of Series A Capital Securities should consult their own tax
advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of a Maturity Advancement.
See "Certain Federal Tax Law Consequences--Possible Tax Law Changes" for a
discussion of certain legislative proposals that, if adopted, could give risk to
a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to shorten the Stated Maturity of
the Series A Subordinated Debentures or cause a redemption of the Series A
Capital Securities prior to March 15, 2007.
REGISTRATION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be represented by global
certificates registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests
in the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be shown on, and transfers thereof
will be effected only through, records maintained by Participants in DTC. Except
as described below and in the accompanying Prospectus, Series A Subordinated
Debentures in certificated form will not be issued in exchange for the global
certificates. See "Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
A global security shall be exchangeable for Series A Subordinated
Debentures registered in the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only
if (i) DTC notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue
as a depositary for such global security and no successor depositary shall have
been appointed, or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered
under the Exchange Act, at a time when DTC is required to be so registered to
act as such depositary, (ii) the Corporation in its sole discretion determines
that such global security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) there shall have
occurred and be continuing an event of default under the Indenture with respect
to the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Any global security that is
exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for
definitive certificates registered in such names as DTC shall direct. It is
expected that such instructions will be based upon directions received by DTC
from its Participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such
global security. In the event that Series A Subordinated Debentures are issued
in definitive form, such Series A Subordinated Debentures will be in
denominations of $1,000 integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or
exchanged at the offices described below.
Payments on Series A Subordinated Debentures represented by a global
security will be made to DTC, as the depositary for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. In the event Series A Subordinated Debentures are issued in
certificated form, principal and interest will be payable, the transfer of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will be registrable, and Series A Subordinated
Debentures will be exchangeable for Series A Subordinated Debentures of other
denominations of a like aggregate principal amount, at the corporate office of
the Debenture Trustee in New York, New York, or at the offices of any paying
agent or transfer agent appointed by the Corporation, provided that payment of
interest may be made at the option of the Corporation by check mailed to the
address of the persons entitled thereto or by wire transfer. In addition, if the
Series A Subordinated Debentures are issued in certificated form, the record
dates for payment of interest will be fifteen days prior to the date on which
such interest payment is scheduled to be made. For a description of DTC and the
terms of the depositary arrangements relating to payments, transfers, voting
rights, redemptions and other notices and other matters, see "Book-Entry
Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A GUARANTEE
The Series A Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Series A Capital
Securities the following payments, to the extent not paid by the Series A
Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the
Series A Capital Securities, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on
hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to
any Series A Capital Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the
Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii)
upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
S-23
<PAGE> 25
winding-up or liquidation of the Series A Issuer (unless the Series A
Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment, to the extent that
the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (b)
the amount of assets of the Series A Issuer remaining available for distribution
to holders of the Series A Capital Securities after payment of creditors of the
Series A Issuer as required by applicable law. The Series A Guarantee will be
qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. Wilmington Trust
Company will act as the Guarantee Trustee for the purposes of compliance with
the Trust Indenture Act and will hold the Series A Guarantee for the benefit of
the holders of the Series A Capital Securities. Wilmington Trust Company will
also act as Debenture Trustee for the Series A Subordinated Debentures and as
Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the Series A Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee in respect to the Series A Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any
trust power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee.
Any holder of the Series A Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the Series A
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Series A
Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. If the Corporation
were to default on its obligation to pay amounts payable under the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, the Series A Issuer would lack funds for the payment of
Distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Series A Capital
Securities or otherwise, and, in such event, holders of the Series A Capital
Securities would not be able to rely upon the Series A Guarantee for payment of
such amounts. Instead, if any event of default under the Indenture shall have
occurred and be continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
Corporation to pay interest or premium, if any, on or principal of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures on the applicable Interest Payment Date, then a holder
of Series A Capital Securities may institute a Direct Action against the
Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Indenture for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on such Series A
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities of such holder. In
connection with such Direct Action, the Corporation will have a right to set-off
under the Indenture to the extent of any payment made by the Corporation to such
holder of Series A Securities in the Direct Action. Except as described herein,
holders of Series A Capital Securities will not be able to exercise directly any
other remedy available to the holders of the Series A Subordinated Debentures or
assert directly any other rights in respect of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. See "Description of Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The
Trust Agreement provides that each holder of Series A Capital Securities by
acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the Series A Guarantee, the
Expense Agreement and the Indenture.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan
subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA")(a "Plan"), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the
context of the Plan's particular circumstances before authorizing an investment
in the Series A Capital Securities. Accordingly, among other factors, the
fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and
diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents
and instruments governing the Plan.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code") prohibit Plans, as well as individual retirement
accounts and Keogh plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code (also "Plans"),
from engaging in certain transactions involving "plan assets" with persons who
are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Code
("Parties in Interest") with respect to such Plan. A violation of these
"prohibited transaction"
S-24
<PAGE> 26
rules may result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or
Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless exemptive relief is available
under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption. Employee benefit
plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA),
certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and foreign plans
(as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) are not subject to the requirements
of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
Under a regulation (the "Plan Assets Regulation") issued by the U.S.
Department of Labor (the "DOL"), the assets of the Series A Issuer would be
deemed to be "plan assets" of a Plan for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of
the Code if "plan assets" of the Plan were used to acquire an equity interest in
the Series A Issuer and no exception were applicable under the Plan Assets
Regulation. An "equity interest" is defined under the Plan Assets Regulation as
any interest in an entity other than an instrument which is treated as
indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no substantial equity
features and specifically includes a beneficial interest in a trust.
Pursuant to an exception contained in the Plan Assets Regulation, the
assets of the Series A Issuer would not be deemed to be "plan assets" of
investing Plans if, immediately after the most recent acquisition of any equity
interest in the Series A Issuer, less than 25% of the value of each class of
equity interests in the Series A Issuer were held by Plans, other employee
benefit plans not subject to ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (such as
governmental, church and foreign plans), and entities holding assets deemed to
be "plan assets" of any Plan (collectively, "Benefit Plan Investors"), or if the
Series A Capital Securities were "publicly-offered securities" for purposes of
the Plan Assets Regulation. No assurance can be given that the value of the
Series A Capital Securities held by Benefit Plan Investors will be less than 25%
of the total value of such Series A Capital Securities at the completion of the
initial offering or thereafter, and no monitoring or other measures will be
taken with respect to the satisfaction of the conditions to this exception. In
addition, the Series A Capital Securities will be deemed "publicly-offered
securities" for the purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations only if owned by 100
or more investors independent of the Series A Issuer and each other. No
assurance can be given that the Series A Capital Securities would be considered
to be "publicly-offered securities" under the Plan Assets Regulation. All of the
Series A Common Securities will be purchased and initially held by the
Corporation.
Certain transactions involving the Series A Issuer could be deemed to
constitute direct or indirect prohibited transactions under ERISA and Section
4975 of the Code with respect to a Plan if the Series A Capital Securities were
acquired with "plan assets" of such Plan and the assets of the Series A Issuer
were deemed to be "plan assets" of Plans investing in the Series A Issuer. For
example, if the Corporation is a Party in Interest with respect to an investing
Plan (either directly or by reason of its ownership of the Bank or other
subsidiaries), extensions of credit between the Corporation and the Series A
Issuer (as represented by the Series A Subordinated Debentures and the
Guarantee) would likely be prohibited by Section 406(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and
Section 4975(c)(1)(B) of the Code, unless exemptive relief were available under
an applicable administrative exemption (see below). In addition, if the
Corporation were considered to be a fiduciary with respect to the Series A
Issuer as a result of certain powers it holds (such as the powers to remove and
replace the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees), certain
operations of the Series A Issuer, including the optional redemption or
acceleration of the Series A Subordinated Debentures, could be considered to be
prohibited transactions under Section 406(b) of ERISA and Section 4975(c)(1)(E)
of the Code. In order to avoid such prohibited transactions, each investing
plan, by purchasing the Series A Capital Securities, will be deemed to have
directed the Series A Issuer to invest in the Series A Subordinated Debentures
and to have appointed the Property Trustee.
The DOL has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions ("PTCEs")
that may provide exemptive relief if required for direct or indirect prohibited
transactions that may arise from the purchase or holding of the Series A Capital
Securities if assets of the Series A Issuer were deemed to be "plan assets" of
Plans investing in the Series A Issuer as described above. Those class
exemptions are PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset
managers),
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PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company general
accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective
investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance
company separate accounts), and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined
by independent qualified professional asset managers).
Because the Series A Capital Securities may be deemed to be equity
interests in the Series A Issuer for purposes of applying ERISA and Section 4975
of the Code, the Series A Capital Securities may not be purchased and should not
be held by any plan, any entity whose underlying assets include "plan assets" by
reason of any plan's investment in the entity (a "plan asset entity") or any
person investing "plan assets" of any plan, unless such purchaser or holder is
eligible for the exemptive relief available under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1
or 84-14 or another applicable exemption. Any purchaser or holder of the Series
A Capital Securities or any interest therein will be deemed to have represented
by its purchase and holding thereof that it either (a) is not a plan or (b) is
eligible for the exemptive relief available under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1
or 84-14 or another applicable exemption with respect to such purchase or
holding. If a purchaser of the Series A Capital Securities that is a plan or a
plan asset entity elects to rely on an exemption other than PTCE 96-23, 95-60,
91-38, 90-1, or 84-14, the Corporation, the Series A Issuer and the Property
Trustee may require a satisfactory opinion of counsel or other evidence with
respect to the availability of such exemption for such purchase and holding.
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed
upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly
important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the Series A
Capital Securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any Plan consult with
their counsel regarding the potential consequences if the assets of the Series A
Issuer were deemed to be "plan assets" and the availability of exemptive relief
under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or any other applicable exemption.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income
tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Series A Capital
Securities. This summary only addresses the tax consequences to a person that
acquires Series A Capital Securities on their original issue at their original
offering price and that is (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United
States, (ii) a corporation or partnership organized in or under the laws of the
United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (iii) an
estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income
tax regardless of source (a "United States Person"). This summary does not
address all tax consequences that may be applicable to a United States Person
that is a beneficial owner of Series A Capital Securities, nor does it address
the tax consequences to (i) persons that are not United States Persons, (ii)
persons that may be subject to special treatment under United States federal
income tax law, such as banks, insurance companies, thrift institutions,
regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt
organizations and dealers in securities or currencies, (iii) persons that will
hold Series A Capital Securities as part of a position in a "straddle" or as
part of a "hedging," "conversion" or other integrated investment transaction for
federal income tax purposes, (iv) persons whose functional currency is not the
United States dollar or (v) persons that do not hold Series A Capital Securities
as capital assets.
The statements of law or legal conclusion set forth in this summary
constitute the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, special tax counsel to the
Corporation and the Series A Issuer. This summary is based upon the Code,
Treasury Regulations, Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and
judicial decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change at any
time. Such changes may be applied retroactively in a manner that could cause the
tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below,
possibly adversely affecting a beneficial owner of Series A Capital Securities.
In particular, legislation has been proposed that could
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<PAGE> 28
adversely affect the Corporation's ability to deduct interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, which may in turn permit the Corporation to cause a
redemption of the Series A Capital Securities. See "-- Possible Tax Law
Changes." The authorities on which this summary is based are subject to various
interpretations, and it is therefore possible that the federal income tax
treatment of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Series A Capital
Securities may differ from the treatment described below.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS IN
LIGHT OF THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AS TO THE FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES, AS
WELL AS THE EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AND THE SERIES A ISSUER
Under current law and assuming compliance with the terms of the Trust
Agreement, the Series A Issuer will not be classified as an association taxable
as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result,
each beneficial owner of Series A Capital Securities (a "Securityholder") will
be required to include in its gross income its pro rata share of the interest
income, including original issue discount, paid or accrued with respect to the
Series A Subordinated Debentures whether or not cash is actually distributed to
the Securityholders. See "-- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount." The
Series A Subordinated Debentures will be classified as indebtedness of the
Corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes.
INTEREST INCOME AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
Under recently issued Treasury regulations applicable to debt instruments
issued on or after August 13, 1996 (the "Regulations"), a contingency that
stated interest will not be timely paid that is "remote" because of the terms of
the relevant debt instrument will be ignored in determining whether such debt
instrument is issued with original issue discount ("OID"). As a result of terms
and conditions of the Series A Subordinated Debentures that prohibit certain
payments with respect to the Corporation's capital stock and indebtedness if the
Corporation elects to extend interest payment periods, the Corporation believes
that the likelihood of its exercising its option to defer payments is remote.
See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer
Interest Payments." Based on the foregoing, the Corporation believes that the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will not be considered to be issued with OID at
the time of their original issuance and, accordingly, a Securityholder should
include in gross income such holder's allocable share of interest actually paid
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. The following discussion assumes that
unless and until the Corporation exercises its option to defer interest on the
Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Series A Subordinated Debentures will not
be treated as issued with OID.
Under the Regulations, if the Corporation exercises its option to defer any
payment of interest, the Series A Subordinated Debentures would at that time be
treated as issued with OID, and all stated interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would thereafter be treated as OID as long as the Series A
Subordinated Debentures remained outstanding. In such event, all of a
Securityholder's taxable interest income with respect to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures would be accounted for as OID on an economic-accrual
basis regardless of such holder's method of tax accounting, and actual
distributions of stated interest would not be reported as taxable income.
Consequently, a Securityholder would be required to include in gross income OID
even though the Corporation would not make any actual cash payments during an
Extension Period.
The Regulations have not been addressed in any rulings or other
interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), and it is possible
that the IRS could take a position contrary to the interpretation herein.
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<PAGE> 29
Because income on the Series A Capital Securities will constitute interest
or OID, corporate Securityholders will not be entitled to a dividends-received
deduction with respect to any income recognized with respect to the Series A
Capital Securities.
DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS OF SERIES A CAPITAL
SECURITIES
Under current law, a distribution by the Series A Issuer of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures as described under the caption "Certain Terms of Series
A Capital Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of
Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders" will be non-taxable and will result
in the Securityholder receiving directly its pro rata share of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures previously held indirectly through the Series A Issuer,
with a holding period and aggregate-tax basis equal to the holding period and
aggregate-tax basis such Securityholder had in its Series A Capital Securities
before such distribution. If, however, the liquidation of the Series A Issuer
were to occur because the Series A Issuer is subject to United States Federal
income tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, the distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to
Securityholders by the Series A Issuer would be a taxable event to the Series A
Issuer and each Securityholder, and each Securityholder would recognize gain or
loss as if the Securityholder had exchanged its Series A Capital Securities for
the Series A Subordinated Debentures it received upon the liquidation of the
Series A Issuer. A Securityholder will include interest in income in respect of
Series A Subordinated Debentures received from the Series A Issuer in the manner
described above under "-- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
SALE OR REDEMPTION OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
A Securityholder that sells (including a redemption for cash) Series A
Capital Securities will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between
its adjusted-tax basis in the Series A Capital Securities and the amount
realized on the sale of such Series A Capital Securities. Assuming that the
Corporation does not exercise its option to defer payment of interest on the
Series A Subordinated Debentures, a Securityholder's adjusted tax basis in the
Series A Capital Securities generally will be its initial purchase price. If the
Series A Subordinated Debentures are deemed to be issued with OID, as a result
of the Corporation's deferral of any interest payment, a Securityholder's
adjusted tax basis in the Series A Capital Securities generally will be its
initial purchase price, increased by OID previously includible in such
Securityholder's gross income to the date of disposition and decreased by
Distributions or other payments received on the Series A Capital Securities
since and including the date of the first Extension Period. Such gain or loss
generally will be a capital gain or loss (except to the extent any amount
realized is treated as a payment of accrued interest with respect to such
Securityholder's pro rata share of the Series A Subordinated Debentures required
to be included in income) and generally will be a long-term capital gain or loss
if the Series A Capital Securities have been held for more than one year.
Should the Corporation exercise its option to defer any payment of interest
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Series A Capital Securities may
trade at a price that does not accurately reflect the value of accrued but
unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Series A Subordinated Debentures.
In the event of such a deferral, a Securityholder who disposes of its Series A
Capital Securities between record dates for payments of distributions thereon
will be required to include in income as ordinary income accrued but unpaid
interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures to the date of disposition and
to add such amount to its adjusted-tax basis in its Series A Capital Securities.
To the extent the selling price is less than the Securityholder's adjusted-tax
basis, such holder will recognize a capital loss. Subject to certain limited
exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for
United States federal income tax purposes.
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<PAGE> 30
BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX AND INFORMATION REPORTING
The amount of interest income paid and OID accrued on the Series A Capital
Securities held of record by United States Persons (other than corporations and
other exempt Securityholders) will be reported to the IRS. "Backup" withholding
at a rate of 31% will apply to payments of interest to nonexempt United States
Persons unless the Securityholder furnishes its taxpayer identification number
in the manner prescribed in applicable Treasury Regulations, certifies that such
number is correct, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding
and meets certain other conditions.
Payment of the proceeds from the disposition of Series A Capital Securities
to or through the United States office of a broker is subject to information
reporting and backup withholding unless the holder or beneficial owner
establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
Any amounts withheld from a Securityholder under the backup withholding
rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such Securityholder's
United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
It is anticipated that income on the Series A Capital Securities will be
reported to holders on Form 1099 and mailed to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities by January 31 following each calendar year.
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
On February 6, 1997, the Budget Proposal was released. If enacted, the
Budget Proposal would generally deny interest deductions for interest on an
instrument issued by a corporation that has a maximum term of more than 15 years
and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the
issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other than a
corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a related
instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated
balance sheet. The above-described provision of the Budget Proposal is proposed
to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after the date of first
Congressional committee action. If a similar provision were to apply to the
Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Corporation would be unable to deduct
interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Under current law, the
Corporation will be able to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. There can be no assurance, however, that current or future
legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the
Corporation to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Such a
change could give rise to a Tax Event, which would permit the Corporation to
cause a redemption of the Series A Capital Securities, as described more fully
under "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption" and
"Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Redemption".
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement and the
Pricing Agreement, the Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed that the
Series A Issuer will sell to each of the Underwriters named below, and each of
such Underwriters has severally agreed to purchase from the Series A Issuer, the
respective number of Series A Capital Securities set forth opposite its name
below:
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<PAGE> 31
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SERIES A
CAPITAL
UNDERWRITER SECURITIES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
<S> <C>
Goldman, Sachs & Co. .....................................................
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ..............................................
Smith Barney Inc. ........................................................
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.......................
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated................................................
Salomon Brothers Inc .....................................................
UBS Securities LLC........................................................
-------
Total........................................................... 200,000
=======
</TABLE>
Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement and the
Pricing Agreement, the Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all the
Series A Capital Securities offered hereby, if any are taken.
The Underwriters propose to offer the Series A Capital Securities in part
directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus Supplement and in part to certain securities
dealers at such price less a concession of $[ ] per Series A Capital
Security. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession
not in excess of $[ ] per Series A Capital Security to certain brokers and
dealers. After the Series A Capital Securities are released for sale to the
public, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be
varied by the Underwriters.
In view of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the Series A Capital
Securities will be used to purchase the Series A Subordinated Debentures issued
by the Corporation, the Underwriting Agreement provides that the Corporation
will pay as Underwriters' compensation for the Underwriters' arranging the
investment therein of such proceeds an amount of $10.00 per Series A Capital
Security for the accounts of the several Underwriters and will reimburse the
Underwriters for $60,000 of expenses.
Because the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") is
expected to view the Series A Capital Securities offered hereby as interests in
a direct participation program, the offering is being made in compliance with
Rule 2810 of the NASD's Conduct Rules. Offers and sales of Series A Capital
Securities will be made only to (i) "qualified institutional buyers", as defined
in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"); (ii)
institutional "accredited investors", as defined in Rule 501(a)(1)-(3) of
Regulation D under the Act or (iii) individual investors for whom an investment
in non-convertible investment grade preferred securities is appropriate. The
Underwriters may not confirm sales to any accounts over which they exercise
discretionary authority without prior written approval of the transaction by the
customer.
The Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed that, during the period
beginning from the date of the Pricing Agreement and continuing to and including
the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions on the Series A Capital
Securities, as determined by the Underwriters, and (ii) 30 days after the
closing date, they will not offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose
of any Series A Capital Securities, any other beneficial interests in the assets
of any Issuer, or any preferred securities or any other securities of any Issuer
or the Corporation which are substantially similar to the Series A Capital
Securities, including any guarantee of such securities, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for or representing the right to receive
preferred securities or any such substantially similar securities of either any
Issuer or the Corporation, without the prior written consent of the
Underwriters, except for the Series A Capital Securities offered in connection
with this offering.
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<PAGE> 32
The Series A Capital Securities are a new issue of securities with no
established trading market. The Underwriters have advised the Corporation that
they intend to make a market in the Series A Capital Securities, but are not
obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice.
No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the
Series A Capital Securities.
During and after the offering, the Underwriters may purchase and sell the
Series A Capital Securities in the open market. These transactions may include
overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover short
positions created by the Underwriters in connection with the offering. The
Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed
to broker-dealers in respect of the Series A Capital Securities sold in the
offering may be reclaimed by the Underwriters if such securities are repurchased
by the Underwriters in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities
may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Series A
Capital Securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise
prevail in the open market, and these activities, it commenced, may be
discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected in the
over-the-counter market or otherwise.
The Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed to indemnify the
several Underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters
may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates have provided from time to
time, and expect to provide in the future, investment or commercial banking
services to the Corporation and its affiliates, for which such Underwriters or
their affiliates have received or will receive customary fees and commissions.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Series A
Capital Securities, the enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the formation
of the Series A Issuer will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, One
Rodney Square, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, special Delaware counsel to the
Corporation and the Series A Issuer. The validity of the Series A Guarantee and
the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be passed upon for the Corporation by
Paul L. Reynolds, Counsel, Fifth Third Bancorp, 38 Fountain Square Plaza,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, and for the Underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell, 125
Broad Street, New York, New York 10004. Paul R. Reynolds will rely as to all
matters of New York law upon the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, and Sullivan &
Cromwell will rely as to all matters of Ohio law upon the opinion of Paul L.
Reynolds. Certain matters relating to United States federal income tax
considerations will be passed upon for the Corporation by Sullivan & Cromwell.
S-31
<PAGE> 33
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY SUCH STATE.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 12, 1997
$200,000,000
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST II
PREFERRED SECURITIES FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
------------------------
Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (the "Corporation"), may from time
to time offer in one or more series or issuances its junior subordinated
deferrable interest debentures (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures"). The
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Debt (as defined in "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination") of the Corporation. If provided in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will have the right to defer
payments of interest on any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures by
extending the interest payment period thereon at any time or from time to time
for up to such number of consecutive interest payment periods (which shall not
extend beyond the Stated Maturity (as defined herein) of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures) with respect to each deferral period as may be specified in such
Prospectus Supplement (each, an "Extension Period"). In such circumstances,
however, the Corporation would not be permitted, subject to certain exceptions
set forth herein, to declare or pay any dividends, distributions or other
payments with respect to, or repay, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, the
Corporation's capital stock or debt securities that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior to such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest
Payments" and "-- Restrictions on Certain Payments".
Fifth Third Capital Trust I and Fifth Third Capital Trust II, each a
statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (each,
an "Issuer," and collectively, the "Issuers"), may severally offer, from time to
time, preferred securities (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred
beneficial interests in such Issuer. The Corporation will be the owner of the
common securities representing common ownership interests in such Issuer (the
"Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust
Securities"). Holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to
(continued on next page)
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT
INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is March , 1997.
<PAGE> 34
(continued from previous page)
receive preferential cumulative cash distributions ("Distributions")
accumulating from the date of original issuance and payable periodically as
provided in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. Concurrently with the
issuance by an Issuer of its Preferred Securities, such Issuer will invest the
proceeds thereof and of any contributions received in respect of the Common
Securities in a corresponding series of the Corporation's Junior Subordinated
Debentures (the "Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures") with terms
corresponding to the terms of that Issuer's Preferred Securities (the "Related
Preferred Securities"). The Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
the sole assets of each Issuer, and payments under the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be the only revenue of each Issuer. If provided in
an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation may, upon receipt of
approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal
Reserve") (if such approval is then required), redeem the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures (and cause the redemption of the Related Preferred
Securities) or may terminate each Issuer and cause the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Related
Preferred Securities in liquidation of their interests in such Issuer. See
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination".
If provided in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will
have the right to defer payments of interest on any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures. If interest payments are so deferred,
Distributions on the Related Preferred Securities will also be deferred and the
Corporation will not be permitted, subject to certain exceptions set forth
herein, to declare or pay any cash distributions with respect to the
Corporation's capital stock or debt securities that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior to the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures.
During an Extension Period, Distributions will continue to accumulate (and the
Related Preferred Securities will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at
the rate per annum set forth in the Prospectus Supplement). See "Description of
Preferred Securities -- Distributions".
Taken together, the Corporation's obligations under each series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, the related Trust Agreement, the related
Expense Agreement and the related Guarantee (each, as defined herein), in the
aggregate, provide a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments
of distributions and other amounts due on the Related Preferred Securities. See
"Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Expense Agreements and the Guarantees -- Full and
Unconditional Guarantee". The payment of Distributions with respect to the
Preferred Securities of each Issuer and payments on liquidation or redemption
with respect to such Preferred Securities, in each case out of funds held by
such Issuer, are each irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation to the extent
described herein (each, a "Guarantee"). See "Description of Guarantees". The
obligations of the Corporation under each Guarantee will be subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred Securities may be offered
in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering;
provided, however, the aggregate initial public offering price of all Junior
Subordinated Debentures (other than Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures) and Preferred Securities (including the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures) issued pursuant to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part shall not exceed $200,000,000. Certain specific
terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect
of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be described in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement, including without limitation and where applicable and to
the extent not set forth herein, (a) in the case of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, denominations,
Stated Maturity (including any provisions for the shortening or extension
thereof), interest payment dates, interest rate (which may be fixed or variable)
or method of calculating interest, if any, applicable Extension Period or
interest deferral terms, if any, place or places where principal, premium, if
any, and interest, if any, will be payable,
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any terms of redemption, any sinking fund provisions, terms for any conversion
or exchange into other securities, initial offering or purchase price, methods
of distribution and any other special terms, and (b) in the case of Preferred
Securities, the identity of the Issuer, specific title, aggregate amount, stated
liquidation amount, number of securities, Distribution rate or method of
calculating such rate, Distribution payment dates, applicable Distribution
deferral terms, if any, place or places where Distributions will be payable, any
terms of redemption, exchange, initial offering or purchase price, methods of
distribution and any other special terms.
The Prospectus Supplement also will contain information, as applicable,
about certain United States Federal income tax consequences relating to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred Securities may be sold to
or through underwriters, through dealers, remarketing firms or agents or
directly to purchasers. See "Plan of Distribution". The names of any
underwriters, dealers, remarketing firms or agents involved in the sale of
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is being delivered and any applicable fee, commission or discount
arrangements with them will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The
Prospectus Supplement will state whether the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
Preferred Securities will be listed on any national securities exchange or
automated quotation system. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities are not listed on any national securities exchange or automated
quotation system, there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary
market for the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus
Supplement.
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Corporation is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional offices of the Commission located at
7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and Suite
1400, Citicorp Center, 14th Floor, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
60661. Copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates by
writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Such material may also be accessed electronically
by means of the Commission's home page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov.
The Corporation and the Issuers have filed with the Commission a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits
thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities offered hereby.
This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted
by the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with
respect to the Corporation and the securities offered hereby, reference is made
to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and the financial statements,
notes and schedules filed as a part thereof or incorporated by reference
therein, which may be inspected at the public reference facilities of the
Commission at the addresses set forth above or through the Commission's home
page on the Internet. Statements made in this Prospectus concerning the contents
of any documents referred to herein are not necessarily complete, and in each
instance are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of such document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
No separate financial statements of any Issuer have been included herein.
The Corporation and the Issuers do not consider that such financial statements
would be material to holders of the Preferred Securities because each Issuer is
a newly formed special purpose entity, has no operating history or independent
operations and is not engaged in and does not propose to engage in any activity
other than holding as trust assets the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the Corporation and issuing the Trust Securities. Furthermore,
taken together, the Corporation's obligations under each series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, the related Trust Agreement, the
related Expense Agreement and the related Guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a
full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of Distributions and
other amounts due on the Related Preferred Securities of an Issuer. See "The
Issuers", "Description of Preferred Securities", "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures" and
"Description of Guarantees". In addition, the Corporation does not expect that
any of the Issuers will be filing reports under the Exchange Act with the
Commission.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1996, as filed with the Commission is incorporated into this Prospectus by
reference.
Each document or report filed by the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
termination of any offering of securities made by this Prospectus shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part of
this Prospectus from the date of filing of such document. Any statement
contained herein, or in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement and this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference
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herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this Prospectus.
The Corporation will provide without charge to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated by reference herein (other
than exhibits not specifically incorporated by reference into the texts of such
documents). Requests for such documents should be directed to Fifth Third
Bancorp, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, Attention: Paul L.
Reynolds, telephone number (513) 579-5300.
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THE CORPORATION
The Corporation is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in
Cincinnati, Ohio, with approximately $21 billion in total consolidated assets as
of December 31, 1996. The Corporation was organized in Ohio on October 7, 1974,
and on April 15, 1975 became the owner of all of the outstanding capital stock
of The Fifth Third Bank, an Ohio banking corporation (the "Bank").
At December 31, 1996, the Corporation also owned five other banks and one
savings bank in Ohio, two banks and two savings banks in Kentucky, one bank in
Indiana, and one bank in Florida, as well as various other non-bank
subsidiaries. The banks owned by the Corporation are referred to collectively
herein as the "Subsidiary Banks". At December 31, 1996, the Bank represented
more than 45% of the Corporation's assets, revenues and net income, although the
Corporation expects that the operations of the other subsidiaries will become
increasingly significant. The Bank will in the foreseeable future continue to be
the major source of the Corporation's assets, revenues and net income.
During January 1997, The Fifth Third Savings Bank of Western Kentucky, FSB
was merged into and with Fifth Third Bank of Kentucky, Inc., Fifth Third Savings
Bank of Northern Ohio, FSB was merged into and with Fifth Third Bank of
Northeastern Ohio and Fifth Third Savings Bank of Northern Kentucky, FSB was
merged into and with Fifth Third Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc. At the same
time, the company was deregistered as a savings-and-loan holding company.
The Corporation's principal business strategy is to aggressively market its
four business lines in the three-state region of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
These four business lines include commercial banking, retail banking, trust and
investment management and data processing services. As part of its business
strategy, the Corporation pursues a strong sales ethic, aggressive expense
control and diverse fee income-based revenue.
The Corporation offers a full line of commercial and retail banking
products and services. These products and services are offered through the
Corporation's banking subsidiaries and their offices.
The Corporation also provides, through its banking subsidiaries, full
service trust and investment services. The Corporation's banking subsidiaries
focus on trust and investment services for individuals, corporations and
not-for-profit organizations. Personal trust services include private banking,
tax and real estate services, trust services and services to private
foundations. Services to corporations and not-for-profit organizations include
employee benefits, corporate trust, stock transfers, securities custody, mutual
funds and foundations and endowments.
The Corporation is also in the data processing business through a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank, Midwest Payment Systems, Inc. ("MPS"),
which provides merchant processing services and electronic funds transfer
("EFT") services for the Corporation and its bank subsidiaries as well as other
retail and financial institutions. MPS is a significant participant in the EFT
business and is a source of substantial fee income to the Corporation.
The principal executive office of the Corporation is located at 38 Fountain
Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, and its telephone number is (513)
579-5300.
SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
THE CORPORATION
The Corporation, as a bank holding company, is subject to the restrictions
of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended ("BHC Act"). BHC Act
provides that the acquisition of control of a bank is subject to the prior
approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The
Corporation is required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve
Board before it can acquire more than 5% of the voting shares of another bank.
BHC Act does not permit the Federal Reserve to approve an acquisition by the
Corporation, or any of its subsidiaries, of any bank located
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in a state other than Ohio, unless the acquisition is specifically authorized by
the law of the state in which such bank is located.
On September 29, 1994, BHC Act was amended by The Interstate Banking and
Branch Efficiency Act of 1994 which authorizes interstate bank acquisitions
anywhere in the country effective one year after the date of enactment, and
interstate branching by acquisition and consolidation effective June 1, 1997, in
those states that have not opted out by that date. The impact of this amendment
on the Corporation cannot be measured at this time.
The Corporation's subsidiary state banks are primarily subject to the laws
of the state in which each is located, the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and/or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The subsidiary
bank which is organized under the laws of the United States is primarily subject
to regulation by the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation. Prior to January, 1997, the Corporation, as a savings and
loan holding company, and its savings and loan subsidiaries were subject to
regulation by the Office of Thrift Supervision.
The Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to certain restrictions on
intercompany loans and investments. The Corporation and its subsidiaries are
also subject to certain restrictions with respect to engaging in the
underwriting and public sale and distribution of securities. In addition, the
Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to examination at the discretion of
supervisory authorities.
The Bank Holding Company Act limits the activities which may be engaged in
by the Corporation and its subsidiaries to ownership of banks and those
activities which the Federal Reserve Board has deemed or may in the future find
to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto.
The Financial Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA)
provides that a holding company's controlled insurance institutions are liable
for any loss incurred by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in connection
with the default of, or any FDIC-assisted transaction involving, an affiliated
insured bank or savings association.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991
("FDICIA") covers a wide expanse of banking regulatory issues. FDICIA deals with
the recapitalization of the Bank Insurance Fund, with deposit insurance reform,
including requiring the FDIC to establish a risk-based premium assessment
system, and with a number of other regulatory and supervisory matters.
THE SUBSIDIARY BANKS
The principal source of income and funds for the Corporation are dividends
from its subsidiaries. During the year 1997, the amount of dividends that the
subsidiaries can pay to the Corporation without prior approval of regulatory
agencies is limited to their 1997 eligible net profits, as defined, and
$121,967,000, the adjusted retained 1996 and 1995 net income of the
subsidiaries.
THE ISSUERS
Each Issuer is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law
pursuant to (i) a trust agreement executed by the Corporation, as Depositor of
the Issuer, and the Delaware Trustee (as defined herein) of such Issuer and (ii)
the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State. Each
trust agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety (each, as so
amended and restated, a "Trust Agreement") substantially in the form filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
Each Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Each Issuer exists for the
exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling its Trust Securities, (ii) using
the
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proceeds from the sale of such Trust Securities to acquire a series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation, and
(iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto
(such as registering the transfer of the Trust Securities). Accordingly, the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and the right to reimbursement of
expenses under the related Expense Agreement will be the sole assets of each
Issuer, and payments under the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and
the related Expense Agreement will be the sole revenue of each Issuer.
All of the Common Securities of each Issuer will be owned by the
Corporation. The Common Securities of an Issuer will rank pari passu, and
payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred Securities of such
Issuer, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default
under a Trust Agreement resulting from an event of default under the Indenture,
the rights of the Corporation, as holder of the Common Securities, to payment in
respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation or redemption will be
subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities of such
Issuer. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Subordination of Common
Securities". The Corporation will acquire Common Securities in an aggregate
Liquidation Amount equal to not less than 3% of the total capital of each
Issuer.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each
Issuer has a term of approximately 55 years, but may terminate earlier as
provided in the applicable Trust Agreement. Each Issuer's business and affairs
are conducted by its trustees, each appointed by the Corporation as holder of
the Common Securities. The trustees for each Issuer will be Wilmington Trust
Company, as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee") and as Delaware Trustee
(the "Delaware Trustee"), and two individual trustees (the "Administrative
Trustees") who are employees or officers of or affiliated with the Corporation
(collectively, the "Issuer Trustees"). Wilmington Trust Company, as Property
Trustee, will act as sole indenture trustee under each Trust Agreement for
purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act. Wilmington Trust Company
will also act as trustee under the Guarantees and the Indenture (each as defined
herein). See "Description of Guarantees" and "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures". The holder of the Common Securities of an Issuer, or the holders of
a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred Securities if an event
of default under the Trust Agreement for such Issuer has occurred and is
continuing, will be entitled to appoint, remove or replace the Property Trustee
and/or the Delaware Trustee for such Issuer. In no event will the holders of the
Preferred Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the
Administrative Trustees; such voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder
of the Common Securities. The duties and obligations of each Issuer Trustee are
governed by the applicable Trust Agreement. The Corporation will pay all fees
and expenses related to each Issuer and the offering of the Preferred Securities
and will pay, directly or indirectly, all ongoing costs, expenses and
liabilities of each Issuer.
The principal executive office of each Issuer is 38 Fountain Square Plaza,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263 and its telephone number is (513) 579-5300.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation intends to use the proceeds from the sale of its Junior Subordinated
Debentures (including Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to the
Issuers in connection with the investment by the Issuers of all of the proceeds
from the sale of Trust Securities) for general corporate purposes.
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DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be issued in one or more series
under a Junior Subordinated Indenture, as supplemented from time to time (as so
supplemented, the "Indenture"), between the Corporation and Wilmington Trust
Company, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"). This summary of certain terms and
provisions of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, which
summarizes the material provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture,
the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part, and to the Trust Indenture Act, to each of which
reference is hereby made. The Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act. Whenever particular defined terms of the Indenture (as supplemented or
amended from time to time) are referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement,
such defined terms are incorporated herein or therein by reference.
GENERAL
Each series of Junior Subordinated Debentures will rank pari passu with all
other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and will be unsecured and
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the extent and in the manner set
forth in the Indenture to all Senior Debt (as defined below) of the Corporation.
See "-- Subordination". The Corporation is a non-operating holding company and
almost all of the operating assets of the Corporation and its consolidated
subsidiaries are owned by such subsidiaries. The Corporation relies primarily on
dividends from such subsidiaries to meet its obligations. See "Certain
Regulatory Considerations -- Dividends". Because the Corporation is a holding
company, the right of the Corporation to participate in any distribution of
assets of any subsidiary upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except
to the extent the Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that
subsidiary. Accordingly, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be effectively
subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's
subsidiaries, and holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures should look only to
the assets of the Corporation for payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other
secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation, including Senior Debt, whether
under the Indenture, any other existing indenture or any other indenture that
the Corporation may enter into in the future or otherwise. See
"-- Subordination" and the Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering of
Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issuable in one or more series
pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Indenture or a resolution of the
Corporation's Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the following terms of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures: (1) the title of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures; (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures; (3) the date or dates on which the principal of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable (the "Stated Maturity") or the method
of determination thereof; (4) the rate or rates, if any, or method of
calculating the rate or rates, if any, at which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall bear interest, the dates on which any such interest shall be
payable (the "Interest Payment Dates"), the right, if any, of the Corporation to
defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the record dates for any interest
payable on any Interest Payment Date or the method by which any of the foregoing
shall be determined; (5) the place or places where, subject to the terms of the
Indenture as described below under "-- Payment and Paying Agents", the principal
of and premium, if any, and interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will
be payable and where, subject to the terms of the Indenture as described below
under "-- Denominations, Registration and Transfer," the Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange and the
place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Corporation in respect
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
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and the Indentures may be made ("Place of Payment"); (6) any period or periods
within which or date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the
terms and conditions upon which Junior Subordinated Debentures may be redeemed,
in whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation or a holder thereof; (7)
the obligation or the right, if any, of the Corporation or a holder thereof to
redeem, purchase or repay the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the period or
periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies
(including currency unit or units) in which and the other terms and conditions
upon which the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be redeemed, repaid or
purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; (8) the
denominations in which any Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be issuable if
other than denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof; (9) if other
than in U.S. Dollars, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or
units) in which the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and
Additional Interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be
payable, or in which the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be denominated;
(10) any additions, modifications or deletions in the events of default under
the Indenture or covenants of the Corporation specified in the Indenture with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures; (11) if other than the principal
amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Debentures that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof; (12) any additions or changes to the Indenture with respect to
a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures as shall be necessary to permit or
facilitate the issuance of such series in bearer form, registrable or not
registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; (13) any
index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and
premium, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the manner in which
such amounts will be determined; (14) the terms and conditions relating to the
issuance of a temporary Global Security representing all of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of such series and the exchange of such temporary Global
Security for definitive Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series; (15)
subject to the terms described herein under "-- Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures", whether the Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series shall be
issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in
such case, the Depositary for such Global Securities, which Depositary shall be
a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; (16) the appointment of any
paying agent or agents; (17) the terms and conditions of any obligation or right
of the Corporation or a holder to convert or exchange the Junior Subordinated
Debentures into Preferred Securities; (18) the form of Trust Agreement,
Guarantee Agreement and Expense Agreement, if applicable; (19) the relative
degree, if any, to which such Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series shall
be senior to or be subordinated to other series of such Junior Subordinated
Debentures or other indebtedness of the Corporation in right of payment, whether
such other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures or other indebtedness are
outstanding or not; and (20) any other terms of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.
Junior Subordinated Debentures may be sold at a substantial discount below
their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which
at the time of issuance is below market rates. Certain United States Federal
income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
If the purchase price of any of the Junior Subordinated Debentures is
payable in one or more foreign currencies or currency units or if any Junior
Subordinated Debentures are denominated in one or more foreign currencies or
currency units or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
any Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable in one or more foreign currencies
or currency units, the restrictions, elections, certain United States Federal
income tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to
such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and such foreign currency or
currency units will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
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If any index is used to determine the amount of payments of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures,
special United States Federal income tax, accounting and other considerations
applicable thereto will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series will be exchangeable for other Junior
Subordinated Debentures of the same issue and series, of any authorized
denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same original issue
date and Stated Maturity and bearing the same interest rate.
Junior Subordinated Debentures may be presented for exchange as provided
above, and may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of
transfer endorsed thereon, or a satisfactory written instrument of transfer,
duly executed), at the office of the appropriate securities registrar or at the
office of any transfer agent designated by the Corporation for such purpose with
respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and referred to in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any
taxes and other governmental charges as described in the Indenture. The
Corporation will appoint the Debenture Trustee as securities registrar under the
Indenture. If the applicable Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer agents
(in addition to the securities registrar) initially designated by the
Corporation with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent
or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts,
provided that the Corporation maintains a transfer agent in each place of
payment for such series. The Corporation may at any time designate additional
transfer agents with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures.
In the event of any redemption, neither the Corporation nor the Debenture
Trustee shall be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of, or exchange
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series during the period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Junior
Subordinated Debentures of that series and ending at the close of business on
the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or (ii) transfer or
exchange any Junior Subordinated Debentures so selected for redemption, except,
in the case of any Junior Subordinated Debentures being redeemed in part, any
portion thereof not to be redeemed.
GLOBAL JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Junior Subordinated Debentures of a series may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Junior Subordinated Debentures that will
be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the "Depositary") identified
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary
or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Junior Subordinated Debentures represented thereby, a Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture to a nominee of such
Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another
nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any nominee to a successor
Depositary or any nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. The Corporation anticipates that the following
provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.
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Upon the issuance of a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, and the
deposit of such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture with or on behalf of the
Depositary, the Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture or its
nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of the individual Junior Subordinated Debentures
represented by such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture to the accounts of
persons that have accounts with such Depositary ("Participants"). Such accounts
shall be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or by the Corporation if such Junior Subordinated
Debentures are offered and sold directly by the Corporation. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture will be limited
to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture
will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only
through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its nominee (with
respect to interests of Participants) and the records of Participants (with
respect to interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some
states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of
such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture.
So long as the Depositary for a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, or
its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be
considered the sole owner or holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
represented by such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture for all purposes under
the Indenture governing such Junior Subordinated Debentures. Except as provided
below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture
will not be entitled to have any of the individual Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the series represented by such Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of any such Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in
definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under
the Indenture.
Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on individual
Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to
the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of
the Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing such Junior Subordinated
Debentures. None of the Corporation, the Debenture Trustee, any Paying Agent, or
the Securities Registrar for such Junior Subordinated Debentures will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture representing such Junior Subordinated Debentures or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
ownership interests.
The Corporation expects that the Depositary for a series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of a permanent Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture representing any of such Junior Subordinated Debentures,
immediately will credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of
such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture for such Junior Subordinated
Debentures as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. The
Corporation also expects that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture held through such
Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of
such Participants.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Depositary for a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures is at any time
unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and the Corporation is
unable to locate a qualified successor, the Corporation will issue individual
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange for the Global Junior
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<PAGE> 45
Subordinated Debenture representing such series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures. In addition, the Corporation may at any time and in its sole
discretion, subject to any limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such Junior Subordinated Debentures, determine not to have any
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series represented by one or more Global
Junior Subordinated Debentures and, in such event, will issue certificated
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange for the Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture or Securities representing such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Further, if the Corporation so specifies with respect
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of a series, an owner of a beneficial
interest in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing Junior
Subordinated Debentures of such series may, on terms acceptable to the
Corporation, the Debenture Trustee and the Depositary for such Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture, receive certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of
such series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any
limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Junior
Subordinated Debentures. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest
in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture will be entitled to physical delivery
of certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series represented by such
Global Junior Subordinated Debenture equal in principal amount to such
beneficial interest and to have such Junior Subordinated Debentures registered
in its name. Individual Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series so issued
will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by the Corporation,
of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made at the office of the Debenture Trustee in the City of
Wilmington, Delaware or at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as
the Corporation may designate from time to time, except that at the option of
the Corporation payment of any interest may be made (i) except in the case of
Global Junior Subordinated Debentures, by check mailed to the address of the
Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the securities register
or (ii) by transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as
specified in the securities register, provided that proper transfer instructions
have been received by the Regular Record Date. Unless otherwise indicated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of any interest on Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made to the person in whose name such Junior Subordinated
Debenture is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for
such interest, except in the case of Defaulted Interest. The Corporation may at
any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any
paying agent; however, the Corporation will at all times be required to maintain
a paying agent in each place of payment for each series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
Any moneys deposited with the Debenture Trustee or any paying agent, or
then held by the Corporation in trust, for the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on any Junior Subordinated Debenture and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest
has become due and payable shall, at the request of the Corporation, be repaid
to the Corporation and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Debenture shall
thereafter look, as a general unsecured creditor, only to the Corporation for
payment thereof.
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will
have the right at any time and from time to time during the term of any series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures to defer payment of interest for up to such
number of consecutive interest payment periods as may be specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement (each, an "Extension Period"), subject to the
terms, conditions and covenants, if any, specified in such Prospectus
Supplement, provided that such Extension Period may not extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. Certain United States
Federal income tax consequences and special
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<PAGE> 46
considerations applicable to any such Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
REDEMPTION
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Junior
Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation may, at its option, redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures of any
series in whole at any time or in part from time to time. If the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series are so redeemable only on or after a
specified date or upon the satisfaction of additional conditions, the applicable
Prospectus Supplement will specify such date or describe such conditions. Junior
Subordinated Debentures in denominations larger than $25 may be redeemed in part
but only in integral multiples of $25. Except as otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, the redemption price for any Junior
Subordinated Debenture so redeemed shall equal any accrued and unpaid interest
(including Additional Interest) thereon to the redemption date, plus 100% of the
principal amount thereof. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve
that the Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the Junior
Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having received the
prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is then
required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Tax Event (as defined below) in respect of the Issuer of any Related Preferred
Securities or a Capital Treatment Event (as defined below) in respect of such
Related Preferred Securities shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation may,
at its option, redeem such series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures in whole (but not in part) at any time within 90 days following the
occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event, at a redemption price
equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Debentures
then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for
redemption, except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that the
Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having received the prior
approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is then required
under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by an Issuer of a series of Related Preferred
Securities of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced
proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or
as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date
of issuance of such Related Preferred Securities, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that (i) such Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the
date of such opinion, subject to United States Federal income tax with respect
to income received or accrued on the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on such Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or in part, for
United States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) such Issuer is, or will be
within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis
amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any rules or
regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision
thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or administrative
pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws,
rules or regulations, which amendment or
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<PAGE> 47
change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on
or after the date of issuance of the Preferred Securities, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat an amount
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities as "Tier 1
Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy
guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the
Corporation.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 45 days but not more than
75 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Corporation
defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date
interest shall cease to accrue on such Junior Subordinated Debentures or
portions thereof called for redemption.
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS
The Corporation will also covenant, as to each series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, that it will not, and will not permit any subsidiary of
the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Corporation's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Corporation (including other Junior Subordinated Debentures)
that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Corporation in connection with
any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for
the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Corporation (or securities
convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an
acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period,
(b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the
Corporation's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the
Corporation) for any class or series of the Corporation's capital stock or of
any class or series of the Corporation's indebtedness for any class or series of
the Corporation's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in
shares of the Corporation's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,
(d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights
plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's
rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e)
any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the
dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or
other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or
ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock), if at such time (i) there shall
have occurred any event of which the Corporation has actual knowledge that (a)
with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an
"Event of Default" under the Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures of such series and (b) in respect of which the Corporation shall not
have taken reasonable steps to cure, (ii) if such Junior Subordinated Debentures
are held by an Issuer of a series of Related Preferred Securities, the
Corporation shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations
under the Guarantee relating to such Related Preferred Securities or (iii) the
Corporation shall have given notice of its selection of an Extension Period as
provided in the Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of
such series and shall not have rescinded such notice, or such Extension Period,
or any extension thereof, shall be continuing.
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE
From time to time the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee may, without
the consent of the holders of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures,
amend, waive or supplement the Indenture for specified purposes, including,
among other things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies (provided
that any such action does not materially adversely affect the interest of
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the holders of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures or, in the case of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the holders of the Related
Preferred Securities so long as they remain outstanding) and qualifying, or
maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Corporation and the Debenture
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of each outstanding series of Junior Subordinated Debentures
affected, to modify the Indenture in a manner affecting adversely the rights of
the holders of such series of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in any material
respect; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture so affected, (i) change
the Stated Maturity of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures (except as
otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), or reduce the
principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of
interest thereon, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest
thereon, or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series, the holders of which are required to
consent to any such modification of the Indenture, provided that, in the case of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, so long as any of the Related
Preferred Securities remain outstanding, (a) no such modification may be made
that adversely affects the holders of such Related Preferred Securities in any
material respect, and no termination of the Indenture may occur, and no waiver
of any event of default or compliance with any covenant under the Indenture may
be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at least a majority of
the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Related Preferred Securities
affected unless and until the principal of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon have been paid in full
and certain other conditions have been satisfied and (b) where a consent under
the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, no such consent will be given by the Property Trustee
without the prior consent of each holder of Related Preferred Securities.
In addition, the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee may execute, without
the consent of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures, any supplemental
Indenture for the purpose of creating any new series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events with respect to a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures that has
occurred and is continuing constitutes a "Debenture Event of Default" with
respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures:
(i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, including any Additional Interest in respect
thereof, when due (subject to the deferral of any interest payment in the
case of an Extension Period); or
(ii) failure to pay any principal or premium, if any, on such series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures when due whether at maturity or upon
redemption; or
(iii) failure to observe or perform any other covenants contained in
the Indenture for 90 days after written notice to the Corporation from the
Debenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate outstanding
principal amount of such affected series of outstanding Junior Subordinated
Debentures; or
(iv) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
Corporation.
The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Debentures of each series affected have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the Debenture Trustee. The Debenture Trustee or the holders of not less than
25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures
of each series affected may declare the principal due and payable immediately
upon a Debenture Event of Default. In case a Debenture Event of Default shall
occur and be continuing as to
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a series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee
will have the right to declare the principal of and the interest on such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, and any other amounts payable
under the Indenture, to be forthwith due and payable and to enforce its other
rights as a creditor with respect to such Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures. In the case of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, should
the Debenture Trustee or the Property Trustee fail to make such declaration, the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities shall have such right. The Property Trustee may annul such
declaration and waive such default, provided all defaults have been cured and
all payment obligations have been made current. Should the Property Trustee fail
to annul such declaration and waive such default, the holders of a majority in
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred Securities shall have such
right.
The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of each
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby may, on behalf of the
holders of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series, waive any
default, except a default in the payment of principal or interest (including any
Additional Interest) (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to
pay all matured installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) and
principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the
Debenture Trustee) or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which
under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture of such series. In the
case of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the holders of a majority
in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred Securities shall have
such right to the extent permissible under applicable law. The Corporation is
required to file annually with the Debenture Trustee a certificate as to whether
or not the Corporation is in compliance with all the conditions and covenants
applicable to it under the Indenture.
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
If a Debenture Event of Default with respect to a series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures has occurred and is continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest or principal on
such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures on the date such interest or
principal is due and payable, a holder of Related Preferred Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation for enforcement of
payment to such holder of the principal of or interest (including any Additional
Interest) on such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related
Preferred Securities of such holder (a "Direct Action"). The Corporation may not
amend the Indenture to remove the foregoing right to bring a Direct Action
without the prior written consent of the holders of all of the Preferred
Securities outstanding. If the right to bring a Direct Action is removed, the
applicable Issuer may become subject to the reporting obligations under the
Exchange Act. The Corporation shall have the right under the Indenture to
set-off any payment made to such holder of Preferred Securities by the
Corporation in connection with a Direct Action.
The holders of the Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise
directly any remedies other than those set forth in the preceding paragraph
available to the holders of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
unless there shall have been an event of default under the Trust Agreement. See
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Events of Default; Notice".
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTION
The Indenture provides that the Corporation shall not consolidate with or
merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any person, and no person shall
consolidate with or merge into the Corporation or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Corporation, unless
(i) in case the Corporation consolidates with or merges into another person or
conveys or transfers its properties
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and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, the successor is
organized under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of
Columbia, and such successor expressly assumes the Corporation's obligations on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures issued under the Indenture; (ii) immediately
after giving effect thereto, no Debenture Event of Default, and no event which,
after notice or lapse of time or both, would become a Debenture Event of
Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and (iii) certain other
conditions as prescribed by the Indenture are met.
The general provisions of the Indenture do not afford holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other
transaction involving the Corporation that may adversely affect holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
The Indenture provides that when, among other things, all Junior
Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture Trustee for
cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable
at their Stated Maturity within one year, and the Corporation deposits or causes
to be deposited with the Debenture Trustee funds, in trust, for the purpose and
in an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture
Trustee for cancellation for the principal (and premium, if any) and interest
(including any Additional Interest) to the date of the deposit or to the Stated
Maturity, as the case may be, then the Indenture will cease to be of further
effect (except as to the Corporation's obligations to pay all other sums due
pursuant to the Indenture and to provide the officers' certificates and opinions
of counsel described therein), and the Corporation will be deemed to have
satisfied and discharged the Indenture.
CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE
If and to the extent indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series may be convertible or exchangeable
into Junior Subordinated Debentures of another series or into Preferred
Securities of another series. The specific terms on which Junior Subordinated
Debentures of any series may be so converted or exchanged will be set forth in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such terms may include provisions for
conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at the
option of the Corporation, in which case the number of shares of Preferred
Securities or other securities to be received by the holders of Junior
Subordinated Debentures would be calculated as of a time and in the manner
stated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
SUBORDINATION
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinate in right of payment,
to the extent set forth in the Indenture, to all Senior Debt (as defined below)
of the Corporation. If the Corporation defaults in the payment of any principal,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, or any other amount payable on any Senior
Debt when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date
fixed for redemption or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then,
unless and until such default has been cured or waived or has ceased to exist or
all Senior Debt has been paid, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property,
securities, by set-off or otherwise) may be made or agreed to be made on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, or in respect of any redemption, repayment,
retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
As used herein, "Senior Debt" means any obligation of the Corporation to
its creditors, whether now outstanding or subsequently incurred, other than any
obligation as to which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the obligation
or pursuant to which the obligation is outstanding, it is provided that such
obligation is not Senior Debt, but does not include trade accounts payable and
accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business. Senior Debt
includes the Corporation's
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outstanding subordinated debt securities and any subordinated debt securities
issued in the future with substantially similar subordination terms, but does
not include the Junior Subordinated Debentures of any Series or any junior
subordinated debt securities issued in the future with subordination terms
substantially similar to those of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Substantially all of the existing indebtedness of the Corporation constitutes
Senior Debt.
In the event of (i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating
to the Corporation, its creditors or its property, (ii) any proceeding for the
liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or
involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
(iii) any assignment by the Corporation for the benefit of creditors or (iv) any
other marshalling of the assets of the Corporation, all Senior Debt (including
any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings)
shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property, shall be made on account of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. In such event, any payment or distribution on account
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether in cash, securities or other
property, that would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable
or deliverable in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be paid or
delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt in accordance with the
priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt (including any
interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) has
been paid in full.
In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums
owing with respect to Senior Debt, the holders of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, together with the holders of any obligations of the Corporation
ranking on a parity with the Junior Subordinated Debentures, will be entitled to
be paid from the remaining assets of the Corporation the amounts at the time due
and owing on the Junior Subordinated Debentures and such other obligations
before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or
otherwise, will be made on account of any capital stock or obligations of the
Corporation ranking junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. If any payment
or distribution on account of the Junior Subordinated Debentures of any
character or any security, whether in cash, securities or other property is
received by any holder of any Junior Subordinated Debentures in contravention of
any of the terms hereof and before all the Senior Debt has been paid in full,
such payment or distribution or security will be received in trust for the
benefit of, and must be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders
of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities
then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior
Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt in
full. By reason of such subordination, in the event of the insolvency of the
Corporation, holders of Senior Debt may receive more, ratably, and holders of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures may receive less, ratably, than the other
creditors of the Corporation. Such subordination will not prevent the occurrence
of any Event of Default under the Indenture.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture places no limitation on the amount of
additional Senior Debt that may be incurred by the Corporation. The Corporation
expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior
Debt.
TRUST EXPENSES
Pursuant to the Expense Agreement for each series of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Corporation will irrevocably and unconditionally
agree with each Issuer that holds Junior Subordinated Debentures that the
Corporation will pay to such Issuer, and reimburse such Issuer for, the full
amounts of any costs, expenses or liabilities of the Issuer, other than
obligations of the Issuer to pay to the holders of any Preferred Securities or
other similar interests in the Issuer the amounts due such holders pursuant to
the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the
case may be. Such payment obligation will include any such costs, expenses or
liabilities of the Issuer that are required by applicable law to be satisfied in
connection with a termination of such Issuer.
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GOVERNING LAW
The Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE
The Debenture Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Debenture Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the
request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless offered
reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred thereby. The Debenture Trustee is not required to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of its duties if the Debenture Trustee reasonably believes that
repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
CORRESPONDING JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures may be issued in one or
more series of Junior Subordinated Debentures under the Indenture with terms
corresponding to the terms of a series of Related Preferred Securities. In that
event, concurrently with the issuance of each Issuer's Preferred Securities,
such Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof and the consideration paid by the
Corporation for the Common Securities of such Issuer in such series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation to such
Issuer. Each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be in
the principal amount equal to the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the
Related Preferred Securities and the Common Securities of such Issuer and will
rank pari passu with all other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. Holders
of the Related Preferred Securities will have the rights in connection with
modifications to the Indenture or upon occurrence of Debenture Events of
Default, as described under "-- Modification of Indenture" and "-- Debenture
Events of Default", unless provided otherwise in the Prospectus Supplement for
such Related Preferred Securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event shall occur and be continuing, the
Corporation may, at its option, redeem the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures at any time within 90 days of the occurrence of such Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the provisions of
the Indenture and whether or not such Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures are then otherwise redeemable at the option of the Corporation. The
redemption price for any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be
equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed
for redemption. For so long as the applicable Issuer is the holder of all the
outstanding Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the proceeds of any
such redemption will be used by the Issuer to redeem the corresponding Trust
Securities in accordance with their terms. The Corporation may not redeem a
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in part unless all
accrued and unpaid interest has been paid in full on all outstanding
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series for all interest
periods terminating on or prior to the Redemption Date. The Corporation has
committed to the Federal Reserve that the Corporation will not exercise its
right to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity
without having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if
such approval is then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital
guidelines or policies.
The Corporation will covenant in the Indenture, as to each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, that if and so long as (i) the
Issuer of the related series of Trust Securities is the holder of all such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of
such Issuer has occurred and is continuing and (iii) the Corporation has
elected, and
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has not revoked such election, to pay Additional Sums (as defined under
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Redemption or Exchange") in respect of
such Trust Securities, the Corporation will pay to such Issuer such Additional
Sums. The Corporation will also covenant, as to each series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, (i) to maintain directly or indirectly 100%
ownership of the Common Securities of the Issuer to which such Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures have been issued, provided that certain
successors which are permitted pursuant to the Indenture may succeed to the
Corporation's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) not to voluntarily
terminate, wind-up or liquidate any Issuer, except (a) in connection with a
distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of
the Preferred Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of such Issuer or
(b) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations
permitted by the related Trust Agreement, and (iii) to use its reasonable
efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the related Trust
Agreement, to cause such Issuer to be classified as a grantor trust and not as
an association taxable as a corporation for United States Federal income tax
purposes. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that the
Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having received the prior
approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is then required
under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement for each Issuer, the Issuer
Trustees on behalf of such Issuer will issue the Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities. The Preferred Securities of a particular Issuer will
represent preferred beneficial interests in the Issuer and the holders thereof
will be entitled to a preference in certain circumstances with respect to
Distributions and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation over the Common
Securities of such Issuer, as well as other benefits as described in the related
Trust Agreement. This summary of certain provisions of the Preferred Securities
and each Trust Agreement, which summarizes the material terms thereof, does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, all the provisions of each Trust Agreement, including the
definitions therein of certain terms, and the Trust Indenture Act, to which
reference is hereby made. Wherever particular defined terms of a Trust Agreement
(as amended or supplemented from time to time) are referred to herein or in a
Prospectus Supplement, such defined terms are incorporated herein or therein by
reference. The form of the Trust Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. Each of the
Issuers is a legally separate entity and the assets of one are not available to
satisfy the obligations of any of the others.
GENERAL
The Preferred Securities of an Issuer will rank pari passu, and payments
will be made thereon pro rata, with the Common Securities of that Issuer except
as described under "-- Subordination
of Common Securities". Legal title to the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be held by the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the
holders of the Related Preferred Securities and Common Securities. Each
Guarantee Agreement executed by the Corporation for the benefit of the holders
of an Issuer's Preferred Securities (the "Guarantee" for such Preferred
Securities) will be a guarantee on a subordinated basis with respect to such
Preferred Securities but will not guarantee payment of Distributions or amounts
payable on redemption or liquidation of such Preferred Securities when such
Issuer does not have funds on hand available to make such payments. See
"Description of Guarantees."
DISTRIBUTIONS
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be cumulative, will
accumulate from the date of original issuance (unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement) and will be payable on such dates as specified
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In the event that any date on which
Distributions are payable on the Preferred Securities is not a Business Day (as
defined below), payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on
the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or
other payment in respect to any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is
in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be made
on the immediately preceding Business Day, in either case with the same force
and effect as if made on such date (each date on which Distributions are payable
in accordance with the foregoing, a "Distribution Date"). A "Business Day" shall
mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which banking
institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or
executive order to remain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office of
the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
Each Issuer's Preferred Securities represent preferred beneficial interests
in the applicable Issuer, and the Distributions on each Preferred Security will
be payable at a rate specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement for such
Preferred Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any period will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Distributions to which
holders of Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional
Distributions at the rate per annum if and as specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. The term "Distributions" as used herein includes any such
additional Distributions unless otherwise stated.
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If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation has
the right under the Indenture, pursuant to which it will issue the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, to defer the payment of interest at any time or
from time to time on any series of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures for up to such number of consecutive interest payment periods which
will be specified in such Prospectus Supplement relating to such series (each,
an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. As a
consequence of any such deferral, Distributions on the Related Preferred
Securities would be deferred (but would continue to accumulate additional
Distributions thereon at the rate per annum set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement for such Preferred Securities) by the Issuer of such Related
Preferred Securities during any such Extension Period. During any such Extension
Period, the Corporation may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock or (ii) make any payment
of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or
redeem any debt securities of the Corporation that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of
shares of capital stock of the Corporation in connection with any employment
contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of
one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with
the issuance of capital stock of the Corporation (or securities convertible into
or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Corporation) for any
class or series of the Corporation's capital stock or of any class or series of
the Corporation's indebtedness for any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Corporation's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or
the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights
plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any
dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the
dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or
other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or
ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).
The revenue of each Issuer available for distribution to holders of its
Related Preferred Securities will be limited to payments under the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures in which the Issuer will invest the proceeds from
the issuance and sale of its Trust Securities. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures." If the
Corporation does not make interest payments on such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will not have funds available to
pay Distributions on the Related Preferred Securities. The payment of
Distributions (if and to the extent the Issuer has funds legally available for
the payment of such Distributions and cash sufficient to make such payments) is
guaranteed by the Corporation on a limited basis as set forth herein under
"Description of Guarantees".
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be payable to the holders
thereof as they appear on the register of such Issuer on the relevant record
dates, which, as long as the Preferred Securities remain in book-entry form,
will be one Business Day prior to the relevant Distribution Date. Subject to any
applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the applicable Trust
Agreement, each such payment will be made as described under "Book-Entry
Issuance." In the event any Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form, the
relevant record date for such Preferred Securities shall be the date at least 15
days prior to the relevant Distribution Date, as specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
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REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
Mandatory Redemption. Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in
part, of any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether at maturity
or upon earlier redemption as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such
repayment or redemption shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a
Like Amount (as defined below) of the Related Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a
redemption price (the "Redemption Price") equal to the aggregate Liquidation
Amount of such Trust Securities plus accumulated but unpaid Distributions
thereon to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Date") and the related amount
of the premium, if any, paid by the Corporation upon the concurrent redemption
of such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption". If less than all of any series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a
Redemption Date, then the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be
allocated to the redemption pro rata of the Related Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities. The amount of premium, if any, paid by the Corporation upon
the redemption of all or any part of any series of any Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date shall be
allocated to the redemption pro rata of the Related Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities.
The Corporation will have the right to redeem any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures (i) on or after such date as may be specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in whole at any time or in part from time
to time, (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), upon the occurrence of a
Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event or (iii) as may be otherwise specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Corporation has committed to the
Federal Reserve that the Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the
Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having
received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is
then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
Distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. The
Corporation has the right at any time to terminate any Issuer and, after
satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of such Issuer as provided by
applicable law, cause the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in
respect of the Related Preferred Securities and Common Securities issued by such
Issuer to be distributed to the holders of such Related Preferred Securities and
Common Securities in liquidation of the Issuer. The Corporation has committed to
the Federal Reserve that, so long as the Corporation (or any affiliate) is a
holder of Common Securities of an Issuer, the Corporation will not so terminate
such Issuer without having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to
do so, if such approval is then required under applicable Federal Reserve
capital guidelines or policies.
After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures for any series of Related Preferred Securities
(i) such series of Related Preferred Securities will no longer be deemed to be
outstanding, (ii) the depositary or its nominee, as the record holder of such
series of Related Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global
certificate or certificates representing the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates
representing such series of Related Preferred Securities not held by DTC or its
nominee will be deemed to represent the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures having a principal amount equal to the stated Liquidation Amount of
such series of Related Preferred Securities, and bearing accrued and unpaid
interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on such
series of Related Preferred Securities until such certificates are presented to
the Property Trustee or its agent for transfer or reissuance.
Any distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders
of Related Preferred Securities shall be made to the applicable recordholders
thereof as they appear on the register for such Related Preferred Securities on
the relevant record date, which shall be one Business Day prior to the
liquidation date; provided, however, that in the event that any Related
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Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant record date shall
be a date at least 15 days prior to the liquidation date, as specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Related Preferred
Securities or the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be
distributed in exchange for Related Preferred Securities if a dissolution and
liquidation of an Issuer were to occur. Accordingly, the Related Preferred
Securities that an investor may purchase, or the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures that the investor may receive on dissolution and
liquidation of an Issuer, may trade at a discount to the price that the investor
paid to purchase the Related Preferred Securities offered hereby.
Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event Redemption. If a Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event in respect of a series of Related Preferred Securities and
Common Securities shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation has the right
to redeem the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in
part) and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Related Preferred
Securities and Common Securities in whole (but not in part) at the Redemption
Price within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event. In the event a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event in respect
of a series of Related Preferred Securities and Common Securities has occurred
and is continuing and the Corporation does not elect to redeem the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such
Related Preferred Securities or to liquidate the related Issuer and cause the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of
such Related Preferred Securities and Common Securities in exchange therefor
upon liquidation of the Issuer as described above, such Related Preferred
Securities will remain outstanding and Additional Sums (as defined below) may be
payable on the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures.
"Additional Sums" means the additional amounts as may be necessary in order
that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by an Issuer on the
outstanding Preferred Securities and Common Securities of the Issuer shall not
be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental
charges to which such Issuer has become subject as a result of a Tax Event.
"Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any rules or
regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision
thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or administrative
pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws,
rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or such
pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance
of the Preferred Securities of an Issuer, there is more than an insubstantial
risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Preferred Securities as "Tier 1 Capital"
(or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines
of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Corporation.
"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of any series of Trust
Securities, Trust Securities of such series having a Liquidation Amount (as
defined below) equal to the principal amount of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the
Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of
such Trust Securities, and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of any series of Trust Securities in
connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the related Issuer,
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities in respect of which such
distribution is made.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount per Trust Security of $1,000
(or such other stated amount as is set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement).
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"Tax Event" with respect to an Issuer of a series of Related Preferred
Securities means the receipt by such Issuer of an opinion of counsel experienced
in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative
pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or
decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of such Related Preferred
Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) such Issuer is, or
will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States
Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the
Corporation on such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures is not, or
within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the
Corporation, in whole or in part, for United States Federal income tax purposes,
or (iii) such Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.
Possible Tax Law Changes. On February 6, 1997, the revenue portion of
President Clinton's 1997 budget (the "Budget Proposal") was released. If
enacted, the Budget Proposal would generally deny interest deductions for
interest on an instrument issued by a corporation that has a maximum term of
more than 15 years and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance
sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other
than a corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a
related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's
consolidated balance sheet. The above described provision of the Budget Proposal
is proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after the
date of first Congressional committee action. If a similar provision were to
apply to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Corporation would be unable to
deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Under current law, the
Corporation will be able to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. There can be no assurance, however, that current or future
legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the
Corporation to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Such a
change could give rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to cause
a redemption of the Preferred Securities, as described more fully under
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Redemptions".
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
Related Preferred Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the
contemporaneous redemption of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Redemptions of the Preferred Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price
shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the related
Issuer has funds on hand available for the payment of such Redemption Price. See
also "-- Subordination of Common Securities".
If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of
Preferred Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption
Date, to the extent funds are available, the Property Trustee will deposit
irrevocably with DTC funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and
will give DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price
to the holders of such Preferred Securities. See "Book-Entry Issuance". If such
Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry form, the Property Trustee, to
the extent funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent
for such Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption
Price and will give such paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to
pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their
certificates evidencing such Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any
Preferred Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the holders of
such Preferred Securities on the relevant record dates for the related
Distribution Dates. If notice
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of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon
the date of such deposit, all rights of the holders of such Preferred Securities
so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of such
Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution
payable in respect of the Preferred Securities on or prior to the Redemption
Date, but without interest on such Redemption Price, and such Preferred
Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date fixed for
redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of
any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar
year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in
each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event
that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Preferred Securities called
for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the
Issuer or by the Corporation pursuant to the Guarantee as described under
"Description of Guarantees", Distributions on such Preferred Securities will
continue to accrue at the then applicable rate from the Redemption Date
originally established by the Issuer for such Preferred Securities to the date
such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date
will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption
Price.
Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
Federal securities law), the Corporation or its subsidiaries may at any time and
from time to time purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the
open market or by private agreement.
Payment of the Redemption Price on the Related Preferred Securities shall
be made to the applicable recordholders thereof as they appear on the register
for such Related Preferred Securities on the relevant record date, which shall
be one Business Day prior to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that in the
event that any Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant
record date shall be a date at least 15 days prior to the Redemption Date, as
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If less than all of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities issued
by an Issuer are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such Preferred Securities and Common Securities to be
redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The
particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata
basis not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee
from the outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption,
by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which
may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $1,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless a different amount is
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement) of the Liquidation Amount of
Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000 (or such other
denomination as is specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement). The
Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities registrar in writing of
the Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any
Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount
thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of each Trust Agreement, unless the
context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of
Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities
redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Trust Securities to be
redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Corporation defaults in payment
of the Redemption Price on the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, on
and after the Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures or portions thereof (and
Distributions will cease to accrue on the Related Preferred Securities or
portions thereof) called for redemption.
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SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, each Issuer's
Preferred Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro
rata based on the liquidation amount of such Preferred Securities and Common
Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date, Redemption Date
or liquidation date a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing as a result of any failure by the Corporation to pay any amounts in
respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures when due, no payment of any
Distribution on, or Redemption Price of, or Liquidation Distribution in respect
of, any of the Issuer's Common Securities, and no other payment on account of
the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of such Common Securities,
shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid
Distributions on all of the Issuer's outstanding Preferred Securities for all
Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment
of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all of the
Issuer's outstanding Preferred Securities then called for redemption, or in the
case of payment of the Liquidation Distribution the full amount of such
Liquidation Distribution on all Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have
been made or provided for, and all funds available to the Property Trustee shall
first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or
Redemption Price of, the Issuer's Preferred Securities then due and payable.
In the case of any event of default under the applicable Trust Agreement
resulting from a Debenture Event of Default, the Corporation as holder of such
Issuer's Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with
respect to any such Event of Default under the applicable Trust Agreement until
the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to such Preferred
Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any such
Events of Default under the applicable Trust Agreement with respect to the
Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the holders of such Preferred
Securities and not on behalf of the Corporation as holder of the Issuer's Common
Securities, and only the holders of such Preferred Securities will have the
right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION
Pursuant to each Trust Agreement, each Issuer shall automatically terminate
upon expiration of its term and shall terminate on the first to occur of: (i)
certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation;
(ii) the distribution of a Like Amount of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures to the holders of its Trust Securities, if the Corporation, as
Depositor, has given written direction to the Property Trustee to terminate such
Issuer; (iii) redemption of all of the Issuer's Preferred Securities as
described under "-- Redemption or Exchange"; and (iv) the entry of an order for
the dissolution of the Issuer by a court of competent jurisdiction.
If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv)
above, the Issuer shall be liquidated by the Issuer Trustees as expeditiously as
the Issuer Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors of such Issuer as provided by applicable law, to the
holders of such Trust Securities in exchange therefor a Like Amount of the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless such distribution is
determined by the Administrative Trustees not to be practical, in which event
such holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Issuer
available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of such Issuer as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to, in
the case of holders of Preferred Securities, the aggregate of the Liquidation
Amount plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment
(such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation
Distribution can be paid only in part because such Issuer has insufficient
assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the
amounts payable directly by such Issuer on its Preferred Securities shall be
paid on a pro rata basis. The holder(s) of such Issuer's Common Securities will
be entitled to receive distributions upon any such liquidation pro rata with the
holders of its Preferred Securities, except that if a Debenture Event of Default
has occurred and is
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continuing as a result of any failure by the Corporation to pay any amounts in
respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures when due, the Preferred Securities
shall have a priority over the Common Securities.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under
each Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities issued thereunder
(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):
(i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default under the Indenture
(see "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Debenture Events of
Default"); or
(ii) default by the Issuer in the payment of any Distribution when it
becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of
30 days; or
(iii) default by the Issuer in the payment of any Redemption Price of
any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(iv) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect,
of any covenant or warranty of the Issuer Trustees in such Trust Agreement
(other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or
the breach of which is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above), and
continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there
has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the defaulting Issuer
Trustee or Trustees by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation
Amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities of the applicable Issuer, a
written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" under such
Trust Agreement; or
(v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
respect to the Property Trustee and the failure by the Corporation to
appoint a successor Property Trustee within 90 days thereof.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of such Issuer's Preferred
Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation, as Depositor,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. The Corporation,
as Depositor, and the Administrative Trustees are required to file annually with
the Property Trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance
with all the conditions and covenants applicable to them under each Trust
Agreement.
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities as
described above. See "-- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination." The
existence of an Event of Default does not entitle the holders of Preferred
Securities to accelerate the maturity thereof.
REMOVAL OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
any Issuer Trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the Common
Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed at such time by the
holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Preferred
Securities. In no event will the holders of the Preferred Securities have the
right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrative Trustees, which
voting rights are vested exclusively in the Corporation as the holder of the
Common Securities. No resignation or removal of an Issuer Trustee and no
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appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective until the acceptance of
appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the
applicable Trust Agreement.
CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any
time or from time to time, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of
the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust
Property may at the time be located, the Corporation, as the holder of the
Common Securities, and the Administrative Trustees shall have power to appoint
one or more persons either to act as a co-trustee, jointly with the Property
Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate
trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided
in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or persons in such
capacity any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable,
subject to the provisions of the applicable Trust Agreement. In case a Debenture
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone
shall have power to make such appointment.
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
Any person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee shall be a party, or any
person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of
such Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee under each Trust Agreement,
provided such person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible.
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE ISSUERS
An Issuer may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other person, except as
described below. An Issuer may, at the request of the Corporation, with the
consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of
the Preferred Securities, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State;
provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the
obligations of such Issuer with respect to the Preferred Securities or (b)
substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially
the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long
as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities in
priority with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption
and otherwise, (ii) the Corporation expressly appoints a trustee of such
successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee
as the holder of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (iii) the
Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon
notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other
organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any, (iv)
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease does not cause the Preferred Securities to be downgraded by any nationally
recognized statistical rating organization which assigns ratings to the
Preferred Securities, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of the Preferred Securities (including any
Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a
purpose identical to that of the Issuer, (vii) prior to such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the
Corporation has received an opinion from independent counsel to the Issuer
experienced in such matters to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Preferred
Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (b)
following such
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merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease,
neither the Issuer nor such successor entity will be required to register as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Investment Company Act"), and (viii) the Corporation or any permitted successor
or assignee owns all of the Common Securities of such successor entity and
guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor
Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an Issuer shall not, except with the consent of holders of 100% in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge
with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other
entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such
consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease
would cause the Issuer or the successor entity to be classified as an
association taxable as a corporation or as other than a grantor trust for United
States Federal income tax purposes.
VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF EACH TRUST AGREEMENT
Except as provided below and under "Description of Guarantees -- Amendments
and Assignment" and as otherwise required by law and the applicable Trust
Agreement, the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights.
Each Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Corporation,
the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the consent of the
holders of the Preferred Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or
supplement any provisions in such Trust Agreement that may be inconsistent with
any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under such Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent
with the other provisions of such Trust Agreement, or (ii) to modify, eliminate
or add to any provisions of such Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be
necessary to ensure that the Issuer will be classified for United States Federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust or as other than an association taxable
as a corporation at all times that any Trust Securities are outstanding or to
ensure that the Issuer will not be required to register as an "investment
company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that in the case
of either clause (i) or clause (ii), such action shall not adversely affect in
any material respect the interests of any holder of Preferred Securities, and
any amendments of such Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice
thereof is given to the holders of Trust Securities. Each Trust Agreement may be
amended by the Issuer Trustees and the Corporation with (i) the consent of
holders representing not less than a majority (based upon Liquidation Amounts)
of the outstanding Trust Securities, and (ii) receipt by the Issuer Trustees of
an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any
power granted to the Issuer Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not
cause the Issuer to be taxable as a corporation or affect the Issuer's status as
a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes or the Issuer's
exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act, provided that without the consent of each holder of Trust Securities, such
Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any
Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of
any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a
specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
So long as any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the
Property Trustee, the Issuer Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture
Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with
respect to such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive any
past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or
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such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, where such consent shall be
required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of
a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Preferred
Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would
require the consent of each holder of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property
Trustee without the prior consent of each holder of the corresponding Preferred
Securities. The Issuer Trustees shall not revoke any action previously
authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities
except by subsequent vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The
Property Trustee shall notify each holder of Preferred Securities of any notice
of default with respect to the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. In
addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the holders of the Preferred
Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Issuer Trustees
shall obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that the Issuer will not be classified as an association taxable as a
corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes on account of such
action and such action would not cause the Issuer to be classified as other than
a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
Any required approval of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a
meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant
to written consent. The Administrative Trustees, or at the written request of
the Administrative Trustees the Property Trustee will cause a notice of any
meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any
matter upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to
be given to each holder of record of Preferred Securities in the manner set
forth in each Trust Agreement.
No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred Securities will be required
for an Issuer to redeem and cancel its Preferred Securities in accordance with
the applicable Trust Agreement.
Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote
or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred
Securities that are owned by the Corporation, the Issuer Trustees or any
affiliate of the Corporation or any Issuer Trustees, shall, for purposes of such
vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
GLOBAL PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Preferred Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in
the form of one or more Global Preferred Securities that will be deposited with,
or on behalf of, the Depositary identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Depositary will be DTC. Global Preferred Securities may be
issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary or permanent form.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual
Preferred Securities represented thereby, a Global Preferred Security may not be
transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global Preferred
Security to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to
such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or
any nominee to a successor Depositary or any nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Preferred Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. The Corporation anticipates that the following provisions will
generally apply to depositary arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Global Preferred Security, and the deposit of such
Global Preferred Security with or on behalf of the Depositary, the Depositary
for such Global Preferred Security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry
registration and transfer system, the respective aggregate Liquidation Amounts
of the individual Preferred Securities represented by such Global Preferred
Securities to the accounts of Participants. Such accounts shall be designated by
the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to such Preferred Securities or
by the Corporation if such Preferred Securities are offered and sold directly by
the Corporation. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Preferred
Security will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold
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interests through Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global
Preferred Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be
effected only through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its
nominee (with respect to interests of Participants) and the records of
Participants (with respect to interests of persons who hold through
Participants). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of
securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such
limits and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in
a Global Preferred Security.
So long as the Depositary for a Global Preferred Security, or its nominee,
is the registered owner of such Global Preferred Security, such Depositary or
such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the Preferred Securities represented by such Global Preferred Security for all
purposes under the related Trust Agreement. Except as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security will not be entitled to have
any of the individual Preferred Securities of the series represented by such
Global Preferred Security registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of any such Preferred Securities of such
series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders
thereof under the related Trust Agreement.
Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on individual
Preferred Securities represented by a Global Preferred Security registered in
the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Preferred
Security representing such Preferred Securities. None of the Corporation, the
Property Trustee, any Paying Agent, or the Securities Registrar for such
Preferred Securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of
the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests of the Global Preferred Security representing such Preferred
Securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.
The Corporation expects that the Depositary for a series of Preferred
Securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of Liquidation Amount,
premium or Distributions, including any payment of Redemption Price, in respect
of a Global Preferred Security representing any of such Preferred Securities
immediately will credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such Global Preferred Security for such Preferred
Securities as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. The
Corporation also expects that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Preferred Security held through such Participants will
be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered
in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Depositary for a series of Preferred Securities is at any time unwilling, unable
or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Issuer within 90 days, or if there shall have occurred and be
continuing a Debenture Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Issuer will issue individual
Preferred Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Preferred
Security representing such series of Preferred Securities. In addition, the
Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Preferred Securities,
determine not to have any Preferred Securities of such series represented by one
or more Global Preferred Securities and, in such event, will issue individual
Preferred Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Preferred
Security representing such series of Preferred Securities. Further, if the
Issuer so specifies with respect to the Preferred Securities of a series, an
owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Security representing
Preferred Securities of such series may, on terms acceptable to the Issuer, the
Property Trustee and the Depositary for such Global Preferred Security, receive
individual Preferred Securities of such series in exchange for such beneficial
interests, subject to
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any limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
Preferred Securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in
a Global Preferred Security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual
Preferred Securities of the series represented by such Global Preferred Security
equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Preferred
Securities registered in its name. Individual Preferred Securities of such
series so issued will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by
the Issuer, and integral multiples thereof that are the same as the
denominations and multiples in which the Preferred Securities are issued.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY
Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made to the
Depositary, which shall credit the relevant accounts at the Depositary on the
applicable Distribution Dates or, if any Issuer's Preferred Securities are not
held by the Depositary, such payments shall be made by check mailed to the
address of the holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
Register. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the paying agent (the "Paying Agent") shall initially be the Property Trustee
and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the
Administrative Trustees and the Corporation. The Paying Agent shall be permitted
to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Property Trustee
and the Corporation. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be
the Paying Agent, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor (which
shall be a bank or trust company acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and
the Corporation) to act as Paying Agent.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the Preferred
Securities.
Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of each Issuer, but upon payment of any tax or other
governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or
exchange. The Issuers will not be required to register or cause to be registered
the transfer of their Preferred Securities after such Preferred Securities have
been called for redemption.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
The Property Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
an Event of Default, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically
set forth in each Trust Agreement and, after such Event of Default, must
exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or
use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the
Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in
it by the applicable Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Preferred
Securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities that might be incurred thereby. If no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and the Property Trustee is required to decide
between alternative causes of action, construe ambiguous provisions in the
applicable Trust Agreement or is unsure of the application of any provision of
the applicable Trust Agreement, and the matter is not one on which holders of
Preferred Securities are entitled under such Trust Agreement to vote, then the
Property Trustee shall take such action as is directed by the Corporation and if
not so directed, shall take such action as it deems advisable and in the best
interests of the holders of the Trust Securities and will have no liability
except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Issuer Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of
and to operate the Issuers in such a way that no Issuer will be deemed to be an
"investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act
or classified as an association taxable as a
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corporation or as other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income
tax purposes and so that the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will
be treated as indebtedness of the Corporation for United States Federal income
tax purposes. In this connection, the Corporation and the Issuer Trustees are
authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the
certificate of trust of each Issuer or each Trust Agreement, that the
Corporation and the Issuer Trustees determine in their discretion to be
necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the related
Preferred Securities.
Holders of the Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
No Issuer may borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of its
assets.
BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE
DTC will act as securities depositary for all of the Preferred Securities
and the Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless otherwise referred to in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Preferred Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures. The Preferred Securities and the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be issued only as fully-registered securities registered in the
name of Cede & Co. (DTC's nominee). One or more fully-registered global
certificates will be issued for the Preferred Securities of each Issuer and the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, representing in the aggregate the total number
of such Issuer's Preferred Securities or aggregate principal balance of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, respectively, and will be deposited with DTC.
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds securities that its Participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates
the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers
and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry
changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of securities certificates. "Direct Participants" include securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain
other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is
also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies that clear through or maintain custodial relationships with Direct
Participants, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules
applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
Purchases of Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures within
the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will
receive a credit for the Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures
on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each
Preferred Security and each Junior Subordinated Debenture ("Beneficial Owner")
is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants' records.
Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their
purchases, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations
providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their
holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial
Owners purchased Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Transfers of ownership interests in the Preferred Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of
Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not
receive certificates representing their ownership interests in Preferred
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures, except in the event that use of
the book-entry system for the Preferred Securities of such Issuer or Junior
Subordinated Debentures is discontinued.
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DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Preferred
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures; DTC's records reflect only the
identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Preferred Securities
or Junior Subordinated Debentures are credited, which may or may not be the
Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account
of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners and the voting
rights of Direct Participants, Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners will
be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. as the registered holder of
the Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. If less than all of
an Issuer's Preferred Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures are being
redeemed, DTC's current practice is to determine by lot the amount of the
interest of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.
Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures is limited to the holders of record of the Preferred
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures, in those instances in which a vote
is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect
to Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. Under its usual
procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy (the "Omnibus Proxy") to the
relevant Trustee as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy
assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to
whose accounts such Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures are
credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).
Distribution payments on the Preferred Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be made by the relevant Trustee to DTC. DTC's
practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment date
in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC
has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such payment date.
Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such
Participant and not of DTC, the relevant Trustee, the Issuer thereof or the
Corporation, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Payment of Distributions to DTC is the responsibility
of the relevant Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is
the responsibility of DTC, and disbursements of such payments to the Beneficial
Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to any of the Preferred Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures
at any time by giving reasonable notice to the relevant Trustee and the
Corporation. In the event that a successor securities depositary is not
obtained, definitive Preferred Security or Junior Subordinated Debenture
certificates representing such Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures are required to be printed and delivered. The Corporation, at its
option, may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers
through DTC (or a successor depositary). After a Debenture Event of Default, the
holders of a majority in liquidation preference of Preferred Securities or
aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures may determine to
discontinue the system of book-entry transfers through DTC. In any such event,
definitive certificates for such Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be printed and delivered.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Issuers and the Corporation believe to
be accurate, but the Issuers and the Corporation assume no responsibility for
the accuracy thereof. Neither the Issuers nor the Corporation has any
responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Participants of their
respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures
governing their respective operations.
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DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES
A Guarantee will be executed and delivered by the Corporation concurrently
with the issuance by each Issuer of its Preferred Securities for the benefit of
the holders from time to time of such Preferred Securities. Wilmington Trust
Company will act as indenture trustee ("Guarantee Trustee") under each Guarantee
for the purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act and each Guarantee
will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. This summary of
certain provisions of the Guarantees, which summarizes the material terms
thereof, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its
entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of each Guarantee, including the
definitions therein of certain terms, and the Trust Indenture Act, to each of
which reference is hereby made. The form of the Guarantee has been filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
Reference in this summary to Preferred Securities means that Issuer's Preferred
Securities to which a Guarantee relates. The Guarantee Trustee will hold each
Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the related Issuer's Preferred
Securities.
GENERAL
The Corporation will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated
basis, to the extent set forth herein, the Guarantee Payments (as defined below)
to the holders of the Preferred Securities, as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that such Issuer may have or assert
other than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the
Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the related
Issuer (the "Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the Guarantee: (i) any
accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on such Preferred
Securities, to the extent that such Issuer has funds on hand available therefor
at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any Preferred Securities
called for redemption, to the extent that such Issuer has funds on hand
available therefor at such time, or (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding up or liquidation of such Issuer (unless the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of such Preferred
Securities in exchange therefor), the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution
and (b) the amount of assets of such Issuer remaining available for distribution
to holders of Preferred Securities after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of such Issuer as required by applicable law. The Corporation's
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the
required amounts by the Corporation to the holders of the applicable Preferred
Securities or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to such holders.
Each Guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a subordinated basis of
the related Issuer's obligations under the Preferred Securities, but will apply
only to the extent that such related Issuer has funds sufficient to make such
payments, and is not a guarantee of collection.
If the Corporation does not make interest payments on the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Issuer, the Issuer will not be able
to pay Distributions on the Related Preferred Securities and will not have funds
legally available therefor. Each Guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation. See "-- Status of the
Guarantees". Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right of the
Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon
such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the
prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the
Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the Corporation's obligations under the Guarantees will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
Corporation's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the
Corporation for payments thereunder. See "The Corporation." Except as otherwise
provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Guarantees do not limit
the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the
Corporation, including Senior Debt, whether under the Indenture, any other
existing indenture or any other indenture that the Corporation may enter into in
the future
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<PAGE> 70
or otherwise. See the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering
of Preferred Securities.
The Corporation has, through the applicable Guarantee, the applicable Trust
Agreement, the applicable series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Indenture and the applicable Expense Agreement, taken together,
fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of the Issuer's
obligations under the Related Preferred Securities. No single document standing
alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents
constitutes such guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents
that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee
of the Issuer's obligations under the Related Preferred Securities. See
"Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Expense Agreements and the Guarantees."
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEES
Each Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Corporation
and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of
the Corporation in the same manner as Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Each Guarantee will rank pari passu with all other Guarantees issued by the
Corporation. Each Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection (i.e., the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). Each
Guarantee will be held for the benefit of the holders of the Related Preferred
Securities. Each Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the
Guarantee Payments in full to the extent not paid by the Issuer or upon
distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities of the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures. None of the Guarantees places a limitation on
the amount of additional Senior Debt that may be incurred by the Corporation.
The Corporation expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness
constituting Senior Debt.
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the related Preferred Securities (in which case no vote
will be required), no Guarantee may be amended without the prior approval of the
holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such
outstanding Preferred Securities. The manner of obtaining any such approval will
be as set forth under "Description of Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights;
Amendment of Each Trust Agreement." All guarantees and agreements contained in
each Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the holders
of the related Preferred Securities then outstanding.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under each Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Corporation to perform any of its payment obligations thereunder or to perform
any non-payment obligations if such non-payment default remains unremedied for
30 days. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount
of the related Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee in respect of such Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or
power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under such Guarantee.
Any holder of the Preferred Securities may, to the extent permissible under
applicable law, institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation to
enforce its rights under such Guarantee without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or
entity.
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<PAGE> 71
The Corporation, as guarantor, is required to file annually with the
Guarantee Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Corporation is in
compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the
Guarantee.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantee Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
a default by the Corporation in performance of any Guarantee, undertakes to
perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in each Guarantee and,
after default with respect to any Guarantee, must exercise the same degree of
care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his
or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Guarantee Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by any Guarantee at the
request of any holder of any Preferred Securities unless it is offered
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred thereby.
TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEES
Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
full payment of the Redemption Price of the related Preferred Securities, upon
full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the related Issuer or
upon distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders
of the Related Preferred Securities in exchange therefor. Each Guarantee will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any holder of the related Preferred Securities must restore payment of any
sums paid under such Preferred Securities or such Guarantee.
GOVERNING LAW
Each Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
THE EXPENSE AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the Expense Agreement entered into by the Corporation under
each Trust Agreement (the "Expense Agreement"), the Corporation will irrevocably
and unconditionally guarantee to each Person or entity to whom the Issuer
becomes indebted or liable, the full payment of any costs, expenses or
liabilities of the Issuer, other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to the
holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Issuer of
the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities
or such other similar interests, as the case may be. The Expense Agreement will
be enforceable by third parties.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE CORRESPONDING
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES, THE EXPENSE AGREEMENTS
AND THE GUARANTEES
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Preferred Securities
(to the extent the Issuer has funds available for the payment of such
Distributions) are irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation as and to the
extent set forth under "Description of Guarantees." Taken together, the
Corporation's obligations under each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Indenture, the related Trust Agreement, the related Expense
Agreement, and the related Guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of Distributions and other
amounts due on the Related Preferred Securities. No single document standing
alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents
constitutes such guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents
that has the effect of providing a
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<PAGE> 72
full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Issuer's obligations under
the Related Preferred Securities. If and to the extent that the Corporation does
not make payments on any series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures,
such Issuer will not pay Distributions or other amounts due on its Related
Preferred Securities. The Guarantees do not cover payment of Distributions when
the related Issuer does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In
such event, the remedy of a holder of a series of Related Preferred Securities
is to institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation pursuant to
the terms of the Indenture for enforcement of payment of amounts of such
Distributions to such holder. The obligations of the Corporation under each
Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of
the Corporation.
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on
each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, such payments will
be sufficient to cover Distributions and other payments due on the Related
Preferred Securities, primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount of
each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be equal to the
sum of the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities and Common Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and other
payment dates on each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
will match the Distribution rate and Distribution and other payment dates for
the Related Preferred Securities; (iii) the Corporation shall pay for all and
any costs, expenses and liabilities of such Issuer except the Issuer's
obligations to holders of its Preferred Securities under such Preferred
Securities; and (iv) each Trust Agreement provides that the Issuer will not
engage in any activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of such
Issuer.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, the Corporation
has the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise required to make thereunder
with and to the extent the Corporation has theretofore made, or is concurrently
on the date of such payment making, a payment under the related Guarantee.
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
A holder of any Preferred Security may, to the extent permissible under
applicable law, institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation to
enforce its rights under the related Guarantee without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the related Issuer or any other person
or entity.
A default or event of default under any Senior Debt of the Corporation
would not constitute a default or Debenture Event of Default under the
Indenture. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of,
Senior Debt of the Corporation, the subordination provisions of the Indenture
provide that no payments may be made in respect of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures until such Senior Debt has been paid in full or any payment default
thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make required payments on any
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures would constitute a Debenture Event of
Default under the Indenture.
LIMITED PURPOSE OF ISSUERS
Each Issuer's Preferred Securities evidence a beneficial interest in such
Issuer, and each Issuer exists for the sole purpose of issuing its Preferred
Securities and Common Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in Junior
Subordinated Debentures. A principal difference between the rights of a holder
of a Preferred Security and a holder of a Junior Subordinated Debenture is that
a holder of a Junior Subordinated Debenture is entitled to receive from the
Corporation the principal amount of and interest accrued on Junior Subordinated
Debentures held, while a holder of Preferred Securities is entitled to receive
Distributions from such Issuer (or from the Corporation under the
40
<PAGE> 73
applicable Guarantee) if and to the extent such Issuer has funds available for
the payment of such Distributions.
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of
any Issuer involving the liquidation of the Company, the holders of the Related
Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive, out of the assets held by such
Issuer, the Liquidation Distribution in cash. See "Description of Preferred
Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination." Upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the Corporation, the Property Trustee,
as holder of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, would be a
subordinated creditor of the Corporation, subordinated in right of payment to
all Senior Debt as set forth in the Indenture, but entitled to receive payment
in full of principal and interest, before any stockholders of the Corporation
receive payments or distributions. Since the Corporation is the guarantor under
each Guarantee and has agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of
each Issuer (other than the Issuer's obligations to the holders of its Preferred
Securities), the positions of a holder of such Preferred Securities and a holder
of such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures relative to other creditors
and to stockholders of the Corporation in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy
of the Corporation are expected to be substantially the same.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Junior Subordinated Debentures or the Preferred Securities may be sold
in a public offering to or through underwriters or dealers designated from time
to time. The Corporation and each Issuer may sell its Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities as soon as practicable after effectiveness of
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The names of
any underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered, the amount or number of Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred
Securities to be purchased by any such underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
Underwriters may offer and sell Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or 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. In connection with the sale of
Preferred Securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation
from the Corporation and/or the applicable Issuer in the form of underwriting
discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions. Underwriters may sell
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities to or through dealers,
and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions
or commissions from the underwriters.
Any underwriting compensation paid by the Corporation and/or the applicable
Issuer to underwriters in connection with the offering of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities, and any discounts, concessions or
commissions allowed by such underwriters to participating dealers, will be
described in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters and dealers
participating in the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions
received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of such Junior
Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities may be deemed to be underwriting
discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. Underwriters and dealers
may be entitled, under agreement with the Corporation and the applicable Issuer,
to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimbursement by the
Corporation for certain expenses.
In connection with the offering of the Preferred Securities of any Issuer,
such Issuer may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional
Preferred Securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial public
offering price (with an additional underwriting commission), as may be set
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<PAGE> 74
forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement. If such Issuer grants any
over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement for such Preferred Securities.
Underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, the Corporation and/or the applicable Issuer and/or any of their
affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Preferred Securities will be new
issues of securities and will have no established trading market. Any
underwriters to whom Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities are
sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Junior Subordinated
Debentures and Preferred Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated
to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities may or may not be listed
on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market. No assurance
can be given as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, certain
matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred Securities,
the enforceability of the Trust Agreements and the formation of the Issuers will
be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware counsel to the
Corporation and the Issuers. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, the validity of the Guarantees and the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be passed upon for the Corporation by Paul L.
Reynolds, Counsel, Fifth Third Bancorp, and for the Underwriters by Sullivan &
Cromwell. Paul L. Reynolds will rely as to all matters of New York law on the
opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, and Sullivan & Cromwell will rely as to all
matters of Ohio law upon the opinion of Paul L. Reynolds. Certain matters
relating to United States Federal income tax considerations will be passed upon
for the Corporation by Sullivan & Cromwell, as special tax counsel.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by
reference from the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
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.
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======================================================
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE
PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE
PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT 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 SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY
IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE CORPORATION
SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT ----
<S> <C>
Risk Factors......................... S-5
Fifth Third Capital Trust I.......... S-10
The Corporation...................... S-10
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
of Fifth Third Bancorp............. S-12
Use of Proceeds...................... S-13
Capitalization....................... S-14
Accounting Treatment................. S-15
Certain Terms of Series A
Capital Securities................. S-15
Certain Terms of Series A
Subordinated Debentures............ S-20
Certain Terms of Series A
Guarantee.......................... S-23
ERISA Considerations................. S-24
Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences....................... S-26
Underwriting......................... S-30
Validity of Securities............... S-31
PROSPECTUS
Available Information................ 4
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference.......................... 4
The Corporation...................... 6
Supervision and Regulation........... 6
The Issuers.......................... 7
Use of Proceeds...................... 8
Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures......................... 9
Description of Preferred
Securities......................... 22
Book-Entry Issuance.................. 35
Description of Guarantees............ 37
Relationship Among the Preferred
Securities, the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
Expense Agreements and the
Guarantees......................... 39
Plan of Distribution................. 41
Validity of Securities............... 42
Experts.............................. 42
</TABLE>
======================================================
======================================================
$200,000,000
FIFTH THIRD
CAPITAL TRUST I
CAPITAL SECURITIES, SERIES A
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED,
AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
------------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
------------------
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
J.P. MORGAN & CO.
SMITH BARNEY INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
UBS SECURITIES
======================================================
<PAGE> 76
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Registration fee under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended......... $ 60,606.06
Blue Sky fees and expenses (including counsel fees)................... 5,000
Fees of rating agencies............................................... 130,000
Trustees' fees and expenses........................................... 10,000
Printing and engraving................................................ 55,000
Accounting services................................................... 15,000
Legal fees of Registrant's counsel.................................... 12,500
Miscellaneous......................................................... 20,000
------------
Total....................................................... $ 308,106.06
============
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") may be permitted to directors,
officers and controlling persons of the Corporation pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Corporation has been advised that in the opinion
of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Corporation of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Corporation in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Corporation 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 such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Section 1701.13 of the Ohio Revised Code provides that a corporation may
indemnify or agree to 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,
other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the
fact that he 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, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, domestic
or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against expenses, including attorney's fees, judgments, fines, and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner
he 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 conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon
a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding that he had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Section 1701.13
further specifies that a corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any
threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he 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, trustee, officer,
employee, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for
profit, partnership,
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<PAGE> 77
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys'
fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue, or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be
liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the
corporation unless, and only to the extent that the court of common pleas, or
the court in which such action or suit was brought, determines upon application
that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses as the court of common pleas or such other court
shall deem proper. In addition, Section 1701.13 requires a corporation to pay
any expenses, including attorneys' fees, of a director in defending an action,
suit or proceeding referred to above as they are incurred, in advance of the
final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the director in which he agrees to both (i) repay
such amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence that his action or
failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to
cause injury to the corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard for the
best interests of the corporation and (ii) reasonably cooperate with the
corporation concerning the action, suit or proceeding. The indemnification
provided by Section 1701.13 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles of
Incorporation or Code of Regulations of the Corporation.
The Code of Regulations of the Corporation provides that the Corporation
shall indemnify each director and each officer of the Corporation, and each
person employed by the Corporation who serves at the written request of the
President of the Corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent
of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, to the
full extent permitted by Ohio Law. The Corporation may indemnify assistant
officers, employees and others by action of the Board of Directors to the extent
permitted by Ohio Law.
The Corporation carries directors' and officers' liability insurance
coverage which insures its directors and officers and the directors and officers
of its subsidiaries in certain circumstances.
Reference is made to the indemnity provisions in the Underwriting Agreement
which is filed as Exhibit 1 to this Registration Statement.
Under each Trust Agreement, the Corporation will agree to indemnify each of
the Trustees of the Issuer with respect thereto or any predecessor Trustee for
the Issuer, and to hold such Trustees harmless against any loss, damage, claims,
liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part,
arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the
Trust Agreements, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against
any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of
its powers or duties under the Trust Agreements.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
- -------
<C> <S>
1 Form of Underwriting Agreement
3(a) Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, incorporated by reference to
the Corporation's Registration Statement, Exhibit 3.1, on Form S-4 (Reg. No.
33-19965)
3(b) Code of Regulations of the Corporation, incorporated by reference to the
Corporation's Registration Statement, Exhibit 3.2, on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 33-19965)
4(a) Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of , 1997, between the
Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company, as Debenture Trustee
4(b) Certificate of Trust of Fifth Third Capital Trust I
4(c) Trust Agreement of Fifth Third Capital Trust I
</TABLE>
II-2
<PAGE> 78
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
- -------
<C> <S>
4(d) Certificate of Trust of Fifth Third Capital Trust II
4(e) Trust Agreement of Fifth Third Capital Trust II
4(f) Restated Certificate of Trust of Fifth Third Capital Trust I
4(g) Restated Certificate of Trust of Fifth Third Capital Trust II
4(h) Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Fifth Third Capital Trust I and II
4(i) Form of Capital Security Certificate for Fifth Third Capital Trust I and II
(included as Exhibit D of Exhibit 4(h))
4(j) Form of Guarantee Agreement for Fifth Third Capital Trust I and II
5(a) Opinion of Paul L. Reynolds, Esq. as to legality of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures and the Guarantees to be issued by the Corporation
5(b) Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to legality of the Capital Securities to be
issued by Capital Trust I
5(c) Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to legality of the Capital Securities to be
issued by Capital Trust II (included in 5(b))
5(d) Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to legality of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the Guarantees to be issued by the Corporation
8 Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to certain federal income tax matters
12 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
23(a) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23(b) Consent of Paul L. Reynolds (included in 5(a))
23(c) Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger (included in 5(b))
23(d) Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in 5(d))
23(e) Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in 8)
24 Power of Attorney*
25(a) Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility to act as trustee under the Junior Subordinated
Indenture
25(b) Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee
under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Capital Trust I
25(c) Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee
under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Capital Trust II
25(d) Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company under the Guarantee
for the benefit of the holders of Capital Securities of Capital Trust I
25(e) Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company under the Guarantee
for the benefit of the holders of Capital Securities of Capital Trust II
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Previously filed
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of a
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Securities Exchange Act") that
is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
<PAGE> 79
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each
Registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or
otherwise, each Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
each Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of each Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, each Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by the controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby also 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;
(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 thereto) 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 estimate maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) 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; and
(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 that are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the Securities Act, 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.
(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.
(4) to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the
underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such
names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each
purchaser.
(5) that, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act:
(i) The information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
II-4
<PAGE> 80
(ii) 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.
II-5
<PAGE> 81
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
Fifth Third Bancorp 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
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement (Reg. No. 333-22905) to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Cincinnati, State of Ohio, on the 12th day of March, 1997.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
(Registrant)
By: /s/ P. MICHAEL BRUMM
------------------------------------
P. Michael Brumm, Executive
Vice President & CEO
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement (Reg. No. 333-22905) has been
signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 12th
day of March, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
* President, Chief Executive Officer
- --------------------------------------------- (Principal Executive Officer) & Director
George A. Schaefer, Jr.
/s/ P. MICHAEL BRUMM Executive Vice President and CFO
- --------------------------------------------- (Principal Financial Officer)
P. Michael Brumm
* Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
- ---------------------------------------------
Roger W. Dean
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
John F. Barrett
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Milton C. Boesel, Jr.
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Gerald V. Dirvin
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Thomas B. Donnell
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Richard T. Farmer
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
John D. Geary
</TABLE>
II-6
<PAGE> 82
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Ivan W. Gorr
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Joseph H. Head, Jr.
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Joan R. Herschede
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
William G. Kagler
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
William J. Keating
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
James D. Kiggen
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Robert B. Morgan
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Michael H. Norris
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
James E. Rogers
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Brian H. Rowe
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
John J. Schiff, Jr.
* Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Dennis J. Sullivan, Jr.
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Dudley S. Taft
</TABLE>
*By: /s/ P. MICHAEL BRUMM
-----------------------------------
(P. Michael Brumm,
Attorney-in-Fact)
II-7
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 1
S&C Draft of March 10, 1997
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST II
CAPITAL SECURITIES
GUARANTEED TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN THE GUARANTEES BY
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
--------------------------------------------------------------
Underwriting Agreement
March [__], 1997
Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
Smith Barney Inc.,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated,
Salomon Brothers Inc,
UBS Securities LLC,
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I to the respective
Pricing Agreements hereinafter described
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
From time to time Fifth Third Capital Trust I or Fifth Third Capital Trust
II, each a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of
Delaware (each a "Trust" and collectively, the "Trusts"), and Fifth Third
Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), as depositor of each trust and as
guarantor, propose to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a "Pricing
Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as
the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions
stated herein and therein, that the Trust identified in the applicable Pricing
Agreement (such Trust being the "Designated Trust" with respect to such Pricing
Agreement) issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I to the applicable
Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the "Underwriters" with respect to
such Pricing Agreement and the securities specified therein) certain of its
preferred securities (the "Securities") representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Designated Trust. The Securities specified in
such Pricing Agreement are referred to as the "Firm Designated Securities" with
respect to such Pricing
<PAGE> 2
Agreement. If specified in such Pricing Agreement, the Designated Trust may
grant the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election an additional
number of Securities, specified as provided in such Pricing Agreement as
provided in Section 3 hereof (the "Optional Designated Securities"). The Firm
Designated Securities and any Optional Designated Securities are collectively
called the "Designated Securities." The proceeds of the sale of the Designated
Securities to the public and of common securities of the Designated Trust (the
"Common Securities") to the Company concurrently with the sale of the Designated
Securities are to be invested in junior subordinated deferrable interest
debentures of the Company (the "Subordinated Debentures") identified in the
Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities (with respect to
such Pricing Agreement, the "Designated Subordinated Debentures"), to be issued
pursuant to a junior subordinated indenture to be dated as of March [__], 1997
(the "Indenture") between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee
(the "Indenture Trustee"). The Designated Securities may be exchangeable into
Designated Subordinated Debentures, as specified in Schedule II to such Pricing
Agreement. The Designated Securities will be guaranteed by the Company to the
extent set forth in the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
Securities (the "Designated Guarantee") (all such Designated Guarantees
together, the "Guarantees").
The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or
pursuant to the amended and restated trust agreement identified in such Pricing
Agreement (with respect to such Pricing Agreement, the "Trust Agreement") .
1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to time
to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, for whom the firms designated
as representatives of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities in the
Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the
"Representatives"). The term "Representatives" also refers to a single firm
acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act
without any firm being designated as their representative. This Underwriting
Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of any Trust to sell any of
the Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of
the Securities. The obligation of any Trust to issue and sell any of the
Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the
Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify
the aggregate number of the Firm Designated Securities, the maximum number of
Optional Designated Securities, if any, the initial public offering price of
such Firm and Optional Designated Securities or the manner of determining such
price, the terms of the Designated Securities, including the terms on which and
terms of the securities into which the Designated Securities will be
exchangeable, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such Designated
Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the
names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, the number of such Designated
Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter and the commission, if any,
payable to the Underwriters with respect thereto and shall set forth the date,
time and manner of delivery of such Firm and Optional Designated Securities, if
any, and payment therefor. The Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the
extent not set forth in the registration statement and prospectus with respect
thereto) the terms of such Designated Securities. A Pricing Agreement shall be
in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be
evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid
transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications
transmitted. The standard provisions set forth herein will be incorporated by
reference in any
2
<PAGE> 3
Pricing Agreement. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and
each Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint.
2. The Designated Trust and the Company, jointly and severally, each
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-[_____]) (the
"Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities, the
Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees (including the Designated
Securities, the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Designated
Guarantees) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"); the Initial Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or
to be delivered to the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to such
registration statement, but including all documents incorporated by
reference in the prospectus included therein, to the Representatives for
each of the other Underwriters has been declared effective by the
Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any,
increasing the size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), which became effective upon filing, no other
document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or document
incorporated by reference therein has heretofore been filed, or
transmitted for filing, with the Commission (other than prospectuses filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission
under the Act, each in the form heretofore delivered to the
Representatives); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the
Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial
Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(a) under the Act is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the
various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, if any, including (i) the information contained in
the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by
virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration
Statement at the time it was declared effective or such part of the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes
effective, (ii) all exhibits thereto and (iii) the documents incorporated
by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement at
the time such part of the registration statement became effective but
excluding Forms T-1, each as amended at the time such part of the
registration statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively
called the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the
Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees, in the form in
which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the
Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter
called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the applicable
form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or
Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or
supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed
to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such
Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as
the case may be;
3
<PAGE> 4
any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be
deemed to refer to and include any annual report of any Trust, if any, and
the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a)
hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of
the date of such filing);
(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may
be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or
the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement
thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the
Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to
the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty
shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Designated
Trust or the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through
the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented relating to such Securities;
(c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
Indenture Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as
to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the
applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Designated Trust or the Company by an Underwriter of
Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities;
(d) Neither the Company nor any of the Company's subsidiaries has
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss
or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute
or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set
forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates
as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock or
long-term
4
<PAGE> 5
debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material adverse
change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse
change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial
position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
Prospectus and except for changes in the capital stock of the Company as a
result of share repurchases on the public market by the Company and
issuance of shares pursuant to the Company's employee stock option plan;
(e) The Designated Trust has been duly created and is validly
existing as a business trust in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, with power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; the
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio, with
power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease and operate its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
(f) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; all the outstanding beneficial interests in the Designated
Trust have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable and conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Prospectus;
(g) Each subsidiary of the Company which is a significant subsidiary,
as defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C of the regulations promulgated
under the 1933 Act (each, a "Significant Subsidiary") has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a bank in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, as the case may be, has
power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of the Company
and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly
authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and all
such shares owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, are
owned free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
encumbrance, claim or security;
(g) The Designated Securities have been duly and validly authorized,
and, when the Firm Designated Securities are issued and delivered pursuant
to this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such
Designated Securities and, in the case of any Optional Designated
Securities, pursuant to Over-allotment Options (as defined in Section 3
hereof) with respect to such Securities, such Designated Securities will
be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable beneficial
interests in the Designated Trust entitled to the benefits provided by the
applicable Trust Agreement, which will be substantially in the form filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the Designated Securities
conform to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement
and the Designated Securities will conform to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to
such Designated Securities;
5
<PAGE> 6
(h) The holders of the Designated Securities (the "Securityholders")
will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware;
(i) The Common Securities of the Designated Trust have been duly
authorized on behalf of the Designated Trust by the Company, as depositor
of the Designated Trust, and upon delivery by the Designated Trust to the
Company against payment therefor as set forth in the Trust Agreement, will
be duly and validly issued and non-assessable beneficial interests in the
Designated Trust and will conform to the description thereof contained in
the Prospectus; the issuance of the Common Securities of the Designated
Trust is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; the Common
Securities conform to the description thereof contained in the
Registration Statement; and at each Time of Delivery, all of the issued
and outstanding Common Securities of the Designated Trust will be directly
owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity;
(j) The Designated Guarantee, the Trust Agreement for the Designated
Trust, the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture (the
Designated Guarantee, such Trust Agreement, the Designated Subordinated
Debentures and the Indenture being collectively referred to as the
"Company Agreements") have each been duly authorized and when validly
executed and delivered by the Company and, in the case of the Designated
Guarantee, by the Guarantee Trustee (as defined in the Guarantee), in the
case of the Trust Agreement, by the Trustees (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) and, in the case of the Indenture, by the Indenture Trustee,
and, in the case of the Company Subordinated Debentures, when validly
issued by the Company and duly authenticated and delivered by the
Indenture Trustee, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms,
subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and
other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
rights and to general equity principles; the Trust Agreement, the
Indenture and the Designated Guarantee have each been duly qualified under
the Trust Indenture Act; the Designated Subordinated Debentures are
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Company Agreements,
which will be in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, will conform to the descriptions thereof in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to the Designated
Securities to which they relate;
(k) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities by the Designated
Trust, the compliance by the Designated Trust with all of the provisions
of this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement and each Over-allotment Option,
if any, the Designated Securities and the Trust Agreement, the purchase of
the Designated Subordinated Debentures by the Designated Trust, the
execution, delivery and performance by the Designated Trust of the Trust
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and
therein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any
of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
instrument to which such Trust is a party or by which such Trust is bound
or to which any of the property or assets of such Trust is subject, nor
will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Trust
Agreement or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over such Trust or any of
its properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order,
registration or qualification of or with any such court
6
<PAGE> 7
or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the
Designated Securities and the Common Securities by such Trust, the
purchase of the Subordinated Debentures by the such Trust or the
consummation by such Trust of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Pricing Agreement or any Over-allotment Option or the Trust
Agreement, except such as have been, or will have been, prior to each Time
of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof), obtained under the Act and
the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities
or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
Designated Securities by the Underwriters;
(l) The issuance by the Company of the Guarantees and the
Subordinated Debentures, the compliance by the Company with all of the
provisions of this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement and each
Over-allotment Option, if any, the Guarantees, the Subordinated
Debentures, the Trust Agreements and the Indenture, the execution,
delivery and performance by the Company of the Company Agreements, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not
conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or
assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject except for
such conflict, breach, violation or default which does not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, nor
will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Amended
Article of Incorporation or Code of Regulations of the Company or the
charter or by-laws of any of its subsidiaries or any statute or any order,
rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration
or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body
is required for the issue of the Guarantees or the Subordinated Debentures
or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement or the Company Agreements, except
such as have been or will have been, prior to each Time of Delivery,
obtained under the Act or the Trust Indenture Act and such consents,
approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
issuance by the Company of the Guarantees and the Subordinated Debentures;
(m) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending to which the Designated Trust, the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their
properties is the subject, which, if determined adversely to the
Designated Trust, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the
current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or
results of operations of the Designated Trust, the Company and its
subsidiaries; and, to the best of the Designated Trust's and the Company's
knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by
governmental authorities or threatened by others;
(n) None of the Designated Trust, the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries, as applicable, is in violation of the Trust Agreement for
the Designated Trust, the Certificate of Trust for the Designated Trust,
or the Amended Articles of Incorporation or Code of Regulations of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or in default in the performance or
observance of any
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<PAGE> 8
material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of
its properties may be bound;
(o) The Company and its subsidiaries possess such certificates,
authorities or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign
regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now
operated by them, except where the failure to possess such certificates,
authorities or permits would not have a material adverse effect on the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of
the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
certificate, authority or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially
and adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
earnings or business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise;
(p) The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of
their operations for the periods specified; and, except as stated therein,
said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a
consistent basis;
(q) The statements set forth in (i) the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures", "Description of Preferred
Securities", "Description of Guarantees" and "Relationship Among the
Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures,
the Expense Agreements and the Guarantees", and (ii) in the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented under the captions "Certain Terms of Series __
Capital Securities", "Certain Terms of Series __ Subordinated Debentures"
and "Certain Terms of Series __ Guarantee", insofar as they constitute a
summary of the terms of the Securities, Subordinated Debentures, the
Guarantees and the Company Agreements (including the Designated
Securities, the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Designated
Guarantees), and (x) in the Prospectus under the caption "Plan of
Distribution" and (y) in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented under
the caption "Underwriting", insofar they purport to describe the
provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, in each case are
accurate, complete and fair;
(r) Neither the Designated Trust nor the Company is or, after giving
effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will be, an "investment
company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company", as such
terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Investment Company Act");
(s) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public
accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; and
8
<PAGE> 9
(t) The Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities
(incorporating the provisions hereof) and this Agreement each have been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Designated
Trust.
3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of
the Firm Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the
Firm Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented.
The Designated Trust may specify in the Pricing Agreement applicable to
any Designated Securities that the Designated Trust thereby grants to the
Underwriters the right (an "Over-allotment Option") to purchase at their
election up to the number of Optional Designated Securities set forth in such
Pricing Agreement, on the terms set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole
purpose of covering over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Designated
Securities. Any such election to purchase Optional Designated Securities may be
exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Designated Trust and
the Company, given within a period specified in the Pricing Agreement, setting
forth the aggregate number of Optional Designated Securities to be purchased and
the date on which such Optional Designated Securities are to be delivered, as
determined by the Representatives but in no event earlier than the First Time of
Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless the Representatives, the
Designated Trust and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than or
later than the respective number of business days after the date of such notice
set forth in such Pricing Agreement.
The number of Optional Designated Securities to be added to the number of
Firm Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter as set forth in
Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement applicable to such Designated Securities
shall be, in each case, the number of Optional Designated Securities which the
Designated Trust and the Company have been advised by the Representatives have
been attributed to such Underwriter; provided that, if the Designated Trust and
the Company have not been so advised, the number of Optional Designated
Securities to be so added shall be, in each case, that proportion of Optional
Designated Securities which the number of Firm Designated Securities to be
purchased by such Underwriter under such Pricing Agreement bears to the
aggregate number of Firm Designated Securities (rounded as the Representatives
may determine to the nearest 100 securities). The total number of Designated
Securities to be purchased by all the Underwriters pursuant to such Pricing
Agreement shall be the aggregate number of Firm Designated Securities set forth
in Schedule I to such Pricing Agreement plus the aggregate number of Optional
Designated Securities which the Underwriters elect to purchase.
As compensation to the Underwriters of the Designated Securities for their
commitments hereunder and under the Pricing Agreement, and in view of the fact
that the proceeds of the sale of the Designated Securities will be used by the
Designated Trust to purchase the Designated Subordinated Debentures of the
Company, the Company agrees to pay at each Time of Delivery to Goldman, Sachs &
Co., for the accounts of the several Underwriters, the amount set forth in the
Pricing Agreement per capital security for the Designated Securities to be
delivered at each Time of Delivery.
4. Certificates for the Firm Designated Securities and the Optional
Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the
Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form
9
<PAGE> 10
specified in such Pricing Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and
registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least
forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Designated Trust and the Company, shall
be delivered by or on behalf of the Designated Trust to the Representatives for
the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its
behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same day)
Funds to an account designated by the Designated Trust, (i) with respect to the
Firm Designated Securities, all in the manner and at the place and time and date
specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other place and time and date as
the Representatives, the Designated Trust and the Company may agree upon in
writing, such time and date being herein called the "First Time of Delivery" and
(ii) with respect to the Optional Designated Securities, if any, in the manner
and at the time and date specified by the Representatives in the written notice
given by the Representatives of the Underwriters' election to purchase such
Optional Designated Securities, or at such other time and date as the
Representatives, the Designated Trust and the Company may agree upon in writing,
such time and date, if not the First Time of Delivery, herein called the "Second
Time of Delivery". Each such time and date for delivery is herein called a "Time
of Delivery".
5. The Designated Trust and the Company, jointly and severally, agrees
with each of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended and supplemented in relation
to such Designated Securities in a form approved by the Representatives
and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not
later than the Commission's close of business on the second business day
following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement relating to
the Designated Securities or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be
required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment or any supplement to
the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after
the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to such Securities and prior to
any Time of Delivery for such Securities which shall be disapproved by the
Representatives for such Securities promptly after reasonable notice
thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or
supplement after any Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities and
furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all
reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be
filed by the Designated Trust or the Company with the Commission pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as
the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering
or sale of the Designated Securities, and during such same period to
advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of
the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed
or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended
Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the
use of any prospectus relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the
qualification of the Designated Securities or the Designated Subordinated
Debentures for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by
the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event
of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or
suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or
suspending any such qualification, promptly to use its best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal of such order;
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<PAGE> 11
(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Designated
Securities or the Designated Subordinated Debentures for offering and sale
under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may
request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be
necessary to complete the distribution of such Designated Securities,
provided that in connection therewith neither the Designated Trust nor the
Company shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a
general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;
(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business
Day next succeeding the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated
Securities and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies
of the Prospectus in New York City as amended or supplemented in such
quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the
delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in connection with the
offering or sale of the Designated Securities or the Designated
Subordinated Debentures and if at such time any event shall have occurred
as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus
is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be
necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or
to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the
Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request
to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each
Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the
Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended
Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such
statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(d) In the case of the Company, to make generally available to its
security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as
defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the
Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with
Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);
(e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing
Agreement for such Designated Securities and continuing to and including
the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such
Designated Securities, as notified to the Designated Trust and the Company
by the Representatives and (ii) 30 days after the last Time of Delivery
for such Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder, any Securities, any
other beneficial interests in the assets of any Trust, or any capital
securities or any other securities of any Trust or the Company, as the
case may be, that are substantially similar to such Designated Securities
(including any guarantee of such securities) or any securities that are
convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to
receive securities, capital securities or any such substantially similar
securities of either any Trust or the Company without the prior written
consent of the Representatives (other then shares of common stock of the
Company);
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<PAGE> 12
(f) In the case of the Company, to issue the Guarantee concurrently
with the issue and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein or in the
Pricing Agreement;
(g) If the Trust and the Company elect to rely upon Rule 462(b), the
Trust and the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with
the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington,
D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Trust and the Company
shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee
for the rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable
instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the
Act.
6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters
that it will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements
and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the
registration of the Securities, the Guarantees and the Subordinated Debentures
under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation,
printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and
delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of
printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any
Pricing Agreement, any Company Agreement, the Securities and the Subordinated
Debentures, any Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any
compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering,
purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection
with the qualification of the Securities, the Guarantees and the Subordinated
Debentures for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in
Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the
Blue Sky survey(s); (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for
rating the Securities and the Subordinated Debentures; (v) any filing fees
incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with, any required reviews by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities and the issuance of the
Guarantees and the Subordinated Debentures; (vi) the cost of preparing the
Securities and the Subordinated Debentures; (vii) the fees and expenses of any
Trustee, Indenture Trustee and Guarantee Trustee, and any agent of any trustee
and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any trustee in connection with any
Trust Agreement, Indenture, Guarantee and the Securities; (viii) the cost of
qualifying the Securities with The Depository Trust Company; (ix) any fees and
expenses in connection with listing the Securities and the Subordinated
Debentures and the cost of registering the Securities under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance
of its obligations hereunder and under any Over-allotment Options which are not
otherwise specifically provided for in this Section . It is understood, however,
that, except as provided in this Section , and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the
Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of
their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and
any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject,
in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all
representations and warranties and other statements of the Designated Trust and
the Company in or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to
such Designated Securities are, at and as of each Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Designated Trust
and the Company shall have
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<PAGE> 13
performed all of their respective obligations hereunder theretofore to be
performed, and the following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to such
Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such
filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with
Section 5(a) hereof; if the Trust and the Company have elected to rely
upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become
effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this
Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for
that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission;
and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission
shall have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable
satisfaction;
(b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
Representatives such opinion or opinions (a draft of each such opinion is
attached as Annex III(a) hereto), dated each Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, with respect to the incorporation of the Company,
the validity of the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Designated
Guarantee, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, as well as such other related matters as the Representatives
may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers
and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon
such matters;
(c) Counsel for the Designated Trust and the Company satisfactory to
the Representatives shall have furnished to the Representatives their
written opinions (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex III(b)
hereto), dated each Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities,
respectively, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives,
to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
State of Ohio, and each Significant Subsidiary has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
has been duly organized and is validly existing as a bank in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, as
the case may be, with power and authority (corporate and other) to
own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all of the issued
shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the
Designated Securities have been duly authorized by the Company as
depositor on behalf of the Designated Trust; and the Designated
Securities conform to the description of the Securities contained in
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as
set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its
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<PAGE> 14
subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
aggregate have a material adverse effect on the current or future
consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings
pending to which the Designated Trust is a party or of which any
property of the Designated Trust is the subject; and to the best of
such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;
(iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to
the Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Designated Trust and the Company;
(v) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized by the
Company as depositor on behalf of the Designated Trust; the issuance
by the Company of the Designated Guarantee and the Designated
Subordinated Debentures, the compliance by the Company with all of
the provisions of this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and the
Company Agreements, the execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of the Company Agreements and the consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with
or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions
of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such
counsel to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which
any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject, nor will such actions result in any
violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to
such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Designated Trust, the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any of their properties;
(vi) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or
body is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities
being delivered at such Time of Delivery or the issuance of the
Designated Guarantee and the Designated Subordinated Debentures or
the consummation by the Designated Trust or the Company of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such Pricing
Agreement and the Company Agreements, except such as have been
obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such
consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications
as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in
connection with the purchase and distribution of the Designated
Securities by the Underwriters or the issuance of the Designated
Guarantee and Designated Subordinated Debentures by the Company;
(vii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of its charter, Code of Regulations or by-laws (as the
case may be) or in default in the performance or observance of any
material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or
other agreement or instrument of which it is a party or by which it
or any of its properties may be bound; the Designated Trust is not
in violation of its Trust Agreement or in default in the performance
or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any
14
<PAGE> 15
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any
of its properties may be bound;
(viii) The statements set forth (i) in the Prospectus under the
captions "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures",
"Description of Preferred Securities", "Description of Guarantees"
and "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Expense Agreements and the
Guarantees", and (ii) in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
under the captions "Certain Terms of Series __ Capital Securities,"
"Certain Terms of Series __ Subordinated Debentures" and "Certain
Terms of Series __ Guarantee", insofar as they constitute a summary
of the terms of the Securities, Subordinated Debentures, the
Guarantees and the Company Agreements (including the Designated
Securities, the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the
Designated Guarantees), and (x) in the Prospectus under the caption
and "Plan of Distribution" (y) in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented under the caption "Underwriting", insofar they purport
to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to
therein, in each case are accurate, complete and fair;
(ix) The Designated Subordinated Debentures are in the form
prescribed in or pursuant to the Indenture, have been duly and
validly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action
and, when completed, executed and authenticated as specified in or
pursuant to the Indenture and issued and delivered, will be valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance
with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability
relating to affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles;
(x) The Company Agreements have each been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the parties thereto and constitute valid
and legally binding instruments, enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles; and the Indenture, the Designated Guarantee and the
Designated Trust Agreement have been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act;
(xi) The issuance by the Company of the Guarantee and the
Subordinated Debentures, the compliance by the Company with all of
the provisions of this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and the
Company Agreements, the execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of the Company Agreements and the consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated will not result in any
violation of the provisions of the Company's Amended Articles of
Incorporation or Code of Regulations;
(xii) The Designated Trust is not an "investment company" or an
entity "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are
defined in the Investment Company Act;
(xiii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and
related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the
Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material
respects with
15
<PAGE> 16
the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and they have
no reason to believe that any of such documents, when they became
effective or were so filed, as the case may be, contained, in the
case of a registration statement which became effective under the
Act, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents
which were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the
Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made
when such documents were so filed, not misleading; and
(xiv) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented, and any further amendments and supplements thereto
made by the Designated Trust or the Company prior to such Time of
Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules
therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), comply
as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder; although they do not
assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness
of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, except for those referred to in the opinion in
subsection (viii) of this Section 7(c), they have no reason to
believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement
or any further amendment thereto made by the Designated Trust or the
Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial
statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel
need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or that, as of its date, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the
Designated Trust or the Company prior to such Time of Delivery
(other than the financial statements and related schedules therein,
as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that, as
of such Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or
supplement thereto made by the Designated Trust or the Company prior
to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and
related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion) contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and they do not know of any amendment to the
Registration Statement required to be filed or any contracts or
other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required
to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented which are not filed or incorporated by
reference or described as required;
(d) Special Delaware Counsel to the Designated Trust and the Company
satisfactory to the Representatives, shall have furnished to you, the
Company and the Designated Trust their written opinion (a draft of such
opinion is attached as Annex III(c) hereto), dated the respective Time of
Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that
16
<PAGE> 17
(i) The Designated Trust has been duly created and is validly
existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware
Business Trust Act, and all filings required under the laws of the
State of Delaware with respect to the creation and valid existence of
the Designated Trust as a business trust have been made;
(ii) Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust
Agreement, the Designated Trust has the power and authority to own
property and conduct its business, all as described in the
Prospectus;
(iii) The Trust Agreement constitutes a valid and legally
binding obligation of the Company and the Trustees, enforceable
against the Company and the Trustees, in accordance with its terms,
subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles;
(iv) Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust
Agreement, the Designated Trust has the power and authority to (a)
execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under this
Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and (b) issue and perform its
obligations under the Designated Securities and the Common Securities
of the Designated Trust;
(v) Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust
Agreement, the execution and delivery by the Designated Trust of this
Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, and the performance by the
Designated Trust of its obligations thereunder and thereunder, have
been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the
Designated Trust;
(vi) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized by the
Trust Agreement and are duly and validly issued and, subject to the
qualifications set forth herein, fully paid and non-assessable
beneficial interests in the Designated Trust and are entitled to the
benefits provided by the Trust Agreement; the Securityholders, as
beneficial owners of the Designated Trust, will be entitled to the
same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of
private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; provided that such counsel
may note that the Securityholders may be obligated, pursuant to the
Trust Agreement, to (a) provide indemnity and/or security in
connection with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from
transfers or exchanges of Securities Certificates and the issuance of
replacement Securities Certificates and (b) provide security and
indemnity in connection with requests of or directions to the
Property Trustee (as defined in the Trust Agreement) to exercise its
rights and remedies under the Trust Agreement;
(vii) The Common Securities of the Designated Trust have been
duly authorized by the Trust Agreement and are validly issued and
represent beneficial interests in the Designated Trust;
(viii) Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust
Agreement, the issuance of the Designated Securities and the Common
Securities of the Designated Trust is not subject to preemptive
rights;
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<PAGE> 18
(ix) The issuance and sale by the Designated Trust of Designated
Securities and the Common Securities of the Designated Trust, the
execution, delivery and performance by the Designated Trust of this
Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, the consummation by the
Designated Trust of the transactions contemplated thereby and
compliance by the Designated Trust with its obligations thereunder
will not violate (a) any of the provisions of the Certificate of
Trust of the Designated Trust or the Trust Agreement, or (b) any
applicable Delaware law or administrative regulation;
(x) Assuming that the Designated Trust derives no income from or
connected with services provided within the State of Delaware and has
no assets, activities (other than maintaining the Delaware Trustee
and the filing of documents with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware) or employees in the State of Delaware, no authorization,
approval, consent or order of any Delaware court or governmental
authority or agency is required to be obtained by the Designated
Trust solely in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Designated Securities and the Common Securities of the Designated
Trust. (In rendering the opinion expressed in this paragraph (x),
such counsel need express no opinion concerning the securities laws
of the State of Delaware.); and
(xi) Assuming that the Designated Trust derives no income from or
connected with services provided within the State of Delaware and has
no assets, activities (other than maintaining the Delaware Trustee
and the filing of documents with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware) or employees in the State of Delaware, the
Securityholders (other than those holders of the Securities who
reside or are domiciled in the State of Delaware) will have no
liability for income taxes imposed by the State of Delaware solely as
a result of their participation in the Designated Trust, and the
Designated Trust will not be liable for any income tax imposed by the
State of Delaware.
(e) Tax counsel for the Designated Trust and the Company satisfactory
to the Representatives shall have furnished to you their written opinion
(a draft of such opinion is attached as Annex III(d) hereto), dated the
respective Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to
the effect that such firm confirms its opinion set forth in the Prospectus
under the caption "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences";
(f) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated
Securities at a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement with
respect to the Designated Securities and at each Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, the independent accountants of the Company who have
certified the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall
have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the effective date
of the Registration Statement or the date of the most recent report filed
with the Commission containing financial statements and incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, if the date of such report is
later than such effective date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery,
respectively, to the effect set forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect
to such letter dated such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as
the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives (the executed copy of the letter
delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex
II(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter
18
<PAGE> 19
to be delivered on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to
the Registration statement and as of each Time of Delivery is attached as
Annex II(b) hereto);
(g) (i) None of the Designated Trust, the Company or any of the
Company's subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest
audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating
to the Designated Securities any loss or interference with its business
from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
order, decree or regulation, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement
relating to the Designated Securities, and (ii) since the respective dates
as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended prior to the
date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities there
shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs,
management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set
forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior
to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated
Securities, the effect of which, in any such case described in Clause (i)
or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse
as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in
the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended relating to the
Designated Securities;
(h) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is
defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act,
and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has
under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its
rating of any of the Company's debt securities or preferred stock;
(i) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following:
(i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally
on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation
in trading in the Company's securities in the over-the-counter market;
(iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by
either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or
escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration
by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect of any
such event specified in this Clause (iv) in the judgment of the
Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
public offering or the delivery of the Firm Designated Securities or
Optional Designated Securities or both on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating
to the Designated Securities;
(j) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section
5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York
Business Day next succeeding the date of the Pricing Agreement for such
Designated Securities; and
19
<PAGE> 20
(k) The Designated Trust and the Company shall have furnished or
caused to be furnished to the Representatives at each Time of Delivery for
the Designated Securities certificates of officers of the Designated Trust
and the Company satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of
the representations and warranties of the Designated Trust and the Company
herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the
Designated Trust and the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be
performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set
forth in subsections (a) and (g) of this Section and as to such other
matters as the Representatives may reasonably request.
8. (a) The Designated Trust and the Company, jointly and severally, will
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject,
under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus
relating to the Designated Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred; provided, however, that neither the Designated Trust nor the Company
shall be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to
the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Designated Trust and the
Company by any Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives
expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such
Securities.
(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Designated Trust
and the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the
Designated Trust may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities, or
any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in
each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus
relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Designated Trust and
the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use
therein; and will reimburse the Designated Trust and the Company for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
20
<PAGE> 21
Designated Trust in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim as such expenses are incurred.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party
shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified
party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be
brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party
of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and,
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent
of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or
claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party
to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i)
includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include any statement as
to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf
of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Designated Trust and the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of
the Designated Securities on the other from the offering of the Designated
Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect
thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified
party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Designated Trust and the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the
other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
by the Designated Trust and the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on
the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Designated Trust
and the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by such Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
21
<PAGE> 22
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Designated Trust and the Company on the
one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Designated Trust, the Company and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters
of Designated Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such
Securities and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Designated Trust and the Company under this
Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Designated Trust and
the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8
shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may
otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each
officer and director of the Designated Trust and the Company and to each person,
if any, who controls the Designated Trust and the Company within the meaning of
the Act.
9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities which it has agreed
to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Securities, the
Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party
or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein. If
within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the
Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Designated
Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be, then the
Designated Trust shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours
within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the
Representatives to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that,
within the respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the
Designated Trust that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities,
or the Designated Trust notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for
the purchase of such Securities, the Representatives or the Designated Trust
shall have the right to postpone a Time of Delivery for such Securities for a
period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may
thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the
Designated Trust agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the
Registration
22
<PAGE> 23
Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may
thereby be made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement
shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if
such person had originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to
such Designated Securities.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may
be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the
Designated Trust as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of
such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the
aggregate number of the Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated
Securities, as the case may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of
Delivery, then the Designated Trust shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Firm Designated Securities
or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be, which such Underwriter
agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated
Securities and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to
purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Firm Designated Securities
or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be, which such Underwriter
agreed to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Firm Designated
Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be, of such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability
for its default.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may
be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the
Designated Trust as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of
Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may
be, which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of
the Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case
may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of Delivery, as referred to in
subsection (b) above, or if the Designated Trust shall not exercise the right
described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to
purchase Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the
case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Firm Designated Securities or the Over-allotment
Option relating to such Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be,
shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Designated Trust or the Company, except for the expenses to
be borne by the Designated Trust and the Company and the Underwriters as
provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in
Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from
liability for its default.
10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Designated Trust or the Company and the several
Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them,
respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof)
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any
Underwriter, or the Designated Trust or the Company, or any officer or director
or controlling person of the Designated Trust or the Company, and shall survive
delivery of and payment for the Securities.
23
<PAGE> 24
11. If any Pricing Agreement or Over-allotment Option shall be terminated
pursuant to Section 9 hereof, neither the Designated Trust nor the Company shall
then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Firm
Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities with respect to which
such Pricing Agreement shall have been terminated except as provided in Sections
6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason, Designated Securities are not
delivered by or on behalf of the Designated Trust or the Company as provided
herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives
for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives,
including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the
Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such
Designated Securities, but the Designated Trust or the Company shall then be
under no further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated
Securities except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.
12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of
Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the
parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.
All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Designated Trust or the Company shall be
delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the
Designated Trust or the Company, respectively, set forth in the Registration
Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an
Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in
its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which
address will be supplied to the Designated Trust and the Company by the
Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, each Designated Trust, the
Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers
and directors of each Designated Trust, the Company and each person who controls
any Designated Trust or the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective
heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person
shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any such
Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter
shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.
14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used
herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office
in Washington, D.C. is open for business.
15. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
24
<PAGE> 25
16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one
or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
25
<PAGE> 26
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please
sign and return to us [six] counterparts hereof.
Very truly yours,
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
By: _______________________
Name:
Title:
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
By: Fifth Third Bancorp
as Depositor
By: ________________________
Name:
Title:
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST II
By: Fifth Third Bancorp
as Depositor
By: ________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted on behalf of ourselves and the other Underwriters listed
in Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Smith Barney Inc.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
UBS Securities LLC
By: ______________________
(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)
26
<PAGE> 27
PRICING AGREEMENT
ANNEX I
Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
Smith Barney Inc.,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated,
Salomon Brothers Inc,
UBS Securities LLC,
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004.
Date: __________, 199_
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Fifth Third Capital Trust [I][II], a statutory business trust formed under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Designated Trust") and Fifth Third
Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), propose, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated March [__],
1997 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), among the Designated Trust, Capital Trust
[I][II] and the Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc., Smith Barney Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Salomon
Brothers Inc and UBS Securities LLC, on the other hand, to issue and sell to the
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the Securities
specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities" consisting of Firm
Designated Securities and any Optional Designated Securities the Underwriters
may elect to purchase). The principal asset of the Trust consists of debt
securities of the Company (the "Subordinated Debentures"), as specified in
Schedule II to this Agreement. The Designated Securities will be guaranteed by
the Company to the extent set forth in this Agreement with respect to such
Designated Securities (the "Guarantee"). Each of the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and
shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such
provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations
and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of
the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty
which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall
be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a
representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated
Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to
the Representative herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so
incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise
defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as
therein defined. The Representative designated to act on behalf of the
Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters of the Designated
Securities pursuant
<PAGE> 28
to Section 12 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the
Representatives referred to in such Section 12 are set forth in Schedule II
hereto.
An amendment to the Initial Registration Statement or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, (a) the Designated
Trust agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Designated
Trust, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set
forth in Schedule II hereto, the number of Firm Designated Securities set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and, (b) in the event
and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase
Optional Designated Securities, as provided below, the Designated Trust agrees
to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Designated Trust at the
purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto that portion
of the number of Optional Designated Securities as to which such election shall
have been exercised.
The Designated Trust hereby grants to each of the Underwriters the right
to purchase at their election up to the number of Optional Designated Securities
set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto on the
terms referred to in the paragraph above for the sole purpose of covering
over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Designated Securities. Any such election
to purchase Optional Designated Securities may be exercised by written notice
from the Representatives to the Designated Trust and the Company given within a
period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Pricing Agreement, setting
forth the aggregate number of Optional Designated Securities to be purchased and
the date on which such Optional Designated Securities are to be delivered, as
determined by the Representatives, but in no event earlier than the First Time
of Delivery or, unless the Representatives and the Designated Trust otherwise
agree in writing, no earlier than two or later than ten business days after the
date of such notice.
2
<PAGE> 29
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us [ ] counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Designated Trust and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance
of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to
the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of
which shall be submitted to the Designated Trust and the Company for
examination, upon request, but without warranty on the part of the
Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST [I][II]
By: Fifth Third Bancorp,
as Depositor
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Smith Barney Inc.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
UBS Securities LLC
As Representatives of the Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
By: _________________________________
(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)
3
<PAGE> 30
SCHEDULE I
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MAXIMUM NUMBER
OF OPTIONAL
NUMBER OF DESIGNATED
FIRM DESIGNATED SECURITIES WHICH
SECURITIES MAY BE
UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED PURCHASED
----------- --------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Goldman, Sachs & Co...................................................
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc............................................
Smith Barney Inc......................................................
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation.............................................
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated..............................................
Salomon Brothers Inc .................................................
------------------
UBS Securities LLC....................................................
Total
==================
</TABLE>
1
<PAGE> 31
SCHEDULE II
DESIGNATED TRUST:
Capital Trust [I][II]
TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
[___%] [Floating Rate] Capital Securities, Series _
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
Aggregate principal amount of Designated
Securities to be sold: $
PRICE TO PUBLIC:
___% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities
PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:
_______% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities
UNDERWRITERS' COMPENSATION:
As compensation to the Underwriters for their commitments hereunder,
and in view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Designated
Securities will be used by the Designated Trust to purchase the
Subordinated Debentures of the Company, the Company hereby agrees to
pay at each Time of Delivery to Goldman, Sachs & Co., for the accounts
of the several Underwriters, an amount equal to $__________ per capital
security for the Designated Securities to be delivered at each Time of
Delivery.
SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:
Federal (same day) Funds
ACCOUNTANTS' LETTER TO BE DELIVERED ON DATE OF PRICING AGREEMENT:
Yes.
TRUST AGREEMENT:
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of March [__], 1997,
between the Company and the Trustees named therein
INDENTURE:
2
<PAGE> 32
Indenture dated as of March [__], 1997, between the Company and
Wilmington Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture")
GUARANTEE:
Guarantee Agreement dated as of March [__], 1997, between Company and
Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee
MATURITY:
________ __, 2027
INTEREST RATE:
INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
EXTENSION PERIOD:
[20 quarters] [10 semi-annual periods]
REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:
[The redemption provisions set forth in Section 402 of the Trust
Agreement shall apply to the Designated Securities.]
SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:
[No sinking fund provisions.]
TIME OF DELIVERY:
10:00 a.m., New York City time
__________, 1997
CLOSING LOCATION:
Sullivan & Cromwell
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
3
<PAGE> 33
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Smith Barney Inc.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
UBS Securities LLC
4
<PAGE> 34
ANNEX II
Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect
to the Designated Trust and the Company and its subsidiaries within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations
thereunder;
(ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any
supplementary financial information and schedules (and, if applicable,
financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by
them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act or the Exchange
Act, as applicable, and the related published rules and regulations
thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in accordance
with standards established by the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial statements,
selected financial data, pro forma financial information, financial
forecasts and/or condensed financial statements derived from audited
financial statements of the Company for the periods specified in such
letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have
been separately furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters
(the "Representatives");
(iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
of the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
included in the Prospectus and/or included in the Company's quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as
indicated in their reports thereon copies of which have been separately
furnished to the Representatives; and on the basis of specified
procedures including inquiries of officials of the Company who have
responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether
the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements referred to
in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations, nothing
came to their attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in
all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of
the Act and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and
regulations;
(iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to
the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the
Prospectus and included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year
agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatement where
applicable) in the audited consolidated financial statements for such
five fiscal years which were included or incorporated by reference in
the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;
(v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K
and on the basis of limited procedures
<PAGE> 35
specified in such letter nothing came to their attention as a result of
the foregoing procedures that caused them to believe that this
information does not conform in all material respects with the
disclosure requirements of items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d),
respectively, of Regulation S-K;
(vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
information referred to below, a reading of the latest available
interim financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries,
inspection of the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries
since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of
the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and
accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused
them to believe that:
(A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
included in the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by reference
in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange
Act and the related published rules and regulations, or (ii) any
material modifications should be made to the unaudited condensed
consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and
consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus or
included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated
by reference in the Prospectus, for them to be in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles;
(B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet
items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding
items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which
such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items
were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis
for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;
(C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in
the Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed
financial statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited income
statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and
referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially
consistent with the basis for the audited financial statements included
or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the most recent fiscal year;
(D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do
not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and the published rules and
regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been
properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
statements;
2
<PAGE> 36
(E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the
date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated
capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of
options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance
shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case
which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet included
or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or any increase in the
consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, or any
decreases in consolidated net current assets or stockholders' equity or
other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with
amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases
or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur
or which are described in such letter; and
(F) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to the
specified date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases in
consolidated net revenues or operating profit or the total or per share
amounts of consolidated net income or other items specified by the
Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period of
the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding length
specified by the Representatives, except in each case for increases or
decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or
which are described in such letter; and
(vii) In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s)
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited
procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures
referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out
certain specified procedures, not constituting an examination in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to
certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the
Representatives which are derived from the general accounting records
of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus
(excluding documents incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or
in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by
the Representatives or in documents incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain
of such amounts, percentages and financial information with the
accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found
them to be in agreement.
All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) as defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter
delivered on the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents
incorporated by reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated
Securities for purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities.
3
<PAGE> 37
ANNEX III(a)
[Draft Sullivan & Cromwell Opinion]
4
<PAGE> 38
ANNEX III(b)
[Draft Designated Trust's Counsel Opinion]
5
<PAGE> 39
ANNEX III(c)
[Draft Special Delaware Counsel Opinion]
6
<PAGE> 40
ANNEX III(d)
[Draft Tax Counsel Opinion]
7
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4(a)
S&C Draft of 3/10/97
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
to
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
---------------------------
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
Dated as of __________, 1997
<PAGE> 2
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (including
cross-references to provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 which,
pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the
Trust Reform Act of 1990, are a part of and govern the Indenture whether or not
physically contained therein) and the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
__________, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TRUST INDENTURE INDENTURE
ACT SECTION SECTION
- --------------- ---------
<S> <C>
Section 310 (a) (1), (2) and (5)...............................................................6.9
(a) (3)............................................................................Not Applicable
(a) (4)............................................................................Not Applicable
(b)................................................................................6.8
...................................................................................6.10
(c)................................................................................Not Applicable
Section 311 (a)................................................................................6.13
(b)................................................................................6.13
(b) (2)............................................................................7.3(a)(2)
Section 312 (a)................................................................................7.1
...................................................................................7.2(a)
(b)................................................................................7.2(b)
(c)................................................................................7.2(c)
Section 313 (a)................................................................................7.3(a)
(b)................................................................................7.3(b)
(c)................................................................................7.3(a), 7.3(b)
(d)................................................................................7.3(c)
Section 314 (a) (1), (2) and (3)...............................................................7.4
(a) (4)............................................................................10.4
(b)................................................................................Not Applicable
(c) (1)............................................................................1.2
(c) (2)............................................................................1.2
(c) (3)............................................................................Not Applicable
(d)................................................................................Not Applicable
(e)................................................................................1.2
(f)................................................................................Not Applicable
Section 315 (a)................................................................................6.1(a)
(b)................................................................................6.2
...................................................................................7.3(a)
(c)................................................................................6.1(b)
(d)................................................................................6.1(c)
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(d) (1)............................................................................6.1(a) (1)
(d) (2)............................................................................6.1(c) (2)
(d) (3)............................................................................6.1(c) (3)
(e)................................................................................5.14
Section 316 (a)................................................................................1.1
(a) (1) (A)........................................................................5.12
(a) (1) (B)........................................................................5.13
(a) (2)............................................................................Not Applicable
(b)................................................................................5.8
(c)................................................................................1.4(f)
Section 317 (a) (1)............................................................................5.3
(a) (2)............................................................................5.4
(b)................................................................................10.3
Section 318 (a)................................................................................1.7
</TABLE>
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Junior Subordinated Indenture.
<PAGE> 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Page
<S> <C>
SECTION 1.1. Definitions................................................ 1
SECTION 1.2. Compliance Certificate and Opinions........................ 9
SECTION 1.3. Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.................... 10
SECTION 1.4. Acts of Holders............................................ 10
SECTION 1.5. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Corporation................... 12
SECTION 1.6. Notice to Holders; Waiver.................................. 13
SECTION 1.7. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.......................... 13
SECTION 1.8. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents................... 13
SECTION 1.9. Successors and Assigns .................................... 13
SECTION 1.10. Separability Clause..... .................................. 13
SECTION 1.11. Benefits of Indenture...................................... 13
SECTION 1.12. Governing Law.............................................. 14
SECTION 1.13. Non-Business Days.......................................... 14
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C>
SECTION 2.1. Forms Generally............................................. 14
SECTION 2.2. Form of Face of Security.................................... 15
SECTION 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security................................. 18
SECTION 2.4. Additional Provisions Required in Global Security........... 21
SECTION 2.5. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication............. 22
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
SECTION 3.1. Title and Terms............................................. 22
SECTION 3.2. Denominations............................................... 25
SECTION 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.............. 25
SECTION 3.4. Temporary Securities........................................ 26
SECTION 3.5. Global Securities........................................... 27
SECTION 3.6. Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally............... 28
</TABLE>
-i-
<PAGE> 5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C>
SECTION 3.7. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities........................................................ 29
SECTION 3.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.................................. 30
SECTION 3.9. Persons Deemed Owners................................................................................... 31
SECTION 3.10. Cancellation............................................................................................ 31
SECTION 3.11. Computation of Interest................................................................................. 32
SECTION 3.12. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates..................................................................... 32
SECTION 3.13. Right of Set-Off........................................................................................ 33
SECTION 3.14. Agreed Tax Treatment.................................................................................... 33
SECTION 3.15. Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity.............................................................. 33
SECTION 3.16. CUSIP Numbers........................................................................................... 34
ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
SECTION 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.................................................................. 34
SECTION 4.2. Application of Trust Money............................................................................... 35
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
SECTION 5.1. Events of Default........................................................................................ 36
SECTION 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment....................................................... 37
SECTION 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.......................................... 38
SECTION 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim......................................................................... 38
SECTION 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities............................................... 39
SECTION 5.6. Application of Money Collected........................................................................... 39
SECTION 5.7. Limitation on Suits...................................................................................... 40
SECTION 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest; Direct Action by
Holders of Preferred Securities.............................................................. 40
SECTION 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies....................................................................... 41
SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.......................................................................... 41
SECTION 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver............................................................................ 41
SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders...................................................................................... 41
SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults................................................................................. 42
SECTION 5.14. Undertaking for Costs................................................................................... 42
SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws................................................................. 43
</TABLE>
-ii-
<PAGE> 6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
<S> <C>
SECTION 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities..................................................................... 43
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Defaults...................................................................................... 44
SECTION 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee............................................................................... 44
SECTION 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.................................................. 45
SECTION 6.5. May Hold Securities..................................................................................... 45
SECTION 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.......................................................................... 46
SECTION 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests................................................................. 46
SECTION 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility................................................................. 47
SECTION 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor....................................................... 47
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.................................................................. 48
SECTION 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business............................................. 49
SECTION 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Corporation................................................... 50
SECTION 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent..................................................................... 50
ARTICLE VII
HOLDER'S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND CORPORATION
SECTION 7.1. Corporation to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders............................................ 51
SECTION 7.2. Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders................................................... 52
SECTION 7.3. Reports by Trustee....................................................................................... 52
SECTION 7.4. Reports by Corporation................................................................................... 52
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
SECTION 8.1. Corporation May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms................................................. 53
SECTION 8.2. Successor Corporation Substituted........................................................................ 53
</TABLE>
-iii-
<PAGE> 7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Page
<S> <C>
SECTION 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders...................... 54
SECTION 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders......................... 55
SECTION 9.3. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.................................... 56
SECTION 9.4. Effect of Supplemental Indentures....................................... 57
SECTION 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act..................................... 57
SECTION 9.6. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures...................... 57
ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
<CAPTION> Page
<S> <C>
SECTION 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest............................. 57
SECTION 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency........................................ 57
SECTION 10.3. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust........................ 58
SECTION 10.4. Statement as to Compliance............................................. 59
SECTION 10.5. Waiver of Certain Covenants............................................ 59
SECTION 10.6. Additional Sums........................................................ 60
SECTION 10.7. Additional Covenants................................................... 60
SECTION 10.8. Original Issue Discount. .............................................. 61
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
<S> <C>
SECTION 11.1 Applicability of This Article.......................................... 61
SECTION 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.................................. 62
SECTION 11.3. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed................................. 62
SECTION 11.4. Notice of Redemption................................................... 62
SECTION 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price............................................ 63
SECTION 11.6. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption............................ 63
SECTION 11.7. Right of Redemption of Securities Initially Issued to an Issuer Trust.. 64
</TABLE>
-iv-
<PAGE> 8
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> Page
<S> <C>
SECTION 12.1. Applicability of Article................................................................................ 64
SECTION 12.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities................................................... 65
SECTION 12.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund............................................................... 65
ARTICLE XIII
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
<S> <C>
SECTION 13.1. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness........................................................... 66
SECTION 13.2. No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default; Payment Over of Proceeds Upon
Dissolution, Etc............................................................................. 67
SECTION 13.3. Payment Permitted If No Default......................................................................... 68
SECTION 13.4. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness................................................. 68
SECTION 13.5. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights............................................................. 69
SECTION 13.6. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination..................................................................... 69
SECTION 13.7. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions................................................................... 69
SECTION 13.8. Notice to Trustee....................................................................................... 70
SECTION 13.9. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.......................................... 70
SECTION 13.10. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness................................................ 71
SECTION 13.11. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee's Rights.................... 71
SECTION 13.12. Article Applicable to Paying Agents..................................................................... 71
</TABLE>
-v-
<PAGE> 9
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, dated as of __________, 1997, between
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP, an Ohio corporation (the "Corporation"), having its
principal office at 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, and
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation, as Trustee (the
"Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE CORPORATION
WHEREAS, the Corporation has duly authorized the execution and delivery
of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
junior subordinated debt securities in series (hereinafter called the
"Securities") of substantially the tenor hereinafter provided, including
Securities issued to evidence loans made to the Corporation of the proceeds from
the issuance from time to time by one or more business trusts (each an "Issuer
Trust") of undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of such Issuer
Trusts (the "Preferred Securities") and undivided common beneficial interests in
the assets of such Issuer Trusts (the "Common Securities" and, collectively with
the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities"), and to provide the terms and
conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and
delivered; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement
of the Corporation, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any
series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings
assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the
singular;
(2) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the
meanings assigned to them therein;
(3) The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(4) All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to
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them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(5) Whenever the context may require, any gender shall be
deemed to include the others;
(6) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section " refers to an Article or a Section , as the
case may be, of this Indenture; and
(7) The words "hereby", "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.
"Act" when used with respect to any Holder has the meaning specified in
Section 1.4.
"Additional Interest" means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on
any interest on the Securities of any series the payment of which has not been
made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the rate
per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security.
"Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 10.6.
"Additional Taxes" means any additional taxes, duties and other
governmental charges to which an Issuer Trust has become subject from time to
time as a result of a Tax Event.
"Administrative Trustees" means, in respect of any Issuer Trust, each
Person identified as an "Administrative Trustee" in the related Trust Agreement,
solely in such Person's capacity as Administrative Trustee of such Issuer Trust
under such Trust Agreement and not in such Person's individual capacity, or any
successor administrative trustee appointed as therein provided.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Agent Member" means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or
transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the
rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Security, in each case to the
extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.
"Bankruptcy Code" means Title 11 of the United States Code or any
successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
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"Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Corporation or
the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Corporation (or any
other committee of the board of directors of the Corporation performing similar
functions) or a committee designated by the board of directors of the
Corporation (or such committee), comprised of two or more members of the board
of directors of the Corporation or officers of the Corporation, or both.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation to have been duly adopted
by the Board of Directors, or officers of the Corporation to which authority to
act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated, and to be in full
force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the
Trustee.
"Business Day" means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii)
a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
required by law or executive order to remain closed, or (iii) a day on which the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or, with respect to the Securities of a
series initially issued to an Issuer Trust for so long as such Securities are
held by such Issuer Trust, the "Corporate Trust Office" (as defined in the
related Trust Agreement) of the Property Trustee under the related Trust
Agreement, is closed for business.
"Capital Treatment Event" means, in respect of any Issuer Trust, the
reasonable determination by the Corporation (as evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate delivered to the Trustee) that, as a result of the occurrence of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or
administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective
or such pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of
the issuance of the Preferred Securities of such Issuer Trust, there is more
than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat an
amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as such term is defined in the
related Trust Agreement) of such Preferred Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or
the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as then in effect and
applicable to the Corporation.
"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 of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties on such date.
"Common Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Indenture.
"Common Stock" means the common stock, without par value, of the
Corporation.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee at
which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.
"corporation" includes a corporation, association, company, limited
liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.
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"Corporation" means the Person named as the "Corporation" in the first
paragraph of this Indenture until a successor corporation shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Corporation" shall mean such successor corporation.
"Corporation Request" and "Corporation Order" mean, respectively, the
written request or order signed in the name of the Corporation by its Chairman
of the Board of Directors, its Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its
President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Debt" means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or
a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent and without
duplication, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every
obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition
of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such
Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar
facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such
Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services
(but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the
ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person;
(vi) all indebtedness of such Person, whether incurred on or prior to the date
of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative
products, including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward
contracts, options and swaps and similar arrangements; and (vii) every
obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person
and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such
Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly,
as obligor or otherwise.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
"Delaware Trustee" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the Person
identified as the "Delaware Trustee" in the related Trust Agreement, solely in
its capacity as Delaware Trustee of such Issuer Trust under such Trust Agreement
and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as therein provided.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series
issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global
Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Corporation pursuant to
Section 3.1 with respect to such series (or any successor thereto).
"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 5.2.
"Distributions" means, with respect to the Trust Securities issued by
an Issuer Trust, amounts payable in respect of such Trust Securities as provided
in the related Trust Agreement and referred to therein as "Distributions."
"Dollar" or "$" means the currency of the United States of America
that, as at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and
private debts.
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"Event of Default", unless otherwise specified with respect to a series
of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, has the meaning specified in
Article V.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 1.4(f).
"Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.12.
"Global Security" means a Security in the form prescribed in Section
2.4 evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, issued to the Depositary
or its nominee for such series, and registered in the name of such Depositary or
its nominee.
"Guarantee Agreement" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the
Guarantee Agreement executed by the Corporation for the benefit of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities issued by such Issuer Trust as modified, amended or
supplemented from time to time.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Securities Register.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof
and shall include the terms of each particular series of Securities established
as contemplated by Section 3.1.
"Interest Payment Date" means, as to each series of Securities, the
Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Securities.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 or
any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" has the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Indenture.
"Maturity" when used with respect to any Security means the date on
which the principal of such Security or any installment of principal becomes due
and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
"Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in
Section 5.1(3).
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and
by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary, of the Corporation and delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for or an employee of the Corporation or any Affiliate of the
Corporation.
"Original Issue Date" means the date of issuance specified as such in
each Security.
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"Outstanding" means, when used in reference to any Securities, as of
the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Securities for whose payment money in the necessary
amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying
Agent in trust for the Holders of such Securities; and
(iii) Securities in substitution for or in lieu of which other
Securities have been authenticated and delivered or that have been paid
pursuant to Section 3.7, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is
presented that any such Securities are held by Holders in whose hands
such Securities are valid, binding and legal obligations of the
Corporation;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned
by the Corporation or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of
the Corporation or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected
in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent or waiver, only Securities that the Trustee knows to be so owned shall
be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may
be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the
Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that
the pledgee is not the Corporation or any other obligor upon the Securities or
any Affiliate of the Corporation or such other obligor. Upon the written request
of the Trustee, the Corporation shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an
Officers' Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by
the Corporation to be owned or held by or for the account of the Corporation, or
any other obligor on the Securities or any Affiliate of the Corporation or such
obligor, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall be
entitled to accept such Officers' 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. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, Securities of any series initially issued to an
Issuer Trust that are owned by such Issuer Trust shall be deemed to be
Outstanding notwithstanding the ownership by the Corporation or an Affiliate of
any beneficial interest in such Issuer Trust.
"Paying Agent" means the Trustee or any Person authorized by the
Corporation to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, or
other amounts in respect of, any Securities on behalf of the Corporation.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
"Place of Payment" means, with respect to the Securities of any series,
the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on
the Securities of such series are payable pursuant to Section 3.1.
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"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Security. For the purposes of this definition, any security
authenticated and delivered under Section 3.7 in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
"Preferred Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital
of this Indenture.
"Proceeding" has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.
"Property Trustee" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the Person
identified as the "Property Trustee" in the related Trust Agreement, solely in
its capacity as Property Trustee of such Issuer Trust under such Trust Agreement
and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor Property Trustee appointed as therein provided.
"Redemption Date" means, when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture or
the terms of such Security.
"Redemption Price" means, when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date with respect to the Securities of a series means, unless otherwise provided
pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of such series, the date that
is fifteen days next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a
Business Day).
"Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Trustee, the
chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or any
vice-chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the chairman
of the trust committee, the president, any vice president, the secretary, any
assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any
assistant cashier, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller
or any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter,
any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Rights Plan" means a plan of the Corporation providing for the
issuance by the Corporation to all holders of its Common Stock of rights
entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of any class
or series of capital stock of the Corporation which rights (i) are deemed to be
transferred with such shares of such Common Stock, and (ii) are also issued in
respect of future issuances of such Common Stock, in each case until the
occurrence of a specified event or events.
"Securities" or "Security" means any debt securities or debt security,
as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor
statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
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"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 3.6.
"Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Corporation whether
or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on
Debt of the Corporation, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this
Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or
evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided
that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Securities or
to other Debt that is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the Securities,
provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to include (a)
any Debt of the Corporation that, when incurred and without respect to any
election under Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, was without
recourse to the Corporation, (b) any Debt of the Corporation to any of its
Subsidiaries, (c) Debt to any employee of the Corporation, (d) any Securities,
(e) trade accounts payable of the Corporation, and (f) accrued liabilities
arising in the ordinary course of business of the Corporation.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.
"Stated Maturity" means, when used with respect to any Security or any
installment of principal thereof (or premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) thereon, the date specified pursuant to the terms of such
Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such
installment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) is due and payable, as such date may, in the case of the
stated maturity of the principal on any security, be shortened or extended as
provided pursuant to the terms of such Security and this Indenture and, in the
case of any installment of interest, subject to the deferral of any such date in
the case of any Extension Period.
"Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding
voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or by
one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Corporation and one or more other
Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock that
ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times
or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of
any contingency.
"Successor Security" of any particular Security means every Security
issued after, and evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced
by, such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any
Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.7 in exchange for or in
lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to
evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by an Issuer Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel (as defined in the relevant Trust Agreement) experienced in such matters
to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
announced proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the
United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial
decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or
change is effective or which pronouncement or
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decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of the Preferred
Securities of such Issuer Trust, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
(i) such Issuer Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of such
Opinion of Counsel, subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to
income received or accrued on the corresponding series of Securities issued by
the Corporation to such Issuer Trust, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation
on such corresponding series of Securities is not, or within 90 days of the
delivery of such Opinion of Counsel will not be, deductible by the Corporation,
in whole or in part, for United States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii)
such Issuer Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion
of Counsel, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or
other governmental charges.
"Trust Agreement" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the trust
agreement or other governing instrument of such Issuer Trust.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this Indenture, solely in its capacity as such and not in its
individual capacity, until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant
to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall
mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder and, if at any time
there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the
Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of
that series.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
Sections 77aaa-77bbb), as amended and as in effect on the date as of this
Indenture, except as provided in Section 9.5.
"Trust Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Indenture.
"Vice President" means, when used with respect to the Corporation, any
duly appointed vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word
or words added before or after the title "vice president."
SECTION 1.2. Compliance Certificate and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Corporation to the Trustee to
take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Corporation shall
furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions
precedent (including covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition
precedent), if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the
opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent (including covenants
compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, have been
complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to
which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision
of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no
additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the
certificates provided pursuant to Section 10.4) shall include:
(1) a statement by each individual signing such certificate or opinion
that such individual has read such covenant or condition and the definitions
herein relating thereto;
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(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions of such individual contained
in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he or she has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to
express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has
been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such individual, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 1.3. Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Corporation may be
based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of,
or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based
are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar
as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, an officer or officers of the Corporation stating that the
information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the
Corporation, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care
should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to
such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions, or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
SECTION 1.4. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given to or taken by
Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly
appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments is or are
delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the
Corporation. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and
evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders
signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such
instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any
purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1) conclusive in favor of
the Trustee and the Corporation, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
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(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized
by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing
such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof.
Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his or her authority.
(c) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may
also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient and in
accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine.
(d) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future
Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the
transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Corporation in
reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such
Security.
(f) The Corporation may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the
Corporation may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice,
declaration, request or direction referred to in the next succeeding paragraph.
If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders,
shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders
remain Holders after such record date, provided that no such action shall be
effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date
(as defined below) by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Corporation from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Corporation, at its own expense, shall cause
notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join
in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of
acceleration referred to in Section 5.2, (iii) any request to institute
proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(2), or (iv) any direction referred to in
Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be
entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or
not such Holders remain
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Holders after such record date, provided that no such action shall be effective
hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on
such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the
Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date
has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date
previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled
and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render
ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of
Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken.
Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee,
at the Corporation's expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the
proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the
Corporation in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series
in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.04(f),
the party that sets such record date may designate any day as the "Expiration
Date" and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or
later day, provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the
proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and
to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in
Section 1.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date
is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section ,
the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially
designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with
respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided
in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be
later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.
(g) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take
any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with
regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or
more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment
with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.
SECTION 1.5. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Corporation.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to
be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder, any holder of Preferred Securities or
the Corporation shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given,
furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust
office, or
(2) the Corporation by the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of
Preferred Securities shall be sufficient for every purpose (except as otherwise
provided in Section 5.1) hereunder if in writing and mailed, first class,
postage prepaid, to the Corporation addressed to it at the address of its
principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any
other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Corporation.
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<PAGE> 21
SECTION 1.6. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities
Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest
date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. If, by reason of the suspension
of or irregularities in regular mail service or for any other reason, it shall
be impossible or impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when said
notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or of
the relevant Securities, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be
satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such
notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the
failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any
particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to
other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such
notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice,
either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of
such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but
such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action
taken in reliance upon such waiver.
SECTION 1.7. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with
the duties imposed by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust
Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties
shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any
provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the
latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to
be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 1.8. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are
for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 1.9. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Corporation shall
bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 1.10. Separability Clause.
If any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 1.11. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied,
shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and
assigns, the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities and,
to the extent expressly provided in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.8, 5.9, 5.11,
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<PAGE> 22
5.13, 9.1 and 9.2, the holders of Preferred Securities, any benefit or any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
SECTION 1.12. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 1.13. Non-Business Days.
If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any
Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision
of this Indenture or the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and
premium, if any) or other amounts in respect of such Security need not be made
on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no
interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for
the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity, as the case may be, until such next succeeding Business Day) except
that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such
payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day (in each case
with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or
Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity).
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS
SECTION 2.1. Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article, or
in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board
Resolution 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 such letters, numbers
or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon
as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any
securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the
officers executing such securities, as evidenced by their execution of the
Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action
taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such
action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Corporation and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the
Corporation Order contemplated by Section 3.3 with respect to the authentication
and delivery of such Securities.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or
produced by any combination of these methods, if required by any securities
exchange on which the Securities may be listed, on a steel engraved border or
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the
rules of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, all as
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of such securities.
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<PAGE> 23
SECTION 2.2. Form of Face of Security.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
[TITLE OF SECURITY]
No. $
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP, a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of Ohio (hereinafter called the "Corporation", which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to _______________, or registered assigns, the
principal sum of __________ Dollars on __________ __, [if the Security is a
Global Security, then insert, if applicable--, or such other principal amount
represented hereby as may be set forth in the records of the Securities
Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Indenture,] [; provided
that the Corporation may (j) shorten the Stated Maturity of the principal of
this Security to a date not earlier than __________, and (ii) extend the Stated
Maturity of the principal of this Security at any time on one or more occasions,
subject to certain conditions specified in Section 3.15 of the Indenture, but in
no event to a date later than __________]. The Corporation further promises to
pay interest on said principal sum from , or from the most recent Interest
Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, [monthly]
[quarterly] [semi-annually] [if applicable, insert--(subject to deferral as set
forth herein)] in arrears on [insert applicable Interest Payment Dates] of each
year, commencing , , at the rate of % per annum, [if applicable insert--together
with Additional Sums, if any, as provided in Section 10.6 of the Indenture]
until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for
payment [if applicable, insert-- ; provided that any overdue principal, premium
or Additional Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional
Interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such
interest shall be legally enforceable), compounded [monthly] [quarterly]
[semi-annually], from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made
available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The amount
of interest payable for any period less than a full interest period shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30- day months and the actual
days elapsed in a partial month in such period. The amount of interest payable
for any full interest period shall be computed by dividing the applicable rate
per annum by [twelve/four/two]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or
duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the
Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest installment [if applicable insert--, which shall
be the [____________ or ____________] (whether or not a Business Day), as the
case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date]. Any such interest not
so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to
the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in
whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered
at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such
Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to
Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special
Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent
with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this
series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange,
all as more fully provided in said Indenture.
[If applicable, insert--So long as no Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, the Corporation shall have the right, at any time during the term
of this Security, from time to time to
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<PAGE> 24
defer the payment of interest on this Security for up to consecutive [monthly]
[quarterly] [semi-annual] interest payment periods with respect to each deferral
period (each an "Extension Period") [If applicable, insert--, during which
Extension Periods the Corporation shall have the right to make partial payments
of interest on any Interest Payment Date, and] at the end of which the
Corporation shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid including any
Additional Interest, as provided below; provided, however, that no Extension
Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security
[If Stated Maturity can be shortened or extended, insert--, as then in effect,]
and no such Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment
Date; and provided, further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the
Corporation shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Corporation's capital stock, or (ii) make any payment of principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Corporation that rank pari passu in all respects with or
junior in interest to this Security (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or
other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Corporation in connection
with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or
for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or
consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock
purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the
Corporation (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital
stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the
applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of an exchange or conversion of any
class or series of the Corporation's capital stock (or any capital stock of a
Subsidiary of the Corporation) for any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock or of any class or series of the Corporation's indebtedness for
any class or series of the Corporation's capital stock, (c) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection
with any Rights Plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under
any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or
(e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where
the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options
or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or
ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior to the termination of any
such Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer the payment of
interest, provided that no Extension Period shall exceed consecutive [monthly]
[quarterly] [semi-annual] interest payment periods, extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the principal of this Security or end on a date other than an
Interest Payment Date. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and
upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest
then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Corporation may elect to begin a new
Extension Period, subject to the above conditions. No interest shall be due and
payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each
installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during
such Extension shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable) at the rate of ____% per annum,
compounded [monthly] [quarterly] [semi-annually] and calculated as set forth in
the first paragraph of this Security, from the dates on which amounts would
otherwise have been due and payable until paid or made available for payment.
The Corporation shall give the Holder of this Security and the Trustee notice of
its election to begin any Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to
the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on this Security
would be payable but for such deferral [if applicable, insert--or so long as
such Securities are held by [insert name of applicable Issuer Trust], at least
one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which
Distributions on the Preferred Securities of such Issuer Trust would be payable
but for such deferral, and (ii) the date on
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<PAGE> 25
which the Property Trustee of such Issuer Trust is required to give notice to
any securities exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to
holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such
Distributions are payable].
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
Security will be made at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for
that purpose in the [insert Place of Payment], in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment
of public and private debts [if applicable, insert--; provided, however, that at
the option of the Corporation payment of interest may be made (i) by check
mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the Securities Register, or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately
available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the
Person entitled thereto as specified in the Securities Register].
The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided
in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Security is issued subject
to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this
Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take
such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination
so provided, and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any
and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof,
waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained
herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now
outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon
said provisions.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this instrument to be
duly executed under its corporate seal.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
By:
Name:
Title:
Attest:
___________________________________
[Secretary or Assistant Secretary]
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<PAGE> 26
SECTION 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Corporation (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or
more series under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of __________,
1997 (herein called the "Indenture"), between the Corporation and Wilmington
Trust Company, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any
successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective
rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the
Corporation, the Trustee, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of
the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on
the face hereof [if applicable, insert--, limited in aggregate principal amount
to $_____________ ].
All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture [if
applicable, insert--or in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of
___________, 1997 (as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time, the
"Trust Agreement"), relating to [insert name of Issuer Trust] (the "Issuer
Trust") among the Corporation, as Depositor, the Trustees named therein and the
Holders from time to time of the Trust Securities issued pursuant thereto, shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture [if applicable, insert--or
the Trust Agreement, as the case may be].
[If applicable, insert--The Corporation may at any time, at its option,
on or after _________, ____, and subject to the terms and conditions of Article
XI of the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from
time to time, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of
the principal amount hereof): If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning
_________________,
Redemption
Year Price
---- ----------
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount
hereof, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest [if
applicable, insert--, including any Additional Interest,] to but excluding the
date fixed for redemption.]
[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert--In the
event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities
of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of
the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
[If applicable, insert--In addition, upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event in respect of the
Issuer Trust, the Corporation may, at its option, at any time within 90 days of
the occurrence and during the continuation of such Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event, as the case may be, redeem this Security, in whole but not in
part, subject to the terms and conditions of Article XI of the Indenture, at a
redemption price equal to [insert formula].]
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<PAGE> 27
The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of the
entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Corporation with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
Corporation and the Trustee at any time to enter into a supplemental indenture
or indentures for the purpose of modifying in any manner the rights and
obligations of the Corporation and of the Holders of the Securities, with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of each series to be affected by such supplemental
indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting Holders of
specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at
the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series,
to waive compliance by the Corporation with certain provisions of the Indenture
and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such
consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any
Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor
or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made
upon this Security.
[If the Security is not a Discount Security, insert--As provided in and
subject to the provisions of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect
to the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this
series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of this series to
be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Corporation (and
to the Trustee if given by Holders) [if applicable, insert--, provided that, if
upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or such Holders fail to declare the
principal of all the Outstanding Securities of this series to be immediately due
and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have the right to make such
declaration by a notice in writing to the Corporation and the Trustee]; and upon
any such declaration the principal amount of and the accrued interest (including
any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of this series shall become
immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest
(including any Additional Interest) on such Securities shall remain subordinated
to the extent provided in Article XIII of the Indenture.]
[If the Security is a Discount Security, insert--As provided in and
subject to the provisions of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect
to the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this
series may declare an amount of principal of the Securities of this series to be
due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Corporation (and to
the Trustee if given by Holders) [if applicable, insert--, provided that, if
upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or such Holders fail to declare such
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series to be immediately
due and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have the right to make such
declaration by a notice in writing to the Corporation and the Trustee]. The
principal amount payable upon such acceleration shall be equal to--insert
formula for determining the amount]. Upon any such declaration, such amount of
the principal of and the accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on
all the Securities of this series shall become immediately due and payable,
provided that the payment of such principal and interest (including any
Additional Interest) on all the Securities of this series shall remain
subordinated to the extent provided in Article XIII of the Indenture. Upon
payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and
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<PAGE> 28
(ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to
the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all
of the Corporation's obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of
and premium and interest, if any, on this Security shall terminate.]
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation,
which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest [insert if applicable--(including any Additional Interest)] on
this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein
prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Securities
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Corporation maintained under Section 10.2 of the
Indenture for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the
Securities Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder's
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series, of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $ and any integral multiple of $____________
in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a
like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor
of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering
the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer,
the Corporation, the Trustee and any agent of the Corporation or the Trustee may
treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof
for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the
Corporation, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.
The Corporation and, by its acceptance of this Security or a beneficial
interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial
interest in, this Security agree that for United States Federal, state and local
tax purposes it is intended that this Security constitute indebtedness.
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 2.4. Additional Provisions Required in Global Security.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, any Global
Security issued hereunder shall, in addition to the provisions contained in
Sections 2.2 and 2.3, bear a legend in substantially the following form:
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<PAGE> 29
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY
OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR
SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY
OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE
DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY,
EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
SECTION 2.5. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially
the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:_____________________________________
Authorized officer
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 3.1. Title and Terms.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.3,
set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officers' Certificate, or
established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance
of Securities of a series:
(a) the title of the securities of such series, which shall
distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities;
(b) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount of
the Securities of such 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 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 9.6
or 11.6 and except for any
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<PAGE> 30
Securities that, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that the
authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased
above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect;
(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the
series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that
security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the
close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;
(d) the Stated Maturity or Maturities on which the principal
of the Securities of such series is payable or the method of
determination thereof, and any dates on which or circumstances under
which, the Corporation shall have the right to extend or shorten such
Stated Maturity or Maturities;
(e) the rate or rates, if any, or method of calculating the
rate or rates, if any, at which the Securities of such series shall
bear interest, if any, the rate or rates or method of calculating the
rate or rates and extent to which Additional Interest, if any, shall be
payable in respect of any Securities of such series, the date or dates
from which any such interest or Additional Interest shall accrue, the
Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable, the
right, pursuant to Section 3.12 or as otherwise set forth therein, of
the Corporation to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the
Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be determined;
(f) the place or places where the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the
Securities of such series shall be payable, the place or places where
the Securities of such series may be presented for registration of
transfer or exchange, any restrictions that may be applicable to any
such transfer or exchange in addition to or in lieu of those set forth
herein, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon
the Corporation in respect of the Securities of such series may be
made;
(g) the period or periods within or the date or dates on
which, if any, the price or prices at which and the terms and
conditions upon which the Securities of such series may be redeemed, in
whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation, and if other than
by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the
Corporation to redeem such Securities shall be evidenced;
(h) the obligation or the right, if any, of the Corporation to
redeem, repay or purchase the Securities of such series pursuant to any
sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions, or at the option of
a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or
prices at which, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or
units) in which and the other terms and conditions upon which
Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in
whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(i) the denominations in which any Securities of such series
shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $25 and any integral
multiple thereof;
(j) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies
(including any currency unit or
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units) in which the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and
Additional Interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be
payable, or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated
and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for
purposes of the definition of Outstanding;
(k) the additions, modifications or deletions, if any, in the
Events of Default or covenants of the Corporation set forth herein with
respect to the Securities of such series;
(l) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of
the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof;
(m) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of
any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or
more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be
deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such
date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal
amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other
than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as
of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the
manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be
determined);
(n) the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with
respect to the Securities of such series as shall be necessary to
permit or facilitate the issuance of the Securities of such series in
bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with
or without interest coupons;
(o) any index or indices used to determine the amount of
payments of principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such
series or the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
(p) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be
issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global
Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such
Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends that shall be
borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set
forth in Section 2.4 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of
those set forth in Section 3.6 in which any such Global Security may be
exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any
transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered,
in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such
Global Security or a nominee thereof;
(q) the appointment of any Paying Agent or agents for the
Securities of such series;
(r) the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities
of such series into any other securities or property of the
Corporation, and the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture
with respect to the Securities of such series to permit or facilitate
such conversion or exchange;
(s) if such Securities are to be issued to an Issuer Trust,
the form or forms of the Trust Agreement, Guarantee Agreement and
Expense Agreement relating thereto;
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(t) if other than as set forth herein, the relative degree, if
any, to which the Securities of the series shall be senior to or be
subordinated to other series of Securities in right of payment, whether
such other series of Securities are Outstanding or not;
(u) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which
applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of
the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the
principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 5.2;
(v) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in
Article X which applies to Securities of the series; and
(w) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which
terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture,
except as permitted by Section 9.1(6)).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or in
or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth, or determined in the manner
provided, in such Officers' Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken
pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action
shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation
and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers'
Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior
Indebtedness as provided in Article XIII.
SECTION 3.2. Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be in registered form without
coupons and shall be issuable in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple
thereof, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.
SECTION 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its
Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of
its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced or impressed thereon
and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature
of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals
who were at any time the proper officers of the Corporation shall bind the
Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or
did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities. At any time and from
time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Corporation
may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Corporation to the Trustee
for authentication, together with a Corporation Order for the authentication and
delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the
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Corporation Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or
terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to
one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1, in
authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities
under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,
(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that such
form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture;
(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by
or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such
terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture; and
(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee and issued by the Corporation in the manner and subject to
any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute
valid and legally binding obligations of the Corporation, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium
and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that
is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise
required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Corporation Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the
authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered
at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security
of such series to be issued.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized
officers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence,
and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have
been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the
Corporation, and the Corporation shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for
cancellation as provided in Section 3.10, for all purposes of this Indenture
such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
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SECTION 3.4. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the
Corporation may execute, and upon Corporation Order the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed,
typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series in lieu
of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may
determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Corporation will
cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable
delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities
shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary
Securities at the office or agency of the Corporation designated for that
purpose without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one
or more temporary Securities, the Corporation shall execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive
Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations having the same
Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms as such
temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series
shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as
definitive Securities of such series.
SECTION 3.5. Global Securities.
(a) Each Global Security issued under this Indenture shall be
registered in the name of the Depositary designated by the Corporation for such
Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a
nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall
constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global
Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no
transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name
of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof unless (i) such Depositary advises the Trustee in writing that such
Depositary is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its
responsibilities as Depositary with respect to such Global Security, and the
Corporation is unable to locate a qualified successor, (ii) the Corporation
executes and delivers to the Trustee a Corporation Order stating that the
Corporation elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary, or
(iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default.
(c) If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other Securities or
cancelled in whole, it shall be surrendered by or on behalf of the Depositary or
its nominee to the Securities Registrar for exchange or cancellation as provided
in this Article III. If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other
Securities or cancelled in part, or if another Security is to be exchanged in
whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Security, then either
(i) such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as
provided in this Article III or (ii) the principal amount thereof shall be
reduced, subject to Section 3.6(b)(v), or increased by an amount equal to the
portion thereof to be so exchanged or cancelled, or equal to the principal
amount of such other Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest
therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate
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adjustment made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the
Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, shall instruct the
Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment
to its records. Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a Global Security by
the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Trustee shall,
subject to Section 3.5(b) and as otherwise provided in this Article III,
authenticate and deliver any Securities issuable in exchange for such Global
Security (or any portion thereof) in accordance with the instructions of the
Depositary. The Trustee shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such
instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in
relying on, such instructions.
(d) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion
thereof, whether pursuant to this Article III, Section 9.6 or 11.6 or otherwise,
shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global
Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than
the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
(e) Securities distributed to holders of Book-Entry Preferred
Securities or Book-Entry Capital Securities (each as defined in the applicable
Trust Agreement) upon the dissolution of an Issuer Trust shall be distributed in
the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of a Depositary
or its nominee, and deposited with the Securities Registrar, as custodian for
such Depositary, or with such Depositary, for credit by the Depositary to the
respective accounts of the beneficial owners of the Securities represented
thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct). Securities distributed to
holders of Preferred Securities other than Book-Entry Preferred Securities upon
the dissolution of an Issuer Trust shall not be issued in the form of a Global
Security or any other form intended to facilitate book-entry trading in
beneficial interests in such Securities.
(f) The Depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of a Global
Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Security for all purposes under
this Indenture and the Securities, and owners of beneficial interests in a
Global Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Procedures.
Accordingly, any such owner's beneficial interest in a Global Security shall be
shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through,
records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members.
Neither the Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in
respect of any transfers effected by the Depositary.
(g) The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security
shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those
established by law and agreements between such owners and the Depositary and/or
its Agent Members.
SECTION 3.6. Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally.
The Corporation shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it
may prescribe, the Corporation shall provide for the registration of Securities
and of transfers of Securities. Such register is herein sometimes referred to as
the "Securities Register." The Trustee is hereby appointed "Securities
Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities
as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at the
offices or agencies of the
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Corporation designated for that purpose the Corporation shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee
or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series of any authorized
denominations of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other
Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations, of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at
such office or agency. Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange,
the Corporation shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver,
the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall
be the valid obligations of the Corporation, evidencing the same debt, and
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities
surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall
(if so required by the Corporation or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Corporation and the Securities Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or
such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer or exchange of Securities.
Neither the Corporation nor the Trustee shall be required, pursuant to
the provisions of this Section, (i) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Securities of
that series pursuant to Article XI and ending at the close of business on the
day of mailing of the notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of
or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except,
in the case of any such Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not
to be redeemed.
SECTION 3.7. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with
such security or indemnity as may be required by the Corporation or the Trustee
to save each of them harmless, the Corporation shall execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same
series, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Corporation and to the Trustee (i)
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any
Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save
each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Corporation or the
Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the
Corporation shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new
Security of the same series, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount as
such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, and bearing a number not
contemporaneously
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outstanding.
If any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or
is about to become due and payable, the Corporation in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section , the
Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any
destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional
contractual obligation of the Corporation, whether or not the destroyed, lost or
stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with
any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
SECTION 3.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest; Interest
Rights Preserved.
Interest and Additional Interest on any Security of any series that is
payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment
Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest in respect of Securities of such series, except
that, unless otherwise provided in the Securities of such series, interest and
any Additional Interest payable on the Stated Maturity of the principal of a
Security shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. The initial
payment of interest on any Security of any series that is issued between a
Regular Record Date and the related Interest Payment Date shall be payable as
provided in such Security or in the Board Resolution pursuant to Section 3.1
with respect to the related series of Securities.
Any interest on any Security that is due and payable, but is not timely
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of such
series (herein called "Defaulted Interest"), shall forthwith cease to be payable
to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having
been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Corporation, at
its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Corporation may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest
to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series in respect of which
interest is in default (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The
Corporation shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted
Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date of the proposed
payment, and at the same time the Corporation shall deposit with the Trustee an
amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of
such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
for such deposit prior
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to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in
trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in
this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for
the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be not more than 15 days and
not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less
than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed
payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Corporation of such Special
Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Corporation, shall cause
notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record
Date therefor to be mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to each Holder of a
Security of such series at the address of such Holder as it appears in the
Securities Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The
Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at the expense of the
Corporation, cause a similar notice to be published at least once in a
newspaper, customarily published in the English language on each Business Day
and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of
such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted
Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid,
such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the
Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are
registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant
to the following Clause (2).
(2) The Corporation may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any
other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
exchange on which the Securities of the series in respect of which interest is
in default may be listed and, upon such notice as may be required by such
exchange (or by the Trustee if the Securities are not listed), if, after notice
given by the Corporation to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this
Clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section , each Security
delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of
any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to
accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 3.9. Persons Deemed Owners.
The Corporation, the Trustee and any agent of the Corporation or the
Trustee shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the
owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and
(subject to Section 3.8) any interest on such Security and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the
Corporation, the Trustee nor any agent of the Corporation or the Trustee shall
be affected by notice to the contrary.
No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its
behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect
to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Corporation,
the Trustee and any agent of the Corporation or the Trustee as the owner of such
Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing herein shall prevent the Corporation, the Trustee or any agent of the
Corporation or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification,
proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary or impair, as between a
Depositary and such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary
practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary (or its
nominee) as Holder of any Security.
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SECTION 3.10. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer or
exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be
delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered
directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it.
The Corporation may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any
Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Corporation
may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered
shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated
in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this
Section , except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled
Securities shall be destroyed by the Trustee and the Trustee shall deliver to
the Corporation a certificate of such destruction.
SECTION 3.11. Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series for any
partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360- day year of twelve
30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in any partial month in such
period, and interest on the Securities of each series for a full period shall be
computed by dividing the rate per annum by the number of interest periods that
together constitute a full twelve months.
SECTION 3.12. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates.
If specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1 with respect
to the Securities of a particular series, so long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Corporation shall have the right, at any time
during the term of such series, from time to time to defer the payment of
interest on such Securities for such period or periods as may be specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1 (each, an "Extension Period"), during which
Extension Periods the Corporation shall, if so specified as contemplated by
Section 3.1, have the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest
Payment Date. No Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest
Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the Corporation shall pay
all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Securities (together with Additional
Interest thereon, if any, at the rate specified for the Securities of such
series to the extent permitted by applicable law); provided, however, that no
Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of the
Securities of such series; and provided further, however that during any such
Extension Period, the Corporation shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock, or (ii) make any
payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Securities of such series (other than
(a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of
the Corporation in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or
other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees,
officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment
or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Corporation (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of an exchange or conversion
of any class or series of the Corporation's capital stock (or any capital stock
of a Subsidiary of the Corporation) for any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock or of any class or series of the Corporation's indebtedness for
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any class or series of the Corporation's capital stock, (c) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection
with any Rights Plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under
any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or
(e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where
the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options
or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or
ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior to the termination of any
such Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer the payment of
interest, provided that no Extension Period shall exceed the period or periods
specified in such Securities, extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal
of such Securities or end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. Upon
the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued
and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment
Date, the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period, subject to the
above conditions. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable
during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of
interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension
Period shall bear Additional Interest as and to the extent as may be specified
as contemplated by Section 3.1. The Corporation shall give the Holders of the
Securities of such series and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any
such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date on which interest on Securities of such series would be
payable but for such deferral or, with respect to any Securities of a series
issued to an Issuer Trust, so long as any such Securities are held by such
Issuer Trust, at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the next
succeeding date on which Distributions on the Preferred Securities of such
Issuer Trust would be payable but for such deferral, and (ii) the date on which
the Property Trustee of such Issuer Trust is required to give notice to any
securities exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to
holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such
Distributions are payable.
The Trustee shall promptly give notice of the Corporation's election to
begin any such Extension Period to the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of
such series.
SECTION 3.13. Right of Set-Off.
With respect to the Securities of a series initially issued to an
Issuer Trust, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Corporation
shall have the right to set off any payment it is otherwise required to make in
respect of any such Security to the extent the Corporation has theretofore made,
or is concurrently on the date of such payment making, a payment under the
Guarantee Agreement relating to such Security or to a holder of Preferred
Securities pursuant to an action undertaken under Section 5.8 of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.14. Agreed Tax Treatment.
Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Corporation and,
by its acceptance of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of,
and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Security agree that
for United States Federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that such
Security constitutes indebtedness.
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SECTION 3.15. Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity.
If specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1 with respect
to the Securities of a particular series, the Corporation shall have the right
to (i) shorten the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such
series at any time to any date not earlier than the first date on which the
Company has the right to redeem the Securities of such series, and (ii) extend
the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series at any
time at its election for one or more periods, but in no event to a date later
than the 49th anniversary of the first Interest Payment Date following the
Original Issue Date of the Securities of such series; provided that, if the
Company elects to exercise its right to extend the Stated Maturity of the
principal of the Securities of such series pursuant to clause (ii), above, at
the time such election is made and at the time of extension (A) the Company is
not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or in liquidation, (B) the Company is not
in default in the payment of any interest or principal on such Securities, (C)
if the Issuer Trust has not been liquidated, such Issuer Trust is not in arrears
on payments of Distributions on the Preferred Securities issued by such Issuer
Trust and no deferred Distributions are accumulated, (D) such Securities are
rated not less than BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Moody's or the equivalent by any
other nationally recognized statistical rating organization and (E) after such
extension, the Securities shall not have a remaining term to maturity of more
than 30 years. In the event the Company elects to shorten or extend the Stated
Maturity of the Securities of such series, it shall give notice to the Trustee,
and the Trustee shall give notice of such shortening or extension to the
Holders, no less than 30 and no more than 60 days prior to the effectiveness
thereof.
SECTION 3.16. CUSIP Numbers.
The Corporation in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if
then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in
notices of redemption and other similar or related materials as a convenience to
Holders; provided that any such notice or other materials may state that no
representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed
on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption or other materials
and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed
on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect
in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall, upon Corporation Request, cease to be of further
effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided
in this Section 4.1) and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the
Corporation, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, when
(1) either
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(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered
(other than (i) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and
that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.7 and (ii)
Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in
trust or segregated and held in trust by the Corporation and thereafter
repaid to the Corporation or discharged from such trust, as provided in
Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation
(i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity
within one year of the date of deposit, or
(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the
giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the
name, and at the expense, of the Corporation,
and the Corporation, in the case of subclause (B)(i), (ii) or (iii)
above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as
trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the currency or
currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable
sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such
Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
for principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
Additional Interest) to the date of such deposit (in the case of
Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity
or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) the Corporation has paid or caused to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Corporation; and
(3) the Corporation has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent
herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Corporation to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations
of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money
shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause
(1) of this Section , the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and the
last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall survive.
SECTION 4.2. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust
and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities
and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Corporation acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if
any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) for the payment of which
such money or obligations have been
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deposited with or received by the Trustee.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
SECTION 5.1. Events of Default.
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to the Securities
of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for
such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any
court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental
body) except as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.1:
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
series, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, when it becomes
due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days
(subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of an Extension Period); or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on)
any Security of that series at its Maturity; or
(3) failure on the part of the Corporation duly to observe or perform
any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Corporation in the
Securities of that series or in this Indenture for a period of 90 days after the
date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the Corporation to
remedy the same, shall have been given to the Corporation by the Trustee by
registered or certified mail or to the Corporation and the Trustee by the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series; or
(4) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in
the premises adjudging the Corporation a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as
properly filed a petition seeking reorganization of the Corporation under the
Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable Federal or State law, which
decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of
60 days; or the entry of a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the
premises for the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee
in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Corporation or of its property, or for the
winding up or liquidation of its affairs, which decree or order shall have
continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or
(5) the commencement by the Corporation of voluntary proceedings to be
adjudicated a bankrupt, or consent by the Corporation to the filing of a
bankruptcy proceeding against it, or the filing by the Corporation of a petition
or answer or consent seeking reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code or any
other similar Federal or State law, or consent by the Corporation to the filing
of any such petition, or the consent by the Corporation to the appointment of a
receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of it
or of its property, or the making by the Corporation of an assignment for the
benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Corporation in writing of its
inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or
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(6) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of
that series.
SECTION 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
Section 5.1(4) or 5.1(5)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or
the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if
the Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the
Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in
writing to the Corporation (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), provided
that, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Issuer Trust, if,
upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series fail to declare
the principal of all the Outstanding Securities of such series to be immediately
due and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as
defined in the related Trust Agreement) of the related series of Preferred
Securities issued by such Issuer Trust then outstanding shall have the right to
make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Corporation and the Trustee;
and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified portion
thereof) of and the accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on all
the Securities of such series shall become immediately due and payable. If an
Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(4) or 5.1(5) with respect to
Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of
all the Securities of such series (or, if the Securities of such series are
Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as
may be specified by the terms of that series) shall automatically, and without
any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become
immediately due and payable. Payment of principal and interest (including any
Additional Interest) on such Securities shall remain subordinated to the extent
provided in Article XIII notwithstanding that such amount shall become
immediately due and payable as herein provided.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this
Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Corporation and
the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(1) the Corporation has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay:
(A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of such
series,
(B) any accrued Additional Interest on all Securities of such series,
(C) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of such
series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration
and interest and Additional Interest thereon at the rate borne by the
Securities, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel; and
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(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that
has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 5.13.
In the case of Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, if the Holders of such Securities fail to annul such declaration and
waive such default, the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount
(as defined in the related Trust Agreement) of the related series of Preferred
Securities issued by such Issuer Trust then outstanding shall also have the
right to rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences by written
notice to the Corporation and the Trustee, subject to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Clauses (1) and (2) above of this Section 5.2.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
SECTION 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Trustee.
The Corporation covenants that if:
(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest
(including any Additional Interest) on any Security of any series when such
interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30
days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
the Corporation will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the
benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable
on such Securities for principal, including any sinking fund payment or
analogous obligations (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
Additional Interest), and, in addition thereto, all amounts owing the Trustee
under Section 6.7.
If the Corporation fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may
institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and
unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may
enforce the same against the Corporation or any other obligor upon such
Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the
manner provided by law out of the property of the Corporation or any other
obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by
such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual
to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial
proceeding relative to the Corporation or any other obligor
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upon the Securities or the property of the Corporation or of such other obligor
or their creditors,
(a) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the
Securities of any series 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 on the Corporation for the
payment of overdue principal (and premium, if any) or interest
(including any Additional Interest)) shall be entitled and empowered,
by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of
principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
Additional Interest) owing and unpaid in respect to the
Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may
be necessary or advisable and to take any and all actions as
are authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have
the claims of the Holders and any predecessor to the Trustee
under Section 6.7 allowed in any such judicial proceedings;
and
(ii) in particular, the Trustee shall be authorized
to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same in
accordance with Section 5.6; and
(b) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator,
sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to
the Trustee for distribution in accordance with Section 5.6, and in the
event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments
directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it and
any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities
or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in
respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however,
that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a
trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors' or
other similar committee.
SECTION 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of
Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities
may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and
any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name
as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, subject to
Article XIII and after provision for the payment of all the amounts owing the
Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7, its agents and counsel,
be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which
such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 5.6. Application of Money Collected.
Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with
respect to a series of Securities pursuant to this Article shall be applied in
the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of
the distribution of such money or property on account of principal (or
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premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest), upon
presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only
partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any
predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7;
SECOND: Subject to Article XIII, to the payment of the amounts then due
and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any)
and interest (including any Additional Interest) in respect of which or for the
benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such series of
Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
Additional Interest), respectively; and
THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.
SECTION 5.7. Limitation on Suits.
Subject to Section 5.8, no Holder of any Securities of any series shall
have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect
to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a
continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the
Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own
name as Trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given
to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing itself of, any
provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any
other Holders of Securities, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or
preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable
benefit of all such Holders.
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SECTION 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium and Interest; Direct Action by Holders of Preferred Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security of any series shall have the right, which is absolute and
unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and
(subject to Sections 3.8 and 3.12) interest (including any Additional Interest)
on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security
(or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired
without the consent of such Holder. In the case of Securities of a series issued
to an Issuer Trust, any registered holder of the series of Preferred Securities
issued by such Issuer Trust shall have the right, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default described in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2), to institute a suit
directly against the Corporation for enforcement of payment to such holder of
principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 3.8 and 3.12)
interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the
related Trust Agreement) of such Preferred Securities held by such holder.
SECTION 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Preferred Securities issued
by any Issuer Trust has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy
under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for
any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee, such Holder or such
holder of Preferred Securities, then and in every such case the Corporation, the
Trustee, such Holders and such holder of Preferred Securities shall, subject to
any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to
their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the
Trustee, such Holder and such holder of Preferred Securities shall continue as
though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.7, no
right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or the Holders
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.
SECTION 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee, any Holder of any Security with
respect to the Securities of the related Series or any holder of any Capital
Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of the related series shall impair any such right or
remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence
therein.
Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee
or to the Holders and the right and remedy given to the holders of Preferred
Securities by Section 5.8 may be exercised from time to time, and as often as
may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee, the Holders or the
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holders of Preferred Securities, as the case may be.
SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of any series 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, provided that:
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Indenture,
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee
that is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(3) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have
the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or
Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, determine that the proceeding so
directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not joining in any such
direction or would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of any series affected thereby and, in the case of
any Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer Trust, the holders of a
majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the related Trust
Agreement) of the Preferred Securities issued by such Issuer Trust may waive any
past default hereunder and its consequences with respect to such series except a
default:
(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
(including any Additional Interest) on any Security of such series (unless such
default has been cured and the Corporation has paid to or deposited with the
Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including
any Additional Interest) and all principal of (and premium, if any, on) all
Securities of that series due otherwise than by acceleration), or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article IX
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Holder of any
Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Any such waiver shall be deemed to be on behalf of the Holders of all
the Securities of such series or, in the case of a waiver by holders of
Preferred Securities issued by such Issuer Trust, by all holders of Preferred
Securities issued by such Issuer Trust.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by
his acceptance thereof
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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 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 Holder, or group
of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any
Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security on or after
the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security.
SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.
The Corporation covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so)
that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever
claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law
wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the
covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Corporation (to the
extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or
advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or
impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer
and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been
enacted.
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties
as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of
any such certificates or opinions that by any provisions 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) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, 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.
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(c) 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
(1) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of
Subsection (a) of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in
good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee
was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) 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
Holders pursuant to Section 5.12 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 with respect
to the Securities of a series.
(d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.
(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or
affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section .
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Defaults.
Within 90 days after actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the
Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of
Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Securities
Register, notice of such default, unless such default shall have been cured or
waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment
of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional
Interest) on any Security of 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 and/or Responsible Officers of the
Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further,
that, in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(3),
no such notice to Holders of Securities of such series shall be given until at
least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section ,
the term "default" means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or
both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such
series.
SECTION 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any
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resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, 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 or direction of the Corporation mentioned herein shall
be sufficiently evidenced by a Corporation Request or Corporation Order and any
resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board
Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence
be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
rely upon an Officers' Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel
or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder
in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have
offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such
request or direction;
(f) 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, direction, consent, order, bond, indenture,
Security or other paper or document, but the Trustee in its discretion may make
such inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and,
if the Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall
be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Corporation,
personally or by agent or attorney; 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 and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder.
SECTION 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of
the Corporation, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes
any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations
as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the
use or application by the Corporation of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 6.5. May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities
Registrar or any other agent of the Corporation, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or
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pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal
with the Corporation with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee,
Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Securities Registrar or such other agent.
SECTION 6.6. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be
under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed with the Corporation.
SECTION 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Corporation agrees
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by it hereunder in such amounts as the Corporation and the
Trustee shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited
by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust);
(2) to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in
accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable
compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel),
except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its
negligence or bad faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel) incurred without
negligence or bad faith, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this trust or the performance of its duties hereunder,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder. This indemnification shall survive the termination of this
Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 5.1(4) or 5.1(5) occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 or any successor statute.
SECTION 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
(a) The Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder shall
be subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the Commission the
application referred to in the second to last paragraph of said Section 310(b).
(b) The Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement with respect to
each Issuer Trust shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Indenture
for the purposes of clause (i) of the first
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proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be:
(a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States of America or of any State or Territory or the District of
Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District
of Columbia authority, or
(b) a corporation or other Person organized and doing business under
the laws of a foreign government that is permitted to act as Trustee pursuant to
a rule, regulation or order of the Commission, authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers, and subject to supervision or examination by
authority of such foreign government or a political subdivision thereof
substantially equivalent to supervision or examination applicable to United
States institutional trustees, in either case having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by
Federal or State 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 6.9,
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. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.9, it shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VI.
Neither the Corporation nor any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by or under common control with the Corporation shall serve as
Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder.
SECTION 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.11.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities
of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Corporation. If an
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to
the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the
resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the
Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the
Trustee and to the Corporation.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.8 after written
request therefor by the Corporation or by any Holder who has been a bona fide
Holder of a Security for at least six months,
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or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall
fail to resign after written request therefor by the Corporation or by any such
Holder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a
bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver 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, (i) the Corporation, acting pursuant to the authority of
a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of all
series issued hereunder, or (ii) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has
been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of
such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of
all series issued hereunder and the appointment of a successor Trustee or
Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of
acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with
respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Corporation, by a Board
Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series. If, within one year after such resignation,
removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series delivered to the Corporation and the retiring Trustee,
the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such
appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Corporation. If no
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been
so appointed by the Corporation or the Holders and accepted appointment in the
manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a
Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to Section 5.14, on
behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect
to the Securities of such series.
(f) The Corporation shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each
appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series
by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to
the Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in
the Securities Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its
Corporate Trust Office.
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Corporation and to the retiring Trustee
an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor
Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
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retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Corporation or the successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and
deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights,
powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring
Trustee hereunder.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Corporation,
the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall
contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that
or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2)
if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall
contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm
that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with
respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring
Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) 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
hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by
any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental
indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
Trustee relates; but, on request of the Corporation or any successor Trustee,
such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor
Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of
such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Corporation shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Trustee all rights, powers and trusts referred to
in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section , as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the
time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible
under this Article.
SECTION 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business.
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 all or substantially all of the corporate trust
business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this
Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been
authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor
by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt
such authentication and deliver the
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Securities so authenticated, and in case any Securities shall not have been
authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities
either in the name of any predecessor Trustee or in the name of such successor
Trustee, and in all cases the certificate of authentication shall have the full
force which it is provided anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture that
the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
SECTION 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Corporation.
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the
Corporation (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of
claims against the Corporation (or any such other obligor).
SECTION 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect
to one or more series of Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf
of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original
issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof
or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all
purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the
Trustee or 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. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the
Corporation and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States of America, or of any State or Territory
thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as
Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than
$50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State
authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section the combined capital
and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section , such Authenticating Agent shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section .
Any corporation into which an 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 such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of
the corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent shall be the successor
Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise
eligible under this Section , without the execution or filing of any paper or
any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Trustee and to the Corporation. The Trustee may at any time
terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof
to such Authenticating Agent and to the Corporation. Upon receiving such a
notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this
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Section , the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent, which shall
be acceptable to the Corporation and shall give notice of such appointment in
the manner provided in Section 1.6 to all Holders of Securities of the series
with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor
Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become
vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with
like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor
Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provision of
this Section .
The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section , and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the
provisions of Section 6.7.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant
to this Section , the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
As Trustee
By: _________________________________,
As Authenticating Agent
By: _________________________________
Authorized Officer
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ARTICLE VII
HOLDER'S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND CORPORATION
SECTION 7.1. Corporation to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of
Holders.
The Corporation will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually, on or before June 30 and December 31 of
each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require,
of the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than 15
days prior to the delivery thereof, and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after the receipt by the Corporation of any such
request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than
15 days prior to the time such list is furnished,
in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of
the corporation and has not otherwise been received by the Trustee in its
capacity as Securities Registrar.
SECTION 7.2. Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with
respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the
corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the
Trust Indenture Act.
(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same,
agrees with the Corporation and the Trustee that neither the Corporation nor the
Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of
the disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders made
pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 7.3. Reports by Trustee.
(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the
Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act, at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(b) Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not
more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than __________ in each
calendar year, commencing with ___________, 1997 after the first issuance of
Securities under this Indenture.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Holders, be filed by
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the Trustee with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed
and also with the Commission. The Corporation will notify the Trustee when any
Securities are listed on any securities exchange.
SECTION 7.4. Reports by Corporation.
The Corporation shall file with the Trustee and with the Commission,
and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such
summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that any
such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with
the Trustee within 15 days after the same is required to be filed with the
Commission. Notwithstanding that the Corporation may not be required to remain
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, the Corporation shall continue to file with the Commission and provide the
Trustee with the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports
which are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The
Corporation also shall comply with the other provisions of Trust Indenture Act
Section 314(a).
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
SECTION 8.1. Corporation May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Corporation shall not consolidate with or merge into any other
Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as
an entirety to any Person, and no Person shall consolidate with or merge into
the Corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to the Corporation, unless:
(1) if the Corporation shall consolidate with or merge into another
Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as
an entirety to any Person, the corporation formed by such consolidation or into
which the Corporation is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance or
transfer, or that leases, the properties and assets of the Corporation
substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust
organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any
State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an
indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form
satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on all
the Securities of every series and the performance of every covenant of this
Indenture on the part of the Corporation to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of
Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and
(3) in the case of a transaction covered by clause (1) above, the
Corporation has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance,
transfer or lease and any such
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supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied
with; and the Trustee, subject to Section 6.1, may rely upon such Officers'
Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such transaction
complies with this Section 8.1.
SECTION 8.2. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger by the Corporation with or into any
other Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Corporation of its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance
with Section 8.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into
which the Corporation is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease
is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right
and power of, the Corporation under this Indenture with the same effect as if
such successor Person had been named as the Corporation herein; and in the event
of any such conveyance, transfer or lease the Corporation shall be discharged
from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
Such successor Person may cause to be executed, and may issue either in
its own name or in the name of the Corporation, any or all of the Securities
issuable hereunder that theretofore shall not have been signed by the
Corporation and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor
Person instead of the Corporation and subject to all the terms, conditions and
limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and
shall deliver any Securities that previously shall have been signed and
delivered by the officers of the Corporation to the Trustee for authentication
pursuant to such provisions and any Securities that such successor Person
thereafter shall cause to be executed and delivered to the Trustee on its behalf
for the purpose pursuant to such provisions. All the Securities so issued shall
in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the
Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease,
such changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to
be issued as may be appropriate.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Corporation, when authorized by
a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may
enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to
the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the
Corporation, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants
of the Corporation herein and in the Securities contained; or
(2) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any
property to or with the
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Trustee or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
Corporation; or
(3) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series
as permitted by Sections 2.1 or 3.1; or
(4) to add to the covenants of the Corporation for the benefit
of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such
covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of
Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included
solely for the benefit of the series specified) or to surrender any
right or power herein conferred upon the Corporation; or
(5) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of
the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional
Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of
Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are
expressly being included solely for the benefit of the series
specified); or
(6) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall (a)
become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any
series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture
that is entitled to the benefit of such provision or (b) not apply to
any Outstanding Securities; or
(7) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to
matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such
action pursuant to this clause (7) shall not adversely affect the
interest of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material
respect or, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an
Issuer Trust and for so long as any of the corresponding series of
Preferred Securities issued by such Issuer Trust shall remain
outstanding, the holders of such Preferred Securities; or
(8) 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 6.11(b); or
(9) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order
to effect or maintain qualification of this Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected
by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the
Corporation and the Trustee, the Corporation, when authorized by a Board
Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in
any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series
under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture
shall, without the
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consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of each series affected
thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment
of interest (including any Additional Interest) on, any Security, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable
upon the redemption thereof, or change the manner in calculating the rate of
interest thereon, or reduce the amount of principal of a Discount Security that
would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the place of payment where, or the
coin or currency in which, any Security or interest thereon is payable, or
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or
after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after
the Redemption Date), or
(2) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required
for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required
for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or
certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this
Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or
Section 10.5, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
consent of the Holder of each Security affected thereby;
provided, further, that, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an
Issuer Trust, so long as any of the corresponding series of Preferred Securities
issued by such Issuer Trust remains outstanding, (i) no such amendment shall be
made that adversely affects the holders of such Preferred Securities in any
material respect, and no termination of this Indenture shall occur, and no
waiver of any Event of Default or compliance with any covenant under this
Indenture shall be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at
least a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the related
Trust Agreement) of such Preferred Securities then outstanding unless and until
the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the Securities of such series and all
accrued and (subject to Section 3.8) unpaid interest (including any Additional
Interest) thereon have been paid in full, and (ii) no amendment shall be made to
Section 5.8 of this Indenture that would impair the rights of the holders of
Preferred Securities issued by any Issuer Trust provided therein without the
prior consent of the holders of each such Capital Security then outstanding
unless and until the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the Securities of
such series and all accrued and (subject to Section 3.12) unpaid interest
(including any Additional Interest) thereon have been paid in full.
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or
other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for
the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities or any corresponding
series of Preferred Securities of an Issuer Trust that holds the Securities of
any series, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such
series or holders of such Preferred Securities of such corresponding series with
respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the
rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series or
holders of Preferred Securities of any other such corresponding series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
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SECTION 9.3. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of
such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and
that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such action have
been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.4. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article,
this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
shall be bound thereby.
SECTION 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 9.6. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by
the Corporation, bear a notation in form approved by the Corporation as to any
matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Corporation shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Corporation, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared
and executed by the Corporation and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee
in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
SECTION 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Corporation covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities of
that series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
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SECTION 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Corporation will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series
of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be
presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Corporation in respect of the Securities of that series
and this Indenture may be served. The Corporation initially appoints the
Trustee, acting through its Corporate Trust Office, as its agent for said
purposes. The Corporation will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any
change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the
Corporation shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders,
notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee, and the Corporation hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive
all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Corporation may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any
or all of such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations;
provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner
relieve the Corporation of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in
each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The
Corporation will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such
designation and any change in the location of any such office or agency.
SECTION 10.3. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.
If the Corporation shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with
respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of (and premium, if any, on) or interest on any of the Securities of
such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled
thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest
so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise
disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its
failure so to act.
Whenever the Corporation shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will,
prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of
(or premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any
Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal
(and premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) so
becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled to such principal (and premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest), and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the
Corporation will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.
The Corporation will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent
shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that
such Paying Agent will:
(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal
of (and premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional
Interest) on the Securities of a series in trust for the benefit of the
Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons
or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
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(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Corporation
(or any other obligor upon such Securities) in the making of any
payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) in respect of any Security of any series;
(3) at any time during the continuance of any default with
respect to a series of Securities, upon the written request of the
Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such
Paying Agent with respect to such series; and
(4) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
applicable to it as a Paying Agent.
The Corporation may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or
by Corporation Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums
held in trust by the Corporation or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by
the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the
Corporation or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to
the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with
respect to such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Corporation in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security and
remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or
interest has become due and payable shall (unless otherwise required by
mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property
law) be paid on Corporation Request to the Corporation, or (if then held by the
Corporation) shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of
applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be discharged from
such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured
general creditor, look only to the Corporation for payment thereof, and all
liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money,
and all liability of the Corporation as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease;
provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required
to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Corporation cause to be
published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily
published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and
that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from
the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining
will be repaid to the Corporation.
SECTION 10.4. Statement as to Compliance.
The Corporation shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the
end of each fiscal year of the Corporation ending after the date hereof, an
Officers' Certificate covering the preceding calendar year, stating whether or
not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Corporation is in default
in the performance, observance or fulfillment of or compliance with any of the
terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture, and if the
Corporation shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and
status thereof of which they may have knowledge. For the purpose of this Section
10.4, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or
requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
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SECTION 10.5. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Securities specified in
Section 9.2, if any, the Corporation may omit in any particular instance to
comply with any covenant or condition provided pursuant to Section 3.1, 9.1(3)
or 9.1(4) with respect to the Securities of any series, if before or after the
time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of
such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive
compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to
or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived,
and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the
Corporation in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 10.6. Additional Sums.
In the case of the Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and except
as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1, if (i) an
Issuer Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding Securities of such series,
and (ii) a Tax Event has occurred and is continuing in respect of such Issuer
Trust, the Corporation shall pay to such Issuer Trust (and its permitted
successors or assigns under the related Trust Agreement) for so long as such
Issuer Trust (or its permitted successor or assignee) is the registered holder
of the Outstanding Securities of such series, such additional sums as may be
necessary in order that the amount of Distributions (including any Additional
Amounts (as defined in such Trust Agreement)) then due and payable by such
Issuer Trust on the related Preferred Securities and Common Securities that at
any time remain outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof shall not be
reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes arising from such Tax Event (the
"Additional Sums"). Whenever in this Indenture or the Securities there is a
reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the
Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payments of
the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such
context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof
pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment
of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be
construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such
express mention is not made; provided, however, that the deferral of the payment
of interest pursuant to Section 3.12 or the Securities shall not defer the
payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.
SECTION 10.7. Additional Covenants.
The Corporation covenants and agrees with each Holder of Securities of
each series that it shall not (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions
on, or redeem purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any shares of the Corporation's capital stock, or (y) make any payment of
principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Corporation that rank pari passu in all respects with
or junior in interest to the Securities of such series (other than (a)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the
Corporation in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees,
officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment
or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Corporation (or securities convertible into or
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exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Corporation) for any
class or series of the Corporation's capital stock or of any class or series of
the Corporation's indebtedness for any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Corporation's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with any Rights Plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock) if at such time (i) there shall have occurred any event (A) of which
the Corporation has actual knowledge that with the giving of notice or the lapse
of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of such series, and (B) which the Corporation shall not have taken
reasonable steps to cure, (ii) if the Securities of such series are held by an
Issuer Trust, the Corporation shall be in default with respect to its payment of
any obligations under the Guarantee Agreement relating to the Preferred
Securities issued by such Issuer Trust, or (iii) the Corporation shall have
given notice of its election to begin an Extension Period with respect to the
Securities of such series as provided herein and shall not have rescinded such
notice, or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing.
The Corporation also covenants with each Holder of Securities of a
series issued to an Issuer Trust (i) to hold, directly or indirectly, 100% of
the Common Securities of such Issuer Trust, provided that any permitted
successor of the Corporation hereunder may succeed to the Corporation's
ownership of such Common Securities, (ii) as holder of such Common Securities,
not to voluntarily terminate, wind-up or liquidate such Issuer Trust, other than
(a) in connection with a distribution of the Securities of such series to the
holders of the related Preferred Securities in liquidation of such Issuer Trust,
or (b) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations
permitted by the related Trust Agreement, and (iii) to use its reasonable
efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of such Trust Agreement, to
cause such Issuer Trust to continue not to be taxable as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes.
SECTION 10.8. Original Issue Discount.
For each year during which any Securities that were issued with
original issue discount are Outstanding, the Corporation shall furnish to each
Paying Agent in a timely fashion such information as may be reasonably requested
by each Paying Agent in order that each Paying Agent may prepare the information
which it is required to report for such year on Internal Revenue Service Forms
1096 and 1099 pursuant to Section 6049 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. Such information shall include the amount of original issue discount
includible in income for each $25 of principal amount at Stated Maturity of
outstanding Securities during such year.
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ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 11.1 Applicability of This Article.
Redemption of Securities of any series (whether by operation of a
sinking fund or otherwise) as permitted or required by any form of Security
issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be made in accordance with such form of
Security and this Article; provided, however, that if any provision of any such
form of Security shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the
provision of such form of Security shall govern. Except as otherwise set forth
in the form of Security for such series, each Security of a series shall be
subject to partial redemption only in the amount of $25 or any integral
multiples thereof.
SECTION 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Corporation to redeem any Securities shall be
evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the
election of the Corporation, the Corporation shall, at least 45 days prior to
the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the
Trustee), notify the Trustee and, in the case of Securities of a series held by
an Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee under the related Trust Agreement, of such
date and of the principal amount of Securities of the applicable series to be
redeemed and provide the additional information required to be included in the
notice or notices contemplated by Section 11.4; provided that in the case of any
series of Securities initially issued to an Issuer Trust, for so long as such
Securities are held by such Issuer Trust, such notice shall be given not less
than 45 nor more than 75 days prior to such Redemption Date (unless a shorter
notice shall be satisfactory to the Property Trustee under the related Trust
Agreement). In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration
of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities,
the Corporation shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction.
SECTION 11.3. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee
shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for
redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series,
provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security
shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum
authorized denomination) for such Security.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Corporation in writing of the
Securities selected for partial redemption and 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 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 that has been or is to be
redeemed.
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SECTION 11.4. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, mailed not later than the thirtieth day, and not earlier than the
sixtieth day, prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be
redeemed, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities
Register, provided that in the case of any series of Securities initially issued
to an Issuer Trust, for so long as such Securities are held by such Issuer
Trust, such notice shall be given not less than 45 nor more than 75 days prior
to such Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the
Property Trustee under the related Trust Agreement).
With respect to Securities of each series to be redeemed, each notice
of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price cannot be
calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of
the Redemption Price together with a statement that it is an estimate and that
the actual Redemption Price will be calculated on the third Business Day prior
to the Redemption Date (and if an estimate is provided, a further notice shall
be sent of the actual Redemption Price on the date that such Redemption Price is
calculated);
(c) if less than all Outstanding Securities of such particular series
are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption,
the respective principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;
(d) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due
and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof, and that interest
(including any Additional Interest) thereon, if any, shall cease to accrue on
and after said date;
(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for
payment of the Redemption Price;
(f) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case;
(g) such other provisions as may be required in respect of the terms of
a particular series of Securities.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of
the Corporation shall be given by the Corporation or, at the Corporation's
request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Corporation and
shall be irrevocable. The notice if mailed in the manner provided above shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder
receives such notice. In any case, a failure to give such notice by mail or any
defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as
a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other Security.
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SECTION 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date
specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in Section 11.4, the
Corporation will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents (or
if the Corporation is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Corporation will
segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money
sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and any accrued interest (including
any Additional Interest) on, all the Securities (or portions thereof) that are
to be redeemed on that date.
SECTION 11.6. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.
If any notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 11.4,
the Securities or portion of Securities with respect to which such notice has
been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places
stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued
interest (including any Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date. On
presentation and surrender of such Securities at a Place of Payment in said
notice specified, the said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be
paid and redeemed by the Corporation at the applicable Redemption Price,
together with accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) to the
Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1, installments of interest (including any Additional
Interest) whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be
payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor
Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record
dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.8.
Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the
Corporation shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Holder thereof, at the expense of the Corporation, a new Security or Securities
of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount
equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented and having the same
Original Issue Date, Stated Maturity and terms.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal of and premium, if any, on such
Security shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate
prescribed therefor in the Security.
SECTION 11.7. Right of Redemption of Securities Initially Issued to an
Issuer Trust.
In the case of the Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, the
Corporation, at its option, may redeem such Securities (i) on or after the date
specified in such Security, in whole at any time or in part from time to time,
or (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event or a
Capital Treatment Event, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence and
during the continuation of such Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event, in whole
(but not in part), in each case at a Redemption Price of 100% unless specified
in such Security, together with accrued interest (including any Additional
Interest) to the Redemption Date.
If less than all the Securities of any such series are to be redeemed,
the aggregate principal amount of such Securities remaining Outstanding after
giving effect to such redemption shall be
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sufficient to satisfy any provisions of the Trust Agreement related to the
Issuer Trust to which such Securities were issued, including any requirement in
such Trust Agreement as to the minimum Liquidation Amount (as defined in such
Trust Agreement) of Preferred Securities that may be held by a holder of
Preferred Securities thereunder.
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 12.1. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of any Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory
sinking fund payment", and any sinking fund payment in excess of such minimum
amount that is permitted to be made by the terms of such Securities of any
series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided
for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking
fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each
sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any
series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.
SECTION 12.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
In lieu of making all or any part of a mandatory sinking fund payment
with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Corporation may at its
option, at any time no more than 16 months and no less than 45 days prior to the
date on which such sinking fund payment is due, deliver to the Trustee
Securities of such series (together with the unmatured coupons, if any,
appertaining thereto) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the
Corporation, except Securities of such series that have been redeemed through
the application of mandatory or optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the
terms of the Securities of such series, accompanied by a Corporation Order
instructing the Trustee to credit such obligations and stating that the
Securities of such series were originally issued by the Corporation by way of
bona fide sale or other negotiation for value; provided that the Securities to
be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so
credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the
redemption price for such Securities, as specified in the Securities so to be
redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of
such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 12.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
series of Securities, the Corporation will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for
such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof,
if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency in which the
Securities of such series are payable (except as provided pursuant to Section
3.1) and the portion thereof, if any,
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that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to
Section 12.2 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered. Such Officers' Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery
the Corporation shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein
referred to, if any, on or before the succeeding sinking fund payment date. In
the case of the failure of the Corporation to deliver such Officers' Certificate
(or, as required by this Indenture, the Securities and coupons, if any,
specified in such Officers' Certificate) by the due date therefor, the sinking
fund payment due on the succeeding sinking fund payment date for such series
shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal
amount of the Securities of such series subject to a mandatory sinking fund
payment without the right to deliver or credit securities as provided in Section
12.2 and without the right to make the optional sinking fund payment with
respect to such series at such time.
Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in
cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made with
respect to the Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the
Trustee (or by the Corporation if the Corporation is acting as its own Paying
Agent) on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if
such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund
payment date immediately following the date of such payment) to the redemption
of Securities of such series at the Redemption Price specified in such
Securities with respect to the sinking fund. Any and all sinking fund moneys
with respect to the Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee (or
if the Corporation is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregated and held in
trust as provided in Section 10.3) on the last sinking fund payment date with
respect to Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption
of particular Securities of such series shall be applied by the Trustee (or by
the Corporation if the Corporation is acting as its own Paying Agent), together
with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited (or segregated) sufficient for
the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at
Maturity. The Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such
sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause
notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense
of the Corporation in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having
been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms
and in the manner stated in Section 11.6. On or before each sinking fund payment
date, the Corporation shall pay to the Trustee (or, if the Corporation is acting
as its own Paying Agent, the Corporation shall segregate and hold in trust as
provided in Section 10.3) in cash a sum in the currency in which Securities of
such series are payable (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.1) equal to
the principal (and premium, if any) and any interest (including any Additional
Interest) accrued to the Redemption Date for Securities or portions thereof to
be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 12.3.
Neither the Trustee nor the Corporation shall redeem any Securities of
a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of Securities
of such series by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the
continuance of a default in payment of interest, if any, on any Securities of
such series or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring
as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to the Securities of such
series, except that if the notice of redemption shall have been provided in
accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee (or the Corporation, if the
Corporation is then acting as its own Paying Agent) shall redeem such Securities
if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee (or
segregated by the Corporation) for that purpose in accordance with the terms of
this Article XII. 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
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any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance
of such default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of the
Securities and coupons, if any, of such series; provided, however, that in case
such default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived herein, such
moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for the
Securities of such series on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 12.3.
ARTICLE XIII
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 13.1. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness.
The Corporation covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by
its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and
in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article, the payment of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional
Interest) on each and all of the Securities of each and every series are hereby
expressly made subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment
in full of all Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 13.2. No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default; Payment
Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.
If the Corporation shall default in the payment of any principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness when the same becomes
due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by
declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then, upon written notice of such
default to the Corporation by the holders of Senior Indebtedness or any trustee
therefor, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall
have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property,
securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made on
account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) on any of the Securities, or in respect of any redemption,
repayment, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities.
In the event of (a) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership,
liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar
proceedings relating to the Corporation, its creditors or its property, (b) any
proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the
Corporation, voluntary or involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or
bankruptcy proceedings, (c) any assignment by the Corporation for the benefit of
creditors or (d) any other marshalling of the assets of the Corporation (each
such event, if any, herein sometimes referred to as a "Proceeding"), all Senior
Indebtedness (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of
any such proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment or
distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made to
any Holder of any of the Securities on account thereof. Any payment or
distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than
securities of the Corporation or any other corporation provided for by a plan of
reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to
the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the
indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness at
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the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any
such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for
these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the
Securities of any series shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such
holders until all Senior Indebtedness (including any interest thereon accruing
after the commencement of any Proceeding) shall have been paid in full.
In the event of any Proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing
with respect to Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities, together
with the holders of any obligations of the Corporation ranking on a parity with
the Securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the
Corporation the amounts at the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal
of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities and such other
obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property
or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations
of the Corporation ranking junior to the Securities and such other obligations.
If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character
or any security, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than
securities of the Corporation or any other corporation provided for by a plan of
reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to
the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the
indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect
thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), shall be
received by the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms
hereof and before all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, such
payment or distribution or security shall be received in trust for the benefit
of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the
Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities
then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior
Indebtedness in full. In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder
to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution or security, each holder of
Senior Indebtedness is hereby irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the
same.
The Trustee and the Holders shall take such action (including, without
limitation, the delivery of this Indenture to an agent for the holders of Senior
Indebtedness or consent to the filing of a financing statement with respect
hereto) as may, in the opinion of counsel designated by the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding,
be necessary or appropriate to assure the effectiveness of the subordination
effected by these provisions.
The provisions of this Section 13.2 shall not impair any rights,
interests, remedies or powers of any secured creditor of the Corporation in
respect of any security interest the creation of which is not prohibited by the
provisions of this Indenture.
The securing of any obligations of the Corporation, otherwise ranking
on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities, shall not
be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting, respectively,
obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the
Securities.
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SECTION 13.3. Payment Permitted If No Default.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in
any of the Securities shall prevent (a) the Corporation, at any time, except
during the pendency of the conditions described in the first paragraph of
Section 13.2 or of any Proceeding referred to in Section 13.2, from making
payments at any time of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest
(including any Additional Interest) on the Securities, or (b) the application by
the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on
account of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) on the Securities or the retention of such payment by the
Holders, if, at the time of such application by the Trustee, it did not have
knowledge that such payment would have been prohibited by the provisions of this
Article.
SECTION 13.4. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to the payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on
all Senior Indebtedness, or the provision for such payment in cash or cash
equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of
the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness
pursuant to the provisions of this Article (equally and ratably with the holders
of all indebtedness of the Corporation that by its express terms is subordinated
to Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation to substantially the same extent as
the Securities are subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness and is entitled to
like rights of subrogation by reason of any payments or distributions made to
holders of such Senior Indebtedness) to the rights of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions of cash, property and
securities applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the
Securities shall be paid in full. For purposes of such subrogation, no payments
or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property
or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be
entitled except for the provisions of this Article, and no payments over
pursuant to the provisions of this Article to the holders of Senior Indebtedness
by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the Corporation,
its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the
Securities, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Corporation to or
on account of the Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 13.5. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.
The provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the
purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities on the
one hand and the holders of Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing
contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is
intended to or shall (a) impair, as between the Corporation and the Holders of
the Securities, the obligations of the Corporation, which are absolute and
unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the
Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with
their terms; or (b) affect the relative rights against the Corporation of the
Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Corporation other than their
rights in relation to the holders of Senior Indebtedness; or (c) prevent the
Trustee or the Holder of any Security (or to the extent expressly provided
herein, the holder of any Capital Security) from exercising all remedies
otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture,
including filing and voting claims in any Proceeding, subject to the rights, if
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any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive cash,
property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such
Holder.
SECTION 13.6. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Holder of a Security by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes
and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination provided
in this Article and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and
all such purposes.
SECTION 13.7. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to
enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be
prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the
Corporation or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder,
or by any noncompliance by the Corporation with the terms, provisions and
covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such
holder may have or be otherwise charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the immediately preceding
paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from to time,
without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities
of any series, without incurring responsibility to such Holders of the
Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this
Article or the obligations hereunder of such Holders of the Securities to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change
the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew
or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner
Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under
which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or
otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior
Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection
of Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights
against the Corporation and any other Person.
SECTION 13.8. Notice to Trustee.
The Corporation shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any
fact known to the Corporation that would prohibit the making of any payment to
or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Notwithstanding the provisions
of this Article or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not
be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the
making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless
and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the
Corporation or a holder of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee, agent or
representative therefor; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have
received the notice provided for in this Section at least two Business Days
prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any monies may become payable
for any purpose (including, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any, on) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security), then,
anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall
have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to
the purpose for which they were received and shall not be affected by any notice
to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to
such date.
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Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall be entitled
to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing
himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or
attorney-in-fact therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a
holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or attorney-in-fact therefor). In
the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is
required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior
Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this
Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness
held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate
in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of
such Person under this Article, and if such evidence is not furnished, the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
SECTION 13.9. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating
Agent.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Corporation referred
to in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, and
the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree
entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such Proceeding is
pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating
trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person
making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders
of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to
participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Corporation, the amount thereof or
payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other
facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.
SECTION 13.10. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior
Indebtedness.
The Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, shall not
be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and
shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay
over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Corporation or to any
other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior
Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.
SECTION 13.11. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness;
Preservation of Trustee's Rights.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness that
may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior
Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of
its rights as such holder.
SECTION 13.12. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
If at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been
appointed by the Corporation and be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee" as
used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires)
be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning
as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this
Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee.
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This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
By:______________________________________
Name:
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Attest:________________________
Assistant Secretary
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:______________________________________
Name:
Title: Vice President
Attest:________________________
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(b)
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
CAPITAL TRUST I
THIS Certificate of Trust of Capital I (the "Trust"), dated March 5,
1997, is being duly executed and filed by Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware
banking corporation, as trustee, to form a business trust under the Delaware
Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.).
1. Name. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Capital
Trust I.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of the trustee of
the Trust in the State of Delaware is Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square
North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001. Attn:
Corporate Trust Administration.
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective on
March 5, 1997.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the
Trust, has executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above
written.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as trustee
By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
------------------------------
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4(c)
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
CAPITAL TRUST I
THIS DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of March 5, 1997 (this
"Declaration"), by and between, Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation, as
sponsor (the "Sponsor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking
corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The Sponsor and the Trustee hereby
agree as follows:
1. The trust created hereby shall be known as "Capital Trust I"
(the "Trust"), in which name the Trustee or the Sponsor, to the extent provided
herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts, and
sue and be sued.
2. The Sponsor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to
the Trust the sum of $10. Such amount shall constitute the initial trust
estate. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust created
hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware
Code, 12 Del. C. section 3801, et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and that this
document constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. The Trustee is
hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust with
the Delaware Secretary of State in such form as the Trustee may approve.
3. The Sponsor and the Trustee will enter into an amended and
restated Trust Agreement or Declaration satisfactory to each such party to
provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the
issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities referred to
therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated
Trust Agreement or Declaration, the Trustee shall not have any duty or
obligation hereunder with respect of the trust estate, except as otherwise
required by applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such
execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals required by
applicable law or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee may
take all actions deemed proper as are necessary to effect the transactions
contemplated herein.
4. The Sponsor, as sponsor of the Trust, is hereby authorized, in
its discretion, (i) to prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act")
one or more registration statements on Form S-3 in preliminary and final form
relating to the offering and sale of Preferred Securities of the Trust, and such
other forms or filings as may be required by the 1933 Act, the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, in each case relating to the Preferred Securities of the Trust; (ii) to
file and execute on behalf of the Trust, such applications, reports, surety
bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and
other papers and documents that shall be necessary or desirable to register or
establish the exemption from registration of the Preferred Securities of the
Trust under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the
Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or desirable; (iii) to
execute and file an application, and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments that shall be necessary or
desirable, to the Private
<PAGE> 2
Offerings, Resales and Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") Market
and, if and at such time as determined by the Sponsor, to the New York Stock
Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq National Market
for listing or quotation of the Preferred Securities of the Trust; (iv) to
execute and deliver letters or documents to, or instruments for filing with, a
depository relating to the Preferred Securities of the Trust; and (v) to
execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust one or more underwriting
agreements, purchase agreements, registration rights agreements, dealer manager
agreements, escrow agreements and other related agreements providing for or
relating to the sale of the Preferred Securities of the Trust.
In the event that any filing referred to in this Section 4 is required
by the rules and regulations of the Commission, PORTAL or state securities or
Blue Sky laws to be executed on behalf of the Trust by the Trustee, the Trustee,
in its capacity as trustee of the Trust, is hereby authorized and directed to
join in any such filing and to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the
foregoing, it being understood that the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee of
the Trust, shall not be required to join in any such filing or execute on behalf
of the Trust any such document unless required by the rules and regulations of
the Commission, PORTAL or state securities or Blue Sky laws.
5. This Declaration may be executed in one or more counterparts.
6. The number of trustees of the Trust initially shall be one (1)
and thereafter the number of trustees of the Trust shall be such number as
shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by the Sponsor
which may increase or decrease the number of trustees of the Trust; provided,
however, that to the extent required by the Business Trust Act, one trustee of
the Trust shall either be a natural person who is a resident of the State of
Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place
of business in the State of Delaware. Subject to the foregoing, the Sponsor is
entitled to appoint or remove without cause any trustee of the Trust at any
time. Any trustee of the Trust may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to
the Sponsor.
7. This Declaration shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws principles).
8. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Sponsor
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee from and against any loss, damage
or claim incurred by the Trustee by reason of any act or omission performed or
omitted by the Trustee in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a matter the
Trustee reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on
the Trustee by this Declaration, except that the Trustee shall not be entitled
to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by the
Trustee by reason of gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to
such acts or omissions.
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<PAGE> 3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Declaration to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP, as Sponsor
By: /s/ P. Michael Brumm
-----------------------------
Name: P. Michael Brumm
Title: Executive Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
not in its individual capacity but
solely as trustee of the Trust
By: /s/ Emmet R. Harmon
-------------------------------
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4(d)
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
CAPITAL TRUST II
THIS Certificate of Trust of Capital II (the "Trust"), dated March 5,
1997, is being duly executed and filed by Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware
banking corporation, as trustee, to form a business trust under the Delaware
Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.).
1. Name. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Capital
Trust II.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of the trustee of
the Trust in the State of Delaware is Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square
North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001. Attn:
Corporate Trust Administration.
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective on
March 5, 1997.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the
Trust, has executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above
written.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as trustee
By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
----------------------------
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4(e)
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
CAPITAL TRUST II
THIS DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of March 5, 1997 (this
"Declaration"), by and between, Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation, as
sponsor (the "Sponsor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking
corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The Sponsor and the Trustee hereby
agree as follows:
1. The trust created hereby shall be known as "Capital Trust II"
(the "Trust"), in which name the Trustee or the Sponsor, to the extent provided
herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts, and
sue and be sued.
2. The Sponsor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to
the Trust the sum of $10. Such amount shall constitute the initial trust
estate. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust created hereby
constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code,
12 Del. C. Section 3801, et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and that this
document constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. The Trustee is
hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust with
the Delaware Secretary of State in such form as the Trustee may approve.
3. The Sponsor and the Trustee will enter into an amended and
restated Trust Agreement or Declaration satisfactory to each such party to
provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the
issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities referred to therein.
Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated Trust
Agreement or Declaration, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation
hereunder or with respect of the trust estate, except as otherwise required by
applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such execution and
delivery any licenses, consents or approvals required by applicable law or
otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee may take all actions
deemed proper as are necessary to effect the transactions contemplated herein.
4. The Sponsor, as sponsor of the Trust, is hereby authorized, in
its discretion, (i) to prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act")
one or more registration statements on Form S-3 in preliminary and final form
relating to the offering and sale of Preferred Securities of the Trust, and
such other forms or filings as may be required by the 1933 Act, the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, in each case relating to the Preferred Securities of the Trust; (ii)
to file and execute on behalf of the Trust, such applications, reports, surety
bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for service of process
and other papers and documents that shall be necessary or desirable to register
or establish the assumption from registration of the Preferred Securities of
the Trust under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the
Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or desirable; (iii) to
execute and file an application, and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments that shall be necessary or
desirable, to the Private
<PAGE> 2
Offerings, Resales and Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") Market
and, if and at such time as determined by the Sponsor, to the New York Stock
Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq National Market for
listing or quotation of the Preferred Securities of the Trust; (iv) to execute
and deliver letters or documents to, or instruments for filing with, a
depository relating to the Preferred Securities of the Trust; and (v) to
execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust one or more underwriting
agreements, purchase agreements, registration rights agreements, dealer manager
agreements, escrow agreements and other related agreements providing for or
relating to the sale of the Preferred Securities of the Trust.
In the event that any filing referred to in this Section 4 is required
by the rules and regulations of the Commission, PORTAL or state securities or
Blue Sky laws to be executed on behalf of the Trust by the Trustee, the
Trustee, in its capacity as trustee of the Trust, is hereby authorized and
directed to join in any such filing and to execute on behalf of the Trust any
and all of the foregoing, it being understood that the Trustee, in its capacity
as trustee of the Trust, shall not be required to join in any such filing or
execute on behalf of the Trust any such document unless required by the rules
and regulations of the Commission, PORTAL or state securities or Blue Sky laws.
5. This Declaration may be executed in one or more counterparts.
6. The number of trustees of the Trust initially shall be one (1) and
thereafter the number of trustees of the Trust shall be such number as shall be
fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by the Sponsor which may
increase or decrease the number of trustees of the Trust; provided, however,
that to the extent required by the Business Trust Act, one trustee of the Trust
shall either be a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or,
if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place of business
in the State of Delaware. Subject to the foregoing, the Sponsor is entitled to
appoint or remove without cause any trustee of the Trust at any time. Any
trustee of the Trust may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to the Sponsor.
7. This Declaration shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws
principles).
8. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Sponsor shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee from and against any loss, damage or
claim incurred by the Trustee by reason of any act or omission performed or
omitted by the Trustee in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a matter the
Trustee reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on
the Trustee by this Declaration, except that the Trustee shall not be entitled
to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by the
Trustee by reason of gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to
such acts or omissions.
-2-
<PAGE> 3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, have caused this Declaration to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP, as Sponsor
By: /s/ P. Michael Brumm
---------------------------------
Name: P. Michael Brumm
Title: Executive Vice President & Chief
Financial Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
not in its individual capacity but
solely as trustee of the Trust
By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
----------------------------------
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 1
EXhibit 4(f)
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
CAPITAL TRUST I
THIS Restated Certificate of Trust of Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), dated
March 10, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by Wilmington Trust Company, a
Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, to restate the original Certificate of
Trust of the Trust which was filed on March 5, 1997 with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware under the Delaware Business Act (12 DEL.C. section 3801
ET SEQ.)
The Certificate of Trust is hereby restated in its entirety to read as
follows:
1. NAME. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Fifth Third
Capital Trust I.
2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the trustee of the
Trust in the State of Delaware is Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North,
1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attn: Corporate Trust
Administration.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Restated Certificate of Trust shall be effective
upon filing with the Secretary of State.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the Trust,
has executed this Restated Certificate of Trust as of the date first above
written.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as trustee
By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
-----------------------------------
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4(g)
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
CAPITAL TRUST II
THIS Restated Certificate of Trust of Capital Trust II (the "Trust"), dated
March 10, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by Wilmington Trust Company, a
Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, to restate the original Certificate of
Trust of the Trust which was filed on March 5, 1997 with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 DEL.C.
section 3801 ET SEQ.)
The Certificate of Trust is hereby restated in its entirety to read as
follows:
1. NAME. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Fifth Third
Capital Trust II.
2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the trustee of the
Trust in the State of Delaware is Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North,
1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attn: Corporate Trust
Administration.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Restated Certificate of Trust shall be effective
upon filing with the Secretary of State.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the Trust,
has executed this Restated Certificate of Trust as of the date first above
written.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as trustee
By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
-----------------------------------
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4(h)
S&C Draft of 3/10/97
================================================================================
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT
AMONG
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP,
as Depositor
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Property Trustee
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Delaware Trustee
and
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
---------------------------
Dated as of , 1997
----------
---------------------------
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating to
Sections 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture Trust Agreement
Act Section Section
- --------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
(Section) 310 (a)(1)................................................................. 8.7
(a)(2)................................................................. 8.7
(a)(3)................................................................. 8.9
(a)(4)................................................................. 2.7(a)(ii)
(b).................................................................... 8.8
(Section) 311 (a).................................................................... 8.13
(b).................................................................... 8.13
(Section) 312 (a).................................................................... 5.8
(b).................................................................... 5.8
(c).................................................................... 5.8
(Section) 313 (a).................................................................... 8.15(a)
(a)(4)................................................................. 8.15(b)
(b).................................................................... 8.15(b)
(c).................................................................... 10.8
(d).................................................................... 8.15(c)
(Section) 314 (a).................................................................... 8.16
(b).................................................................... Not Applicable
(c)(1)................................................................. 8.17
(c)(2)................................................................. 8.17
(c)(3)................................................................. Not Applicable
(d).................................................................... Not Applicable
(e).................................................................... 1.1, 8.17
(Section) 315 (a).................................................................... 8.1(a), 8.3(a)
(b).................................................................... 8.2, 10.8
(c).................................................................... 8.1(a)
(d).................................................................... 8.1, 8.3
(e).................................................................... Not Applicable
(Section) 316 (a).................................................................... Not Applicable
(a)(1)(A).............................................................. Not Applicable
(a)(1)(B).............................................................. Not Applicable
(a)(2)................................................................. Not Applicable
(b).................................................................... 5.15
(c).................................................................... 6.7
(Section) 317 (a)(1)................................................................. Not Applicable
(a)(2)................................................................. Not Applicable
(b).................................................................... 5.10
(Section) 318 (a).................................................................... 10.10
</TABLE>
- ----------
Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed
to be a part of the Trust Agreement.
-i-
<PAGE> 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I.
DEFINED TERMS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 1.1. Definitions....................................................................... 1
ARTICLE II.
CONTINUATION OF THE ISSUER TRUST
SECTION 2.1. Name.............................................................................. 10
SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business....................... 10
SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses................... 11
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of the Capital Securities................................................ 11
SECTION 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of
Debentures....................................................................... 11
SECTION 2.6. Continuation of Trust............................................................. 11
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.................................. 12
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust................................................................... 15
SECTION 2.9. Title to Trust Property........................................................... 15
ARTICLE III.
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
SECTION 3.1. Payment Account................................................................... 15
ARTICLE IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION
SECTION 4.1. Distributions..................................................................... 16
SECTION 4.2. Redemption........................................................................ 17
SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities................................................ 19
SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures................................................................ 19
SECTION 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports........................................................... 20
SECTION 4.6. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Issuer Trust................................ 20
SECTION 4.7. Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions............................ 20
</TABLE>
-ii-
<PAGE> 4
ARTICLE V.
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership................................................................. 20
SECTION 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates................................................. 20
SECTION 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates........................... 21
SECTION 5.4. Book-Entry Capital Securities..................................................... 21
SECTION 5.5. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Capital Securities
Certificates..................................................................... 23
SECTION 5.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates................ 24
SECTION 5.7. Persons Deemed Holders............................................................ 25
SECTION 5.8. Access to List of Holders' Names and Addresses.................................... 25
SECTION 5.9. Maintenance of Office or Agency................................................... 25
SECTION 5.10. Appointment of Paying Agent....................................................... 25
SECTION 5.11. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor....................................... 26
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency........................................................ 26
SECTION 5.13. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults....................................... 26
ARTICLE VI.
ACTS OF HOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Voting Rights...................................................... 28
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings................................................................ 29
SECTION 6.3. Meetings of Holders of the Capital Securities..................................... 29
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights..................................................................... 29
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, etc...................................................................... 30
SECTION 6.6. Holder Action by Written Consent.................................................. 30
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes......................................... 30
SECTION 6.8. Acts of Holders................................................................... 30
SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records............................................................. 31
ARTICLE VII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee................................................................. 32
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor....................................... 32
</TABLE>
-iii-
<PAGE> 5
ARTICLE VIII.
THE ISSUER TRUSTEES
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities............................................... 33
SECTION 8.2. Certain Notices................................................................... 35
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee................................................ 36
SECTION 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities............................ 38
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities............................................................... 38
SECTION 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees..................................................... 38
SECTION 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Issuer Trustees............... 39
SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests............................................................. 39
SECTION 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.................................................. 39
SECTION 8.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor................................. 41
SECTION 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor............................................ 42
SECTION 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business....................... 43
SECTION 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Issuer Trust............... 43
SECTION 8.14. Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim......................................... 43
SECTION 8.15. Reports by Property Trustee....................................................... 44
SECTION 8.16. Reports to the Property Trustee................................................... 44
SECTION 8.17. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.................................. 45
SECTION 8.18. Number of Issuer Trustees......................................................... 45
SECTION 8.19. Delegation of Power............................................................... 45
SECTION 8.20. Appointment of Administrative Trustees............................................ 45
ARTICLE IX.
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 9.1. Termination Upon Expiration Date.................................................. 46
SECTION 9.2. Early Termination................................................................. 46
SECTION 9.3. Termination....................................................................... 46
SECTION 9.4. Liquidation....................................................................... 47
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Issuer
Trust............................................................................ 48
</TABLE>
-iv-
<PAGE> 6
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Holders................................................... 49
SECTION 10.2. Amendment......................................................................... 49
SECTION 10.3. Separability...................................................................... 50
SECTION 10.4. Governing Law..................................................................... 50
SECTION 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day.................................................. 50
SECTION 10.6. Successors........................................................................ 51
SECTION 10.7. Headings.......................................................................... 51
SECTION 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands...................................................... 51
SECTION 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition......................................................... 52
SECTION 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act............................ 52
SECTION 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee Agreement and
Indenture........................................................................ 52
</TABLE>
Exhibit A Certificate of Trust
Exhibit B Form of Letter of Representations
Exhibit C Form of Common Securities Certificate
Exhibit D Form of Expense Agreement
Exhibit E Form of Capital Securities Certificate
-v-
<PAGE> 7
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of __________, 1997,
among (i) FIFTH THIRD BANCORP, an Ohio corporation (including any successors or
assigns, the "Depositor"), (ii) WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking
corporation, as property trustee (in such capacity, the "Property Trustee" and,
in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee,
the "Bank"), (iii) WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation, as
Delaware trustee (in such capacity, the "Delaware Trustee"), (iv) Paul L.
Reynolds, an individual, and Randolph J. Stierer, an individual, each of whose
address is c/o Fifth Third Bancorp, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio
45263 (each an "Administrative Trustee" and collectively the "Administrative
Trustees") (the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative
Trustees being referred to collectively as the "Issuer Trustees"), and (v) the
several Holders, as hereinafter defined.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee
have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust under the name
"Capital Trust I" pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by entering into
the Trust Agreement, dated as of March 5, 1997 (the "Original Trust Agreement"),
and by the execution and filing by the Delaware Trustee with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed on March 5,
1997, attached as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Issuer Trustees desire to amend and
restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to
provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance of the Common Securities by
the Issuer Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Capital
Securities by the Issuer Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (iii) the
acquisition by the Issuer Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title
and interest in the Debentures, and (iv) the appointment of the Property Trustee
and the Administrative Trustees;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the
other parties and for the benefit of the Holders, hereby amends and restates the
Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;
<PAGE> 8
(b) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein;
(c) The words "include", "includes" and "including" are deemed to be
followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(d) All accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles;
(e) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article", a "Section" or an "Exhibit" refers to an Article, a Section or an
Exhibit, as the case may be, of or to this Trust Agreement; and
(f) The words "hereby", "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
"Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given
Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest (as
defined in the Indenture) paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Debentures
for such period.
"Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 10.6 of the
Indenture.
"Administrative Trustee" means each of the Persons appointed in
accordance with Section 8.20 solely in such Person's capacity as Administrative
Trustee of the Issuer Trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not in
such Person's individual capacity, or any successor Administrative Trustee
appointed as herein provided.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or
transaction involving a BookEntry Capital Security, the rules and procedures of
the Clearing Agency for such Book-Entry Capital Security, in each case to the
extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
(a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in
the premises judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as
properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or
composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal or
State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing
a receiver, liquidator,
-2-
<PAGE> 9
assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such Person or of
any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding up or liquidation
of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in
effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a
bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or
insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer
or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or
State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the
consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of
such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of
an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of
its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness
to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or the taking of corporate action by such Person
in furtherance of any such action.
"Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.
"Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Depositor or
the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Depositor (or any other
committee of the board of directors of the Depositor performing similar
functions) or a committee designated by the board of directors of the Depositor
(or any such committee), comprised of two or more members of the board of
directors of the Depositor or officers of the Depositor, or both.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted
by the Depositor's Board of Directors, or officers of the Depositor to which
authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated and to
be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to
the Issuer Trustees.
"Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate" means a Capital Securities
Certificate evidencing ownership of Book-Entry Capital Securities.
"Book-Entry Capital Security" means a Capital Security, the ownership
and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency
as described in Section 5.4.
"Business Day" means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a
day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
required by law or executive order to remain closed, or (c) a day on which the
Property Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or the Corporate Trust Office of the
Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
"Capital Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Capital Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
E.
"Capital Security" means a preferred undivided beneficial interest in
the Issuer Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights
provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution to the extent provided herein.
-3-
<PAGE> 10
"Certificate Depository Agreement" means the agreement among the Issuer
Trust, the Depositor and DTC, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the
Closing Date, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may
be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing
agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. DTC will be the initial Clearing Agency.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other
financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing
Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" means the Time of Delivery, which date is also the date
of execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"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 of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing
the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.
"Common Security" means a common undivided beneficial interest in the
Issuer Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights
provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution to the extent provided herein.
"Corporate Trust Office" means (i) when used with respect to the
Property Trustee, the principal office of the Property Trustee located in
Wilmington, Delaware, and (ii) when used with respect to the Debenture Trustee,
the principal office of the Debenture Trustee located in Wilmington, Delaware.
"Debenture Event of Default" means any "Event of Default" specified in
Section 5.1 of the Indenture.
"Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debentures to be
redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption of such Debentures
under the Indenture.
"Debenture Tax Event" means a "Tax Event" as defined in the Indenture.
"Debenture Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Trustee" in the
Indenture, solely in its capacity as Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and not
in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or
any successor Trustee appointed as provided in the Indenture.
"Debentures" means the Depositor's Floating Rate Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A, issued pursuant to the Indenture.
-4-
<PAGE> 11
"Definitive Capital Securities Certificates" means either or both (as
the context requires) of (i) Capital Securities Certificates issued as
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificates as provided in Section 5.2 or 5.4,
and (ii) Capital Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully
registered form as provided in Section 5.2, 5.4 or 5.5.
"Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time
to time.
"Delaware Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Delaware
Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as
Delaware Trustee of the trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not
in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or
any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a).
"Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust
Securities as provided in Section 4.1.
-5-
<PAGE> 12
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company.
"Early Termination Event" has the meaning specified in Section 9.2.
"Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the
reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any
court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental
body):
(a) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default; or
(b) default by the Issuer Trust in the payment of any Distribution when
it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a
period of 30 days; or
(c) default by the Issuer Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price
of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of
any covenant or warranty of the Issuer Trustees in this Trust Agreement
(other than those specified in clause (b) or (c) above) and
continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after
there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer
Trustees and to the Depositor by the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Capital Securities a
written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default"
hereunder; or
(e) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property
Trustee if a successor Property Trustee has not been appointed within
90 days thereof.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any
successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities,
dated as of the Closing Date, between the Depositor and the Issuer Trust,
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D, as amended from time to time.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.
"Guarantee Agreement" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and
delivered by the Depositor and Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee,
contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for
the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities, as amended from time to
time.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Trust
Securities are registered in the Securities Register; any such Person shall be
deemed to be a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business
Trust Act.
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"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
__________, 1997, between the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee, as trustee,
as amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" means the Delaware business trust heretofore known as
"Capital Trust I" which was formed on March 5, 1997 under the Delaware Business
Trust Act pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement and the filing of the
Certificate of Trust, and continued pursuant to this Trust Agreement under the
name "Fifth Third Capital Trust I".
"Issuer Trustees" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this
Trust Agreement.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, or
any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of
trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest
or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement
of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Like Amount" means (a) with respect to a redemption of any Trust
Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal
amount of Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the
Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of
such Trust Securities, (b) with respect to a distribution of Debentures to
Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of
the Issuer Trust, Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Debentures are
distributed, and (c) with respect to any distribution of Additional Amounts to
Holders of Trust Securities, Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities in respect of which such distribution
is made.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $1,000 per Trust
Security.
"Liquidation Date" means the date of the dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Issuer Trust pursuant to Section 9.4.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.4(d).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities" or "Majority
in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities" means, except as provided by the
Trust Indenture Act, Capital Securities or Common Securities, as the case may
be, representing more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then
Outstanding Capital Securities or Common Securities, as the case may be.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and
by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the Issuer Trustees. Any Officers'
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers' Certificate that
such officer has read the covenant or condition and the definitions
relating thereto;
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(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable
such officer 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, in the opinion of such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for or an employee of the Corporation or any Affiliate of the
Corporation.
"Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the recitals to
this Trust Agreement.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Trust Securities, means, as of
the date of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and
delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:
(a) Trust Securities theretofore cancelled by the Property Trustee or
delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Trust Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property
Trustee or any Paying Agent; provided that, if such Trust Securities
are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given
pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(c) Trust Securities that have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu
of which other Trust Securities have been executed and delivered
pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 and 5.11;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Capital Securities have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Capital
Securities owned by the Depositor, any Issuer Trustee or any Affiliate of the
Depositor or of any Issuer Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Issuer Trustee shall be
protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent or waiver, only Capital Securities that such Issuer Trustee
knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded, and (b) the foregoing shall not
apply at any time when all of the outstanding Capital Securities are owned by
the Depositor, one or more of the Issuer Trustees and/or any such Affiliate.
Capital Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded
as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the
Administrative Trustees the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such
Capital Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of
the Depositor.
"Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of Book-Entry
Capital Securities as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a
Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records
of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or
indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
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"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed
pursuant to Section 5.10 and shall initially be The Fifth Third Bank.
"Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate
trust account maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders
in which all amounts paid in respect of the Debentures will be held and from
which the Property Trustee, through the Paying Agent, shall make payments to the
Holders in accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.2.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or
any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever
nature.
"Property Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Property
Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as
Property Trustee of the trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not
in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or
any successor Property Trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust
Agreement; provided that each Debenture Redemption Date and the stated maturity
of the Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust
Securities.
"Redemption Price" means, with respect to any Trust Security, the
Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the Redemption Date, plus the related amount of the premium, if
any, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption of a Like Amount of
Debentures.
"Relevant Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.10.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, and any successor
statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 5.5.
"Successor Capital Securities" of any particular Capital Securities
Certificate means every Capital Securities Certificate issued after, and
evidencing all or a portion of the same beneficial interest in the Issuer Trust
as that evidenced by, such particular Capital Securities Certificate; and, for
the purposes of this definition, any Capital Securities Certificate executed and
delivered under Section 5.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Capital Securities Certificate shall be deemed to
evidence the same beneficial interest in the Issuer Trust as the mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Capital Securities Certificate.
"Time of Delivery" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting
Agreement.
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"Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as
the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the
applicable provisions hereof, including (i) all exhibits, and (ii) for all
purposes of this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or
supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or
supplement, respectively.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force
at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in
the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in,
or owing to, the Payment Account, and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of
the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or
deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust
Agreement.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Capital
Securities.
"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities
Certificates or the Capital Securities Certificates.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Pricing Agreement, dated as of
__________, 1997, among the Issuer Trust, the Depositor and the Underwriters
named therein, as the same may be amended from time to time.
"Vice President," when used with respect to the Corporation, means any
duly appointed vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word
or words added before or after the title "vice president."
ARTICLE II.
CONTINUATION OF THE ISSUER TRUST
SECTION 2.1. Name.
The trust established under the Original Trust Agreement under the name
"Capital Trust I" and continued hereby shall hereafter be known as "Fifth Third
Capital Trust I", as such name may be modified from time to time by the
Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Trust
Securities and the other Issuer Trustees, in which name the Issuer Trustees may
conduct the business of the Issuer Trust, make and execute contracts and other
instruments on behalf of the Issuer Trust and sue and be sued.
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SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place
of Business.
The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is 1100 N.
Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration, or such other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware
Trustee may designate by written notice to the Holders, the Depositor, the
Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. The principal executive office
of the Issuer Trust is 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati Ohio 45263,
Attention: Secretary.
SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property;
Organizational Expenses.
The Property Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor
in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which
constituted the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay organizational
expenses of the Issuer Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any Issuer
Trustee, promptly reimburse such Issuer Trustee for any such expenses paid by
such Issuer Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property
for the payment of such expenses.
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of the Capital Securities.
On __________, 1997, the Depositor, both on its own behalf and on
behalf of the Issuer Trust pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement, executed
and delivered the Underwriting Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution
and delivery of this Trust Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of
the Issuer Trust, shall manually execute in accordance with Sections 5.2, 5.3
and 8.9(a) and the Property Trustee shall deliver to the Underwriters, Capital
Securities Certificates, registered in the names requested by the Underwriters,
evidencing an aggregate of 200,000 Capital Securities having an aggregate
Liquidation Amount of $200,000,000, against receipt of the aggregate purchase
price of such Capital Securities of $200,000,000, by the Property Trustee.
SECTION 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription
and Purchase of Debentures.
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Issuer Trust, shall
execute in accordance with Sections 5.2, 5.3 and 8.9(a) and the Property Trustee
shall deliver to the Depositor, Common Securities Certificates, registered in
the name of the Depositor, evidencing an aggregate of 6,186 Common Securities
having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $6,186,000, against receipt of the
aggregate purchase price of such Common Securities of $6,186,000, to the
Property Trustee. Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrative Trustee, on
behalf of the Issuer Trust, shall subscribe for and purchase from the Depositor
the Debentures, registered in the name of the Property Trustee on behalf of the
Issuer Trust and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $206,186,000,
and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Debentures, the Property
Trustee, on behalf of the Issuer Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum
of $206,186,000 (being the sum of the amounts delivered to the Property Trustee
pursuant to (i) the second sentence of Section 2.4, and (ii) the first sentence
of this Section 2.5).
SECTION 2.6. Continuation of Trust.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Issuer Trust are (a) to
issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire
the Debentures, and (b) to engage in those activities necessary or incidental
thereto. The Depositor hereby reaffirms the appointment of the Delaware Trustee
and appoints the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees as trustees of
the Issuer Trust, to have
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all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and the
respective Issuer Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee
hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject
to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Issuer Trust and the
Holders. The Administrative Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties
set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to
accomplishing the purposes of the Issuer Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall not
be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of
the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrative
Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the trustees of
the Issuer Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements
of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act and for taking such actions
as are required to be taken by a Delaware trustee under the Delaware Business
Trust Act.
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.
(a) The Issuer Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Issuer Trust
in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations
set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance with the following
provisions (i) and (ii), the Issuer Trustees shall have the authority to enter
into all transactions and agreements determined by the Issuer Trustees to be
appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted
to the Issuer Trustees, as the case may be, under this Trust Agreement, and to
perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including, without limitation, the
following:
(i) As among the Issuer Trustees, each Administrative Trustee
shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Issuer Trust
with respect to the following matters:
(A) the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;
(B) causing the Issuer Trust to enter into, and to
execute, deliver and perform the Expense Agreement and the
Certificate Depository Agreement and such other agreements as
may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes
and function of the Issuer Trust;
(C) assisting in the registration of the Capital
Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
under applicable state securities or blue sky laws and the
qualification of this Trust Agreement as a trust indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act;
(D) assisting in the listing of the Capital
Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall
be determined by the Depositor, with the registration of the
Capital Securities under the Exchange Act and with the
preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports and
other documents pursuant to the foregoing;
(E) assisting in the sending of notices (other than
notices of default) and other information regarding the Trust
Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance
with this Trust Agreement;
(F) the consent to the appointment of a Paying Agent,
authenticating agent and Securities Registrar in accordance
with this Trust Agreement (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld);
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(G) the execution of the Trust Securities on behalf
of the Issuer Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(H) the execution and delivery of closing
certificates, if any, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement
and application for a taxpayer identification number for the
Issuer Trust;
(I) unless otherwise determined by the Property
Trustee or Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities or as otherwise required by
the Delaware Business Trust Act or the Trust Indenture Act,
executing on behalf of the Issuer Trust (either acting alone
or together with the other Administrative Trustee) any
documents that the Administrative Trustees have the power to
execute pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(J) the taking of any action incidental to the
foregoing as the Issuer Trustees may from time to time
determine to be necessary or advisable to give effect to the
terms of this Trust Agreement.
(ii) As among the Issuer Trustees, the Property Trustee shall
have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Issuer Trust
with respect to the following matters:
(A) the establishment of the Payment Account;
(B) the receipt of the Debentures;
(C) the collection of interest, principal and any
other payments made in respect of the Debentures and the
holding of such amounts in the Payment Account;
(D) the distribution through the Paying Agent of
amounts distributable to the Holders in respect of the Trust
Securities;
(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and
privileges of a holder of the Debentures;
(F) the sending of notices of default and other
information regarding the Trust Securities and the Debentures
to the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(G) the distribution of the Trust Property in
accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;
(H) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement,
the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Issuer
Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the
certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware;
(I) performing the duties of the Property Trustee set
forth in this Trust Agreement;
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(J) after an Event of Default (other than under
paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of the definition of such term
if such Event of Default is by or with respect to the Property
Trustee) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing
as the Property Trustee may from time to time determine is
necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this
Trust Agreement and protect and conserve the Trust Property
for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the
effect of any such action on any particular Holder); and
(K) any of the duties, liabilities, powers or the
authority of the Administrative Trustees set forth in Section
2.7(a)(i)(E) and (J) herein; and in the event of a conflict
between the action of the Administrative Trustees and the
action of the Property Trustee, the action of the Property
Trustee shall prevail.
(b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Issuer Trust
(or the Issuer Trustees acting on behalf of the Issuer Trust) shall not
undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided
herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Issuer Trustees shall not (i)
acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust
Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or
otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including
to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that
would reasonably be expected to cause the Issuer Trust to become taxable as a
corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States
Federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
issue any other debt, or (v) take or consent to any action that would result in
the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property. The Administrative
Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming
any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Issuer
Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities,
the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Issuer Trust
with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Issuer Trust, the following (and any
actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date
of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the preparation and filing by the Issuer Trust with the
Commission and the execution on behalf of the Issuer Trust of a
registration statement on the appropriate form in relation to the
Capital Securities, including any amendments thereto and the taking of
any action necessary or desirable to sell the Capital Securities in a
transaction or a series of transactions pursuant thereto;
(ii) the determination of the States in which to take
appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the
Capital Securities and the taking of any and all such acts, other than
actions that must be taken by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust, and
advice to the Issuer Trust of actions that must be taken by or on
behalf of the Issuer Trust, and the preparation for execution and
filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Issuer Trust or
on behalf of the Issuer Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or
advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such
States in connection with the sale of the Capital Securities;
(iii) the preparation for filing by the Issuer Trust and
execution on behalf of the Issuer Trust of an application to the New
York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq
National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Capital
Securities;
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(iv) the preparation for filing by the Issuer Trust with the
Commission and the execution on behalf of the Issuer Trust of a
registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the
Capital Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act,
including any amendments thereto;
(v) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and
delivery of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the
Capital Securities; and
(vi) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to
carry out any of the foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer
Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Issuer Trust
and to operate the Issuer Trust so that the Issuer Trust will not be deemed to
be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act, and will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other
than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes and so that
the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United
States Federal income tax purposes. In this connection, each Administrative
Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities are authorized to take any action,
not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust
Agreement, that such Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee or Holders of
Common Securities determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for
such purposes, as long as such action does not adversely affect in any material
respect the interests of the Holders of the Outstanding Capital Securities. In
no event shall the Issuer Trustees be liable to the Issuer Trust or the Holders
for any failure to comply with this section that results from a change in law or
regulation or in the interpretation thereof.
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust.
The assets of the Issuer Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
SECTION 2.9. Title to Trust Property.
Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by
the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Issuer Trust and the
Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE III.
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
SECTION 3.1. Payment Account.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall
establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and its agents shall have
exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment
Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment
Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property
deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the
Property Trustee in the Payment Account for
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the exclusive benefit of the Holders and for distribution as herein provided,
including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly
upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other
payments or proceeds with respect to, the Debentures. Amounts held in the
Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending
distribution thereof.
ARTICLE IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION
SECTION 4.1. Distributions.
(a) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in
the Trust Property, and Distributions (including of Additional Amounts) will be
made on the Trust Securities at the rate and on the dates that payments of
interest (including of Additional Interest, as defined in the Indenture) are
made on the Debentures. Accordingly:
(i) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative,
and will accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Issuer Trust
available for the payment of Distributions. Distributions shall
accumulate from __________, 1997, and, except in the event (and to the
extent) that the Depositor exercises its right to defer the payment of
interest on the Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, shall be payable
semi-annually in arrears on ________ and _________ of each year,
commencing on _______, 1997. If any date on which a Distribution is
otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then
the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding
day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment
in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in
the next succeeding calendar year, the payment of such Distribution
shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case
with the same force and effect as if made on the date on which such
payment was originally payable (each date on which distributions are
payable in accordance with this Section 4.1(a), a "Distribution Date").
(ii) The Trust Securities shall be entitled to Distributions
payable at a rate of __% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the
Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any period
less than a full Distribution period shall be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of days
elapsed in a partial month in a period. Distributions payable for each
full Distribution period will be computed by dividing the rate per
annum by two. The amount of Distributions payable for any period
shall include any Additional Amounts in respect of such period.
(iii) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by
the Property Trustee from the Payment Account and shall be payable on
each Distribution Date only to the extent that
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the Issuer Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment
Account for the payment of such Distributions.
(b) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a
Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the
Securities Register for the Trust Securities at the close of business on the
relevant record date, which shall be at the close of business on the fifteenth
day (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the relevant Distribution
Date.
SECTION 4.2. Redemption.
(a) On each Debenture Redemption Date and on the stated maturity of the
Debentures, the Issuer Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust
Securities at the Redemption Price.
(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed,
at such Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of
redemption shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price or if the Redemption Price cannot be
calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, an
estimate of the Redemption Price together with a statement that it is
an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price will be calculated on
the third Business Day prior to the Redemption Date (and if an estimate
is provided, a further notice shall be sent of the actual Redemption
Price on the date that such Redemption Price is calculated);
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(iii) the CUSIP number or CUSIP numbers of the Capital
Securities affected (if applicable);
(iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to
be redeemed, the identification and the aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed;
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will
become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and
that Distributions thereon will cease to accumulate on and after said
date, except as provided in Section 4.2(d) below; and
(vi) the place or places where the Trust Securities are to be
surrendered for the payment of the Redemption Price.
The Issuer Trust in issuing the Trust Securities may use "CUSIP"
numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall
indicate the "CUSIP" numbers of the Trust Securities in notices of redemption
and related materials as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice
may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers
either as printed on the Trust Securities or as contained in any notice of
redemption and related materials.
(c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of Debentures. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and
the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent
that the Issuer Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment
Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.
(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of
any Capital Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
Redemption Date, subject to Section 4.2(c), the Property Trustee will, with
respect to Book-Entry Capital Securities, irrevocably deposit with the Clearing
Agency for such Book-Entry Capital Securities, to the extent available therefor,
funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give such
Clearing Agency irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption
Price to the Holders of the Capital Securities. With respect to Capital
Securities that are not Book-Entry Capital Securities, the Property Trustee,
subject to Section 4.2(c), will irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent, to
the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption
Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to
pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Capital Securities upon surrender
of their Capital Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust
Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust
Securities as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on
the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of
redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the
date of such deposit, all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities so called
for redemption will cease, except the right of such Holders to receive the
Redemption Price and any Distribution payable in respect of the Trust Securities
on or prior to the Redemption Date, but without interest, and such Securities
will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date on which any Redemption
Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business
Day (without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except
that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be
made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same
force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the
Redemption Price in respect of any Trust Securities called
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for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the
Issuer Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement,
Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accumulate, as set forth
in Section 4.1, from the Redemption Date originally established by the Issuer
Trust for such Trust Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually
paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for
redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
(e) Subject to Section 4.3(a), if less than all the Outstanding Trust
Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated pro
rata to the Common Securities and the Capital Securities based upon the relative
Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The particular Capital Securities to be
redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata basis based upon their respective
Liquidation Amounts not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the
Property Trustee from the Outstanding Capital Securities not previously called
for redemption, provided that so long as the Capital Securities are in
book-entry-only form, such selection shall be made in accordance with the
customary procedures for the Clearing Agency for the Capital Securities. The
Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of
the Capital Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Capital
Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be
redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Capital Securities shall
relate, in the case of any Capital Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in
part, to the portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Capital Securities
that has been or is to be redeemed.
SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on, the
Redemption Price of, and the Liquidation Distribution in respect of the Trust
Securities, as applicable, shall be made, subject to Section 4.2(e), pro rata
among the Common Securities and the Capital Securities based on the Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution
Date, Redemption Date or Liquidation Date any Event of Default resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) of the
Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution
(including any Additional Amounts) on, Redemption Price of, or Liquidation
Distribution in respect of any Common Security, and no other payment on account
of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall
be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid
Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on all Outstanding Capital
Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in
the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption
Price on all Outstanding Capital Securities then called for redemption, or in
the case of payment of the Liquidation Distribution the full amount of such
Liquidation Distribution on all Outstanding Capital Securities, shall have been
made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property
Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all
Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on, or the Redemption Price of,
the Capital Securities then due and payable.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default resulting
from any Debenture Event of Default, the Holders of the Common Securities shall
have no right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under this Trust
Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to the
Capital Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all
such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Capital
Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property
Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Capital Securities and
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not on behalf of the Holders of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of
the Capital Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act
on their behalf.
SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures.
Payments of Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) in respect
of the Capital Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the
Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register
or, if the Capital Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions
shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately available funds. Payments in
respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be
mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holders of the Common
Securities.
SECTION 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports.
The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at
the Depositor's expense, and file all United States Federal, state and local tax
and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the
Issuer Trust. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and
file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all Internal Revenue Service forms
required to be filed in respect of the Issuer Trust in each taxable year of the
Issuer Trust, and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and
furnished) to each Holder all Internal Revenue Service forms required to be
provided by the Issuer Trust. The Administrative Trustees shall provide the
Depositor and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns and reports
promptly after such filing or furnishing. The Issuer Trustees shall comply with
United States Federal withholding and backup withholding tax laws and
information reporting requirements with respect to any payments to Holders under
the Trust Securities.
SECTION 4.6. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Issuer
Trust.
Upon receipt under the Debentures of Additional Sums, the Property
Trustee shall promptly pay any taxes, duties or governmental charges of
whatsoever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed on the Issuer Trust by
the United States or any other taxing authority, which were included in such
Additional Sums.
SECTION 4.7. Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct
Actions.
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Capital Securities (or
any Owner with respect thereto) shall be reduced by the amount of any
corresponding payment such Holder (or Owner) has directly received pursuant to
Section 5.8 of the Indenture or Section 5.13 of this Trust Agreement.
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ARTICLE V.
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership.
Upon the formation of the Issuer Trust and the contribution by the
Depositor pursuant to Section 2.3 and until the issuance of the Trust
Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding,
the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Issuer Trust.
SECTION 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates.
(a) The Capital Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum
denominations of $1,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in
excess thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in
denominations of $1,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples thereof. The
Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Issuer Trust by
manual signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities
Certificates bearing the manual signatures of individuals who were, at the time
when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of
the Issuer Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this
Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have
ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities
Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of delivery of such Trust
Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall
become a Holder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the
obligations of a Holder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust
Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 5.5.
(b) Upon their original issuance, Capital Securities Certificates shall
be issued in the form of one or more Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificates
registered in the name of DTC, as Clearing Agency, or its nominee and deposited
with DTC or a custodian for DTC for credit by DTC to the respective accounts of
the Owners thereof (or such other accounts as they may direct).
(c) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common
Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common
Securities Certificate.
SECTION 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities
Certificates.
At each Time of Delivery, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust
Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in
Sections 2.4 and 2.5, to be executed on behalf of the Issuer Trust and delivered
to or upon the written order of the Depositor, executed by one authorized
officer thereof, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in
authorized denominations.
SECTION 5.4. Book-Entry Capital Securities.
(a) Each Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate issued under this
Agreement shall be registered in the name of the Clearing Agency or a nominee
thereof and delivered to such Clearing Agency or a nominee thereof or custodian
therefor, and each such Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate shall
constitute a single Capital Securities Certificate for all purposes of this
Agreement.
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, no
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate may be exchanged in whole or in part
for Capital Securities Certificates registered, and no transfer of a Book-Entry
Capital Securities Certificate in whole or in part may be registered, in the
name of any Person other than the Clearing Agency for such Book-Entry Capital
Securities Certificates or a nominee thereof unless (i) the Clearing Agency
advises the Issuer Trust in writing that the Clearing Agency is no longer
willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificates, and a qualified successor shall not
have been appointed, or the Clearing Agency ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be so
registered to act as such clearing agent, (ii) the Issuer Trust at its option
determines that a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate shall be so
exchangeable, or (iii) a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) above, the Property Trustee shall notify the Clearing Agency and instruct
the Clearing Agency to notify all Owners of Book-Entry Capital Securities and
the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees of the occurrence of such
event and of the availability of the Definitive Capital Securities Certificates
to Owners of such class or classes, as applicable, requesting the same.
(c) If any Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate is to be exchanged
for other Capital Securities Certificates or cancelled in part, or if any other
Capital Securities Certificate is to be exchanged in whole or in part for
Book-Entry Capital Securities represented by a Book-Entry Capital Securities
Certificate, then either (i) such Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate
shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article
V or (ii) the aggregate Liquidation Amount represented by such Book-Entry
Capital Securities Certificate shall be reduced, subject to Section 5.2, or
increased by an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by that
portion of the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate to be so exchanged or
cancelled, or equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by such other Capital
Securities Certificates to be so exchanged for Book-Entry Capital Securities
represented thereby, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment
made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Property Trustee,
in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, shall instruct the Clearing Agency
or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its
records. Upon surrender to the Administrative Trustees or the Securities
Registrar of the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate or Certificates by
the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the
Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the Definitive
Capital Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the
Clearing Agency. None of the Securities Registrar, the Issuer Trustees or the
Administrative Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such
instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on,
such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Capital Securities
Certificates, the Issuer Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive
Capital Securities Certificates as Holders. The Definitive Capital Securities
Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in
any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as
evidenced by the execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of
them.
(d) Every Capital Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Book-Entry
Capital Securities Certificate or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this
Article V or Article IV or otherwise, shall be executed and delivered in the
form of, and shall be, a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate, unless such
Capital Securities Certificate is registered in the name of a Person other than
the Clearing Agency for such Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate or a
nominee thereof.
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(e) The Clearing Agency or its nominee, as registered owner of a
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate, shall be the Holder of such
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate for all purposes under this Agreement
and the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate, and Owners with respect to a
BookEntry Capital Securities Certificate shall hold such interests pursuant to
the Applicable Procedures. The Securities Registrar and the Issuer Trustees
shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this
Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificates
(including the payment of the Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the
Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby and the giving of instructions
or directions by Owners of Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby) as
the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby and
shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof. None of the Issuer Trustees nor
the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers
effected by the Clearing Agency.
The rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Capital Securities shall be
exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those
established by law, the Applicable Procedures and agreements between such Owners
and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants. Pursuant to the
Certificate Depository Agreement, unless and until Definitive Capital Securities
Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 5.4(b), the initial Clearing Agency
will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and
receive and transmit payments on the Capital Securities to such Clearing Agency
Participants, and none of the Depositor or the Issuer Trustees shall have any
responsibility or obligation with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.5. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Capital
Securities Certificates.
(a) The Property Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office
or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.9, a register or registers for the
purpose of registering Trust Securities Certificates and transfers and exchanges
of Trust Securities Certificates (the "Securities Register") in which the
registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Trust Securities (the
"Securities Registrar"), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Capital Securities Certificates
and Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 5.11 in the case of the
Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of
Capital Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Person acting as the
Property Trustee shall at all times also be the Securities Registrar.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Capital Securities
Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.9, the
Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and deliver to the
Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall deliver, in the name of the
designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Capital Securities
Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount
dated the date of execution by such Administrative Trustee or Trustees.
The Securities Registrar shall not be required, (i) to issue, register
the transfer of or exchange any Capital Security during a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of
such Capital Securities pursuant to Article IV and ending at the close of
business on the day of mailing of the notice of redemption, or (ii) to register
the transfer of or exchange any Capital Security so selected for redemption in
whole or in part, except, in the case of any such Capital Security to be
redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.
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Every Capital Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to an Administrative Trustee and the
Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or its attorney duly authorized
in writing. Each Capital Securities Certificate surrendered for registration of
transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently disposed of by the
Property Trustee in accordance with its customary practice.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Capital Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Capital Securities
Certificates.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, transfers
and exchanges of Capital Securities Certificates and beneficial interests in a
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate of the kinds specified in this Section
5.5(b) shall be made only in accordance with this Section 5.5(b).
(i) Non-Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate to
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate. If the Holder of a Capital
Securities Certificate (other than a Book-Entry Capital Securities
Certificate) wishes at any time to transfer all or any portion of such
Capital Securities Certificate to a Person who wishes to take delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Book-Entry Capital
Securities Certificate, such transfer may be effected only in
accordance with the provisions of this Clause (b)(i) and subject to the
Applicable Procedures. Upon receipt by the Securities Registrar of (A)
such Capital Securities Certificate as provided in Section 5.5(a) and
instructions satisfactory to the Securities Registrar directing that a
beneficial interest in the BookEntry Capital Securities Certificate of
a specified number of Capital Securities not greater than the number of
Capital Securities represented by such Capital Securities Certificate
be credited to a specified Clearing Agency Participant's account, then
the Securities Registrar shall cancel such Capital Securities
Certificate (and issue a new Capital Securities Certificate in respect
of any untransferred portion thereof) as provided in Section 5.5(a) and
increase the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Book-Entry Capital
Securities Certificate by the Liquidation Amount represented by such
Capital Securities so transferred as provided in Section 5.4(c).
(ii) Non-Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate to
Non-Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate. A Capital Securities
Certificate that is not a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate may
be transferred, in whole or in part, to a Person who takes delivery in
the form of another Capital Securities Certificate that is not a
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate as provided in Section
5.5(a).
(iii) Exchanges between Book-Entry Capital Securities
Certificate and Non-Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate. A
beneficial interest in a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate may
be exchanged for a Capital Securities Certificate that is not a
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate as provided in Section 5.4.
SECTION 5.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust
Securities Certificates.
If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered
to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive
evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust
Securities Certificate, and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities
Registrar and the
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Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to
save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust
Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the
Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the Issuer Trust shall
execute and make available for delivery, in exchange for or in lieu of any such
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new Trust
Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination. In connection with
the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this Section 5.6, the
Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed
in connection therewith. Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued
pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided
beneficial interest in the assets of the Issuer Trust corresponding to that
evidenced by the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate, as if
originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities
Certificate shall be found at any time.
SECTION 5.7. Persons Deemed Holders.
The Issuer Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall each treat the
Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the
Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the
purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and
none of the Issuer Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any
notice to the contrary.
SECTION 5.8. Access to List of Holders' Names and Addresses.
Each Holder and each Owner shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold
the Depositor, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative
Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address,
regardless of the source from which such information was derived.
SECTION 5.9. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Property Trustee shall designate, with the consent of the
Administrative Trustees, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, an
office or offices or agency or agencies where Capital Securities Certificates
may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices
and demands to or upon the Issuer Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities
Certificates may be served. The Administrative Trustees initially designate
Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 N. Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890,
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, as its office and agency for such
purposes. The Property Trustee shall give prompt written notice to the
Depositor, the Administrative Trustees and to the Holders of any change in the
location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency.
SECTION 5.10. Appointment of Paying Agent.
The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Holders from the Payment
Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property
Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the
revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account solely for the
purpose of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative
Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent in their sole
discretion. The Paying Agent shall initially be The Fifth Third Bank. Any Person
acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30
days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee. If
The Fifth Third Bank shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor Paying
Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked,
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the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor (which shall be a bank or
trust company) to act as Paying Agent. Such successor Paying Agent or any
additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees shall execute
and deliver to the Issuer Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying
Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Issuer Trustees that as
Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold
all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Holders in trust for the benefit
of the Holders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Holders.
The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and
upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in
its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.1, 8.3 and
8.6 herein shall apply to The Fifth Third Bank in its role as Paying Agent, for
so long as The Fifth Third Bank shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent
applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this
Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the
context requires otherwise.
SECTION 5.11. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.
At each Time of Delivery, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter
shall retain, beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. The
Depositor may not transfer the Common Securities except (i) in connection with a
consolidation or merger of the Depositor into another corporation, or any
conveyance, transfer or lease by the Depositor of its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, pursuant to Section 8.1 of the
Indenture, or (ii) to the Depositor or an Affiliate thereof in compliance with
applicable law (including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable
state securities and blue sky laws). To the fullest extent permitted by law, any
attempted transfer of the Common Securities other than as set forth in the next
proceeding sentence shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause each
Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend
stating substantially "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT TO THE
DEPOSITOR OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE DEPOSITOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND
SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT."
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency.
To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is
required under this Trust Agreement, for so long as Capital Securities are
represented by a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate, the Issuer Trustees
shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to
the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to the Owners.
SECTION 5.13. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults.
(a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.9, and
the Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided
beneficial interest in the assets of the Issuer Trust conferred by their Trust
Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of
property, profits or rights of the Issuer Trust except as described below. The
Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically
set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust Securities shall have
no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and delivered to Holders against
payment of the purchase price therefor will be fully paid and nonassessable by
the Issuer Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.8, the Holders of the
Trust Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same
limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private
corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.
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(b) For so long as any Capital Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon
a Debenture Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare
the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the
Holders of at least 25% in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities then
Outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing
to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the
Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the
money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as in the Indenture
provided, if the Property Trustee fails to annul any such declaration and waive
such default, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and
the Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences if:
(i) the Depositor has paid or deposited with the Debenture
Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue installments of interest on all of
the Debentures,
(B) any accrued Additional Interest on all of the
Debentures,
(C) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any
Debentures that have become due otherwise than by such
declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional
Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debentures, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture
Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee
and the Property Trustee, their agents and counsel; and
(ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Debentures,
other than the non-payment of the principal of the Debentures that has
become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 5.13 of the Indenture.
The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive
any past default under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of
principal or interest (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient
to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by
acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default in
respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture. No
such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice declaring such
an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of
the Capital Securities a record date shall be established for determining
Holders of Outstanding Capital Securities entitled to join in such notice, which
record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Property Trustee
receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated
proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice,
whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided,
that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as
the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite
percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that
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is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration,
or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without
further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in
this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving,
after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of
acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is
identical to a written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to
the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.13(b).
(c) For so long as any Capital Securities remain Outstanding, to the
fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement
and the Indenture, upon a Debenture Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1)
or 5.1(2) of the Indenture, any Holder of Capital Securities shall have the
right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor, pursuant to
Section 5.8 of the Indenture, for enforcement of payment to such Holder of any
amounts payable in respect of Debentures having an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such
Holder (a "Direct Action"). Except as set forth in Section 5.13(b) and this
Section 5.13(c), the Holders of Capital Securities shall have no right to
exercise directly any right or remedy available to the holders of, or in respect
of, the Debentures.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this
Section 5.13, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities,
waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such
waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any
default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured, for every purpose of this Trust Agreement, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
ARTICLE VI.
ACTS OF HOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Voting Rights.
(a) Except as expressly provided in this Trust Agreement and in the
Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Capital Securities
shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the
administration, operation and management of the Issuer Trust or the obligations
of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the
terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the
Holders from time to time as partners or members of an association.
(b) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property Trustee on
behalf of the Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee shall not (i) direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Debenture Trustee, or execute any trust or power conferred on the Property
Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that may be
waived under Section 5.13 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind
or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and
payable, or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
Indenture or the Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in
each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities, provided, however, that where a
consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each Holder
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of Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property
Trustee without the prior written consent of each Holder of Capital Securities.
The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or
approved by a vote of the Holders of the Capital Securities, except by a
subsequent vote of the Holders of the Capital Securities. The Property Trustee
shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any notice of default
received with respect to the Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing
approvals of the Holders of the Capital Securities, prior to taking any of the
foregoing actions, the Property Trustee shall, at the expense of the Depositor,
obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such
action shall not cause the Issuer Trust to be taxable as a corporation or
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
(c) If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or
the Issuer Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would
adversely affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special
rights of the Capital Securities, whether by way of amendment to this Trust
Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of
the Issuer Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then
the Holders of Outstanding Capital Securities as a class will be entitled to
vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be
effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Trust Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be
made if, as a result of such amendment, it would cause the Issuer Trust to be
taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States Federal income tax purposes.
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of all meetings of the Holders of the Capital Securities,
stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the
Property Trustee pursuant to Section 10.8 to each Holder of Capital Securities,
at such Holder's registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days
before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the
meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting.
Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 6.3. Meetings of Holders of the Capital Securities.
No annual meeting of Holders is required to be held. The Administrative
Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of the Holders of the Capital Securities
to vote on any matter upon the written request of the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Capital Securities and the
Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their
discretion, call a meeting of the Holders of the Capital Securities to vote on
any matters as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.
The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Holders
present, in person or by proxy, holding Capital Securities representing at least
a Majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities held by the
Holders present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall
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constitute the action of the Holders of the Capital Securities, unless this
Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights.
Holders shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 of Liquidation
Amount represented by their Outstanding Trust Securities in respect of any
matter as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, etc.
At any meeting of Holders, any Holder entitled to vote thereat may vote
by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall
have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other
officer or agent of the Issuer Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct,
for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant
to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of
the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only
Holders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held
jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or
by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall
be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their
proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be
received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed
by or on behalf of a Holder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior
to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the
challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of
execution.
SECTION 6.6. Holder Action by Written Consent.
Any action that may be taken by Holders at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting if Holders holding at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of all Capital Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such
larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any other provision of this
Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing.
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
For the purposes of determining the Holders who are entitled to notice
of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any
distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not
otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other
action, the Administrative Trustees or Property Trustee may from time to time
fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Holders or
the payment of a distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record
date for the determination of the identity of the Holders of record for such
purposes.
SECTION 6.8. Acts of Holders.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made
or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments
of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent
duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are
delivered to an Administrative Trustee.
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Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of
a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 8.1) conclusive in favor of the Issuer
Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a
certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument
or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by
a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such
certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing,
or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any
other manner that any Issuer Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.
The ownership of Trust Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Holder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Holder
of the same Trust Security and the Holder of every Trust Security issued upon
the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof
in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Issuer
Trustees or the Issuer Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of
such action is made upon such Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any
action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with
regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by
one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such
appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount.
If any dispute shall arise among the Holders or the Issuer Trustees
with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request,
demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Holder or
Issuer Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by
the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
A Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Depositor under the Guarantee Agreement to enforce its rights under the
Guarantee Agreement without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Guarantee Trustee (as defined in the Guarantee Agreement), the Issuer Trust, any
Issuer Trustee or any Person or entity.
SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records.
Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee, the records of the Issuer Trust shall be open to inspection by Holders
during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Holder's
interest as a Holder.
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ARTICLE VII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf
of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Depositor and the Holders that:
(a) the Property Trustee is a banking corporation, duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;
(b) the Property Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal
right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement
and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(c) the Delaware Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation;
(d) the Delaware Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal
right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement
and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(e) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and constitutes the
valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(f) the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement has
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of
the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and does not require any approval
of stockholders of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee and such
execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Charter or By-laws
of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, (ii) violate any provision of,
or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a default under, or
result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien on any properties included in
the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any indenture, mortgage,
credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii)
violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the State of Delaware
governing the banking, trust or general powers of the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee (as appropriate in context) or any order, judgment or decree
applicable to the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee;
(g) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of
any of the transactions by the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee (as
appropriate in context) contemplated herein requires the consent or approval of,
the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action
with respect to any
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governmental authority or agency under any existing law of the State of Delaware
governing the banking, trust or general powers of the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee, as the case may be; and
(h) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of each of the
Property Trustee's and the Delaware Trustee's knowledge, threatened against or
affecting the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee in any court or before
any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal that,
individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the
Issuer Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, to enter into or perform
its obligations as one of the Issuer Trustees under this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor.
The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Holders that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued at each Time of Delivery
on behalf of the Issuer Trust have been duly authorized and will have been duly
and validly executed, issued and delivered by the Issuer Trustees pursuant to
the terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this
Trust Agreement and the Holders will be, as of each such date, entitled to the
benefits of this Trust Agreement; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by
the Issuer Trust (or the Issuer Trustees on behalf of the Issuer Trust) under
the laws of the State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee
or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII.
THE ISSUER TRUSTEES
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Issuer Trustees shall be as
provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, by
the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Trust Agreement shall require any of the Issuer Trustees to expend or risk its
own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any
of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if
it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust
Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording
protection to the Issuer Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section 8.1. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be construed to release an
Administrative Trustee from liability for his or her own negligent action, his
or her own negligent failure to act, or his or her own willful misconduct. To
the extent that, at law or in equity, an Issuer Trustee has duties and
liabilities relating to the Issuer Trust or to the Holders, such Issuer Trustee
shall not be liable to the Issuer Trust or to any Holder for such Issuer
Trustee's good faith reliance on the provisions of this Trust Agreement. The
provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties
and liabilities of the Issuer Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity,
are agreed by the Depositor and the Holders to replace such other duties and
liabilities of the Issuer Trustees.
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(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in
respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds
from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient
revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a
Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder,
by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the
revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for
distribution to it as herein provided and that the Issuer Trustees are not
personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust
Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This
Section 8.1(b) does not limit the liability of the Issuer Trustees expressly set
forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case of the Property Trustee,
in the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall
undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Trust Agreement (including pursuant to Section 10.10), and no implied covenants
shall be read into this Trust Agreement against the Property Trustee. If an
Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to
Section 5.13), the Property Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers
vested in it by this Trust Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill
in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve
the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee from liability for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Property
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of this Trust Agreement (including pursuant to Section 10.10),
and the Property Trustee shall not be liable except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically
set forth in this Trust Agreement (including pursuant to
Section 10.10); and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Property Trustee, the Property Trustee may conclusively rely,
as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions
furnished to the Property Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Trust Agreement; but in the case of any
such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof or
of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically required to be
furnished to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall
be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or
not they conform to the requirements of this Trust Agreement.
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Property 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 of at least a
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Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities relating to
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement;
(iv) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the
custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and
the Payment Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar
manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own
account, subject to the protections and limitations on liability
afforded to the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement and the
Trust Indenture Act;
(v) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest
on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the
Depositor; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be
segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the
Payment Account maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section
3.1 and except to the extent otherwise required by law;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for
monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the
Depositor with their respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor
shall the Property Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of
any other Issuer Trustee or the Depositor; and
(vii) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the
Property 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 the Property Trustee
shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such
funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of
this Trust Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(e) The Administrative Trustees shall not be responsible for monitoring
the compliance by the other Issuer Trustees or the Depositor with their
respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall either Administrative
Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of any other Administrative
Trustee, the other Issuer Trustees or the Depositor.
SECTION 8.2. Certain Notices.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such Event of
Default to the Holders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless
such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived.
Within five Business Days after the receipt of notice of the
Depositor's exercise of its right to defer the payment of interest on the
Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, the Administrative Trustees shall
transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of
such exercise to the Holders, unless such exercise shall have been revoked.
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The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event
of Default unless the Property Trustee shall have received written notice or a
Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee charged with the administration of
this Trust Agreement shall have obtained actual knowledge of such Event of
Default.
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.1:
(a) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel,
certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of
auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness 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) if (i) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the
Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action,
(ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the Property
Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions
contained herein, or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of
any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which
the Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of
this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the
Depositor requesting the Depositor's opinion as to the course of action to be
taken, and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking
such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or
to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that if the
Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten
Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably shorter
period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent practicable shall
not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be under no duty to, take
or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement as
it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Holders, in which event
the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own bad faith,
negligence or willful misconduct;
(c) any direction or act of the Depositor contemplated by this Trust
Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;
(d) any direction or act of an Administrative Trustee contemplated by
this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by a certificate executed
by such Administrative Trustee and setting forth such direction or act;
(e) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording,
filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or
continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any
rerecording, refiling or re-registration thereof;
(f) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may be
counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its
employees) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance with
such advice; the Property Trustee
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shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Trust Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction;
(g) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or
direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such
Holders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by
it in compliance with such request or direction; provided that, nothing
contained in this Section 8.3(g) shall be taken to relieve the Property Trustee,
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the
rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement;
(h) the Property 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, bond,
debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document,
unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Property
Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit;
(i) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its
agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible for
its own negligence or misconduct with respect to selection of any agent or
attorney appointed by it hereunder;
(j) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property
Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to
enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Property
Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders (which instructions may
only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the
Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the
terms of the Trust Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action), (ii)
may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action
until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in acting in
accordance with such instructions; and
(k) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement, the
Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is
discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty
or obligation on any Issuer Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any
right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction
in which it shall be illegal, or in which such Person shall be unqualified or
incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts,
or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or
authority available to any Issuer Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance
of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer Trust and the Depositor, and the
Issuer Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The
Issuer Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the
Depositor of the proceeds of the Debentures.
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The Property Trustee may conclusively assume that any funds held by it
hereunder are legally available unless an officer of the Property Trustee
assigned to its Corporate Trust Administration department shall have received
written notice from the Depositor, any Holder or any other Issuer Trustee that
such funds are not legally available.
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities.
Any Issuer Trustee or any other agent of any Issuer Trustee or the
Issuer Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or
pledgee of Trust Securities and, subject to Sections 8.8 and 8.13, and except as
provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article I, may otherwise
deal with the Issuer Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not an
Issuer Trustee or such other agent.
SECTION 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.
The Depositor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Issuer Trustees from time to time such reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as may be agreed by the
Depositor and the Issuer Trustees from time to time (which compensation shall
not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Issuer Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
advances incurred or made by the Issuer Trustees in accordance with any
provision of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their negligence, bad
faith or wilful misconduct; and
(c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and
hold harmless (i) each Issuer Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Issuer Trustee,
(iii) any officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative or agent of
any Issuer Trustee, and (iv) any employee or agent of the Issuer Trust (referred
to herein as an "Indemnified Person") from and against any loss, damage,
liability, tax, penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever
incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of the creation, operation or
termination of the Issuer Trust or any act or omission performed or omitted by
such Indemnified Person on behalf of the Issuer Trust, except that no
Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss,
damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of negligence, bad
faith or wilful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
The provisions of this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of
this Trust Agreement and the removal or resignation of any Issuer Trustee.
No Issuer Trustee may claim any Lien on any Trust Property as a result
of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.6.
SECTION 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility
of Issuer Trustees.
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(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that is
a national or state chartered bank and eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act to act as such and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining
authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by
the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall
be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with
respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and
with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. At the time of
appointment, the Property Trustee must have securities rated in one of the three
highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees
hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee
shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal
entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that
entity.
(c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who
is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware, or (ii) a
legal entity with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and
that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law and that shall
act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.
SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests.
(a) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest
within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by,
and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust
Agreement.
(b) The Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture shall be deemed to be
specifically described in this Trust Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of
the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at
any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the
Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust
Property may at the time be located, the Depositor and the Administrative
Trustees, by agreed action of the majority of such Trustees, shall have power to
appoint, and upon the written request of the Administrative Trustees, the
Depositor shall for such purpose join with the Administrative Trustees in the
execution, delivery, and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary
or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee
either to act as co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any
part of such Trust Property, or to the extent required by law to act as separate
trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided
in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the
capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or
desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. Any co-trustee or
separate trustee appointed pursuant to this Section shall either be (i) a
natural person who
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is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the United States, or (ii) a legal
entity with its principal place of business in the United States that shall act
through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. In case an Event of
Default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property
Trustee alone shall have the power to make such appointment.
Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any
co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such
co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and
all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered
by the Depositor.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms,
namely:
(a) The Trust Securities shall be executed by one or more
Administrative Trustees, and the Trust Securities shall be delivered by the
Property Trustee, and all rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in
respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held by,
or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Property Trustee specified
hereunder shall be exercised solely by the Property Trustee and not by such
co-trustee or separate trustee.
(b) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby conferred or
imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by such
appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the
Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co-trustee or separate
trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such
co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of any
jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property
Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event
such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed by
such co-trustee or separate trustee.
(c) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing
executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may accept the
resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this
Section, and, in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of,
or remove, any such co-trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence of
the Depositor. Upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor
shall join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance
of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such
resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or separate trustee so
resigning or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section.
(d) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally
liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee or any other
trustee hereunder.
(e) The Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason of any act of a
co-trustee or separate trustee.
(f) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be
deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee.
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SECTION 8.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment
of Successor.
No resignation or removal of any Issuer Trustee (the "Relevant
Trustee") and no appointment of a successor Issuer Trustee pursuant to this
Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the
successor Issuer Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of
Section 8.11.
Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Relevant Trustee
may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders. If the
instrument of acceptance by the successor Trustee required by Section 8.11 shall
not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days after the giving
of such notice of resignation, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense
of the Trust, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Relevant Trustee.
Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any Issuer Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders
of Common Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may
be removed at such time by Act of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its
individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may
be removed by the Holders of Common Securities at any time. In no event will the
Holders of the Capital Securities have a right to vote to appoint, remove or
replace the Administrative Trustees.
If any Issuer Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of
acting as Issuer Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any
Issuer Trustee for any reason, at a time when no Debenture Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of Common Securities, by Act
of the Holders of Common Securities, shall promptly appoint a successor Issuer
Trustee or Issuer Trustees, and the retiring Issuer Trustee shall comply with
the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to
act as the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, at a
time when a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Holders of Capital Securities, by Act of the Holders of a majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities then Outstanding shall promptly
appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee
shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If an
Administrative Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as
Administrative Trustee, at a time when a Debenture Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Holders of Common Securities by Act of the
Holders of Common Securities shall promptly appoint a successor Administrative
Trustee or Administrative Trustees and such successor Administrative Trustee or
Trustees shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If no
successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of Common
Securities or the Holders of Capital Securities and accepted appointment in the
manner required by Section 8.11, any Holder who has been a Holder of Trust
Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others
similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of an Issuer Trustee and each appointment of a successor Issuer Trustee
to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 10.8 and shall give notice to
the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant
Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property
Trustee.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is
a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent
or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity
may be filled by (a) the unanimous act of the remaining Administrative Trustees
if there are at least two of them or (b) otherwise by the Depositor (with the
successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement
for Administrative Trustees or Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, set forth
in Section 8.7).
SECTION 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Issuer Trustee such
successor Issuer Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to
the Issuer Trust and to the retiring Issuer Trustee an instrument accepting such
appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Issuer
Trustee shall become effective and such successor Issuer Trustee, without any
further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Issuer Trustee; but, on the request of
the Depositor or the successor Issuer Trustee, such retiring Issuer Trustee
shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument
transferring to such successor Issuer Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts
of the retiring Issuer Trustee and if the Property Trustee is the resigning
Issuer Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Issuer
Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Property Trustee hereunder.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee,
the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect
to the Trust Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein
each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a)
shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities and the Issuer Trust, and (b) shall add to or change any of the
provisions of this Trust Agreement as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the Issuer Trust by more than one Relevant
Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall
constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and
delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant
Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such
successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall
become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Issuer Trust or any successor Relevant
Trustee such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver
to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and
money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust
Securities and the Issuer Trust.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Issuer Trust
shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in
and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and
trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may
be.
No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at
the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified
and eligible under this Article.
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SECTION 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
Succession to Business.
Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee that is not a natural Person may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or
any Person, succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business
of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee
hereunder, provided that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible
under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
SECTION 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against
Depositor or Issuer Trust.
If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the
Depositor or the Issuer Trust (or any other obligor upon the Capital
Securities), the Property Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or
the Issuer Trust (or any such other obligor).
SECTION 8.14. Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other similar judicial
proceeding relative to the Issuer Trust or any other obligor upon the Trust
Securities or the property of the Issuer Trust or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on
the Trust Securities shall then be due and payable and irrespective of whether
the Property Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuer Trust for the
payment of any past due Distributions) shall be entitled and empowered, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any Distributions
owing and unpaid in respect of the Trust Securities and to file such other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Property Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and
counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or
other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by
each Holder to make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event the
Property Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Holders, to pay to the Property Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its
agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Property Trustee.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement adjustment or compensation affecting the
Trust Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the
Property Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
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SECTION 8.15. Reports by Property Trustee.
(a) Not later than __________ of each year, commencing with
___________, 1997, the Property Trustee shall transmit to all Holders in
accordance with Section 10.8, and to the Depositor, a brief report dated as of
the immediately preceding _____________ with respect to:
(i) its eligibility under Section 8.7 or, in lieu thereof, if
to the best of its knowledge it has continued to be eligible under said
Section, a written statement to such effect;
(ii) a statement that the Property Trustee has complied with
all of its obligations under this Trust Agreement during the
twelve-month period (or, in the case of the initial report, the period
since the Closing Date) ending with such ___________ or, if the
Property Trustee has not complied in any material respect with such
obligations, a description of such noncompliance; and
(iii) any change in the property and funds in its possession
as Property Trustee since the date of its last report and any action
taken by the Property Trustee in the performance of its duties
hereunder which it has not previously reported and which in its opinion
materially affects the Trust Securities.
(b) In addition the Property Trustee shall transmit to Holders such
reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this Trust
Agreement as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times
and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with each national stock exchange,
the Nasdaq National Market or such other interdealer quotation system or
self-regulatory organization upon which the Trust Securities are listed or
traded, with the Commission and with the Depositor.
SECTION 8.16. Reports to the Property Trustee.
Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees shall provide to
the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance certificate
required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner
and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act. The
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees shall annually file with the Property
Trustee a certificate specifying whether such Person is in compliance with all
of the terms and covenants applicable to such Person hereunder.
SECTION 8.17. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions
Precedent.
Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees shall provide to
the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent,
if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate to any of the matters
set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or
opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the
Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
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SECTION 8.18. Number of Issuer Trustees.
(a) The number of Issuer Trustees shall be four, provided that the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person.
(b) If an Issuer Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason, a
vacancy shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with an Issuer Trustee
appointed in accordance with Section 8.10.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy,
incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of an Issuer Trustee shall not
operate to annul, dissolve or terminate the Issuer Trust.
SECTION 8.19. Delegation of Power.
(a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent
with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his
or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
2.7(a), including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the
Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and
(b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time
to time to such of their number or to the Depositor the doing of such things and
the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Issuer Trust or the
names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees
may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by
applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 8.20. Appointment of Administrative Trustees.
(a) The Administrative Trustees shall initially be Paul L. Reynolds, an
individual, and Randolph J. Stierer, an individual, and their successors shall
be appointed by the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common
Securities, and they may resign or be removed by the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities at any time. Upon any resignation or
removal, the Holders of the Common Securities shall appoint a successor
Administrative Trustee. Each successor Administrative Trustee shall sign an
agreement agreeing to comply with the terms of this Trust Agreement. If at any
time there is no Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee or any Holder who
has been a Holder of Trust Securities for at least six months may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of one or more
Administrative Trustees.
(b) Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall
occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative
Trustee in accordance with this Section 8.20, the Administrative Trustees in
office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative
Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative
Trustees by this Trust Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, if any Administrative Trustee who is a natural person dies or
becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent or incapacitated, the
vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the
unanimous acts of the remaining Administrative Trustees, if there were at least
two of them prior to such vacancy, and by the Depositor, if there were not two
such Administrative Trustees immediately
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prior to such vacancy (with the successor being a Person who satisfies the
eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 8.7).
ARTICLE IX.
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 9.1. Termination Upon Expiration Date.
Unless earlier terminated, the Issuer Trust shall automatically
terminate on __________, 2052 (the "Expiration Date"), following the
distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with Section 9.4.
SECTION 9.2. Early Termination.
The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early
Termination Event":
(a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the
dissolution or liquidation of, the Depositor;
(b) the written direction to the Property Trustee from all of the
Holders of the Common Securities at any time to terminate the Issuer Trust and
to distribute the Debentures to Holders in exchange for the Capital Securities
(which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Holders of
the Common Securities);
(c) the redemption of all of the Capital Securities in connection with
the redemption of all the Debentures; and
(d) the entry of an order for dissolution of the Issuer Trust by a
court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.3. Termination.
The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Issuer Trustees
and the Issuer Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the
latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee
to Holders of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the
liquidation of the Issuer Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, or upon the redemption
of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.2; (b) the payment of any
expenses owed by the Issuer Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative
duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax
reporting obligations with respect to the Issuer Trust or the Holders.
SECTION 9.4. Liquidation.
(a) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b) or (d)
of Section 9.2 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Issuer Trust shall be
liquidated by the Issuer Trustees as expeditiously as the Issuer Trustees
determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, to each Holder a
Like Amount of Debentures, subject to Section 9.4(d). Notice of liquidation
shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid
mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to
each Holder of
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Trust Securities at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register.
All such notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date;
(ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust
Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust
Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to
represent a Like Amount of Debentures; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to the procedures
by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for
Debentures, or if Section 9.4(d) applies receive a Liquidation
Distribution, as the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee
shall deem appropriate.
(b) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, in order to effect
the liquidation of the Issuer Trust and distribution of the Debentures to
Holders, the Property Trustee, either itself acting as exchange agent or through
the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish a record date for
such distribution (which shall be not more than 30 days prior to the Liquidation
Date) and, establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the
distribution of Debentures in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities
Certificates.
(c) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, after the
Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be
Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Debentures will be
issued to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such
Certificates to the exchange agent for exchange, (iii) the Depositor shall use
its best efforts to have the Debentures listed on the national stock exchange,
the Nasdaq National Market or on such other exchange, interdealer quotation
system or self-regulatory organization as the Capital Securities are then
listed, (iv) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange
will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Debentures bearing accrued and
unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid Distributions
on such Trust Securities Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered
(and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or
principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates with respect
to such Debentures) and (v) all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities will
cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Debentures upon surrender of
Trust Securities Certificates.
(d) If, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9.4,
whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Debentures in the manner provided
herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, or if an Early
Termination Event specified in Section 9.2(c) occurs, the Trust Property shall
be liquidated, and the Issuer Trust shall be dissolved, wound-up or terminated,
by the Property Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee determines. In
such event, on the date of the dissolution, winding-up or other termination of
the Issuer Trust, Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Issuer Trust available for distribution to Holders, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, an
amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accumulated and
unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
"Liquidation Distribution"). If, upon any such dissolution, winding up or
termination, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the
Issuer Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate
Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the
amounts payable by the Issuer
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Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon
Liquidation Amounts). The Holders of the Common Securities will be entitled to
receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such dissolution, winding-up or
termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Capital
Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of Default specified in Section
5.1(1) or 5.1(2) of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Capital
Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities as provided in
Section 4.3.
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or
Replacements of Issuer Trust.
The Issuer Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate,
or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except pursuant
to this Section 9.5. At the request of the Holders of the Common Securities,
with the consent of the Administrative Trustees, the Issuer Trust may merge with
or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease
its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as
such under the laws of any State; provided, that (i) such successor entity
either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Issuer Trust with
respect to the Capital Securities, or (b) substitutes for the Capital Securities
other securities having substantially the same terms as the Capital Securities
(the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities have the same
priority as the Capital Securities with respect to distributions and payments
upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) a trustee of such successor
entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee is
appointed to hold the Debentures, (iii) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the
Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization which assigns ratings to
the Capital Securities, (iv) the Successor Securities are listed, or any
Successor Securities will be listed upon notice of issuance, on the national
securities exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or on such other exchange,
interdealer quotation system or self-regulatory organization as the Capital
Securities are then listed, if any, (v) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Capital
Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi)
such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the
Issuer Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Depositor has received an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Capital
Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (b)
following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease, neither the Issuer Trust nor such successor entity will be
required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act, and (viii) the Depositor or its permitted transferee owns all of the Common
Securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such
successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided
by the Guarantee Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer Trust
shall not, except with the consent of Holders of all of the Capital Securities,
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Issuer Trust or the successor
entity to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor
trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
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ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Holders.
Except as set forth in Section 9.2, the death or incapacity of any
person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall
not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal
representatives or heirs of such person or any Holder for such person, to claim
an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a
partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise
affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of
them.
SECTION 10.2. Amendment.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Holders of all of the
Common Securities, without the consent of any Holder of the Capital Securities,
(i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein that may
be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions
with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which
shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, or
(ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to
such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Issuer Trust will not be
taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States Federal income tax purposes at all times that any Trust Securities are
outstanding or to ensure that the Issuer Trust will not be required to register
as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however,
that in the case of either clause (i) or clause (ii) such action shall not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holder, and any
such amendment of this Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice
thereof is given to the Holders.
(b) Except as provided in Section 10.2(c), any provision of this Trust
Agreement may be amended by the Issuer Trustees and the Holders of all of the
Common Securities and with (i) the consent of Holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, and (ii) receipt by the Issuer
Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the
exercise of any power granted to the Issuer Trustees in accordance with such
amendment will not cause the Issuer Trust to be taxable as a corporation or as
other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes or
affect the Issuer Trust's exemption from status as an "investment company" under
the Investment Company Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this
Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Holder (such consent being
obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6), this Trust Agreement may not be
amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust
Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required
to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, or (ii)
restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such date; and notwithstanding any other provision herein,
without the unanimous consent of the Holders (such consent being obtained in
accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6), this Section 10.2(c) may not be amended.
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<PAGE> 56
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no
Issuer Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust
Agreement that would cause the Issuer Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the
exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act or to be taxable as a corporation or to be classified as other than a
grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary,
without the consent of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees, this Trust
Agreement may not be amended in a manner that imposes any additional obligation
on the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made,
the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall promptly provide to
the Depositor a copy of such amendment.
(g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be
required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement that affects its
own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement. The Property
Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers'
Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance
with this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 10.3. Separability.
In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust
Securities Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 10.4. Governing Law.
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE
HOLDERS, THE ISSUER TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR AND THE ISSUER TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS.
SECTION 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day.
If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day
that is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but
may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (except as
otherwise provided in Sections 4.1(a) and 4.2(d)), with the same force and
effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no Distributions
shall accumulate on such unpaid amount for the period after such date.
SECTION 10.6. Successors.
This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Issuer Trust and any Issuer
Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with
a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is permitted under
Article Eight of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in
writing to perform the Depositor's obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall
not assign its obligations hereunder.
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SECTION 10.7. Headings.
The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands.
Any report, notice, demand or other communication that by any provision
of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or
upon any Holder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit
thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery
or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder
of Capital Securities, to such Holder as such Holder's name and address may
appear on the Securities Register; and (b) in the case of the Holder of the
Common Securities or the Depositor, to Fifth Third Bancorp, 38 Fountain Square
Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, Attention: Secretary, facsimile no.: (513)
579-4300, or to such other address as may be, specified in a written notice by
the Holder of the Common Securities or the Depositor, as the case may be, to the
Property Trustee. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Holder
shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon
hand delivery, mailing or transmission. Such notice, demand or other
communication to or upon the Depositor shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Depositor.
Any notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of this
Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the
Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees or the
Issuer Trust shall be given in writing addressed to such Person as follows: (a)
with respect to the Property Trustee to Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 N. Market
Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration;
(b) with respect to the Delaware Trustee, to Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 N.
Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration; (c) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the
address above for notices to the Depositor, marked "Attention: Administrative
Trustees of Fifth Third Capital Trust I"; and (d) with respect to the Issuer
Trust, to its principal office specified in Section 2.2, with a copy to the
Property Trustee. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the
Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be
deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the
writing by the Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee or such Administrative
Trustee.
SECTION 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition.
Each of the Issuer Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of
the Holders that, until at least one year and one day after the Issuer Trust has
been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall not file, or join in
the filing of, a petition against the Issuer Trust under any bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law (including the United States
Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the
commencement of any proceeding against the Issuer Trust under any Bankruptcy
Law. If the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the
Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Holders, that at the expense of the
Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise
properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Issuer
Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the
Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped
and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the
Issuer Trustees or the Issuer Trust may assert.
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SECTION 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with
Trust Indenture Act.
(a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trust Agreement and shall, to
the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Issuer Trustee that is a
trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act
through operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.
If any provision of this Trust Agreement modifies or excludes any provision of
the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter
provision shall be deemed to apply to this Trust Agreement as so modified or
excluded, as the case may be.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement
shall not affect the nature of the Trust Securities as equity securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust.
SECTION 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement,
Guarantee Agreement and Indenture.
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN
BY OR ON BEHALF OF A HOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR
FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE
BY THE HOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST SECURITY
OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT, THE GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
AND THE INDENTURE, AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS
OF THE GUARANTEE AGREEMENT AND THE INDENTURE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT
OF THE ISSUER TRUST, SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS
OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE
ISSUER TRUST AND SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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<PAGE> 59
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
as Depositor
By:________________________
Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Property Trustee
By:________________________
Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Delaware Trustee
By:________________________
Name:
Title:
By:________________________
Name:
as Administrative Trustee
By:________________________
Name:
as Administrative Trustee
<PAGE> 60
Exhibit B
[FORM OF LETTER OF REPRESENTATIONS]
March ___, 1997
The Depository Trust Company,
55 Water Street, 49th Floor,
New York, New York 10041-0099.
Attention: General Counsel's Office
Re: Fifth Third Capital Trust I
___% Capital Securities, Series A
CUSIP
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The purpose of this letter is to set forth certain matters
relating to the issuance and deposit with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC")
of the book-entry-only portion of the ___% Capital Securities, Series A (the
"Capital Securities"), of Fifth Third Capital Trust I, a statutory business
trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Issuer"), governed by
the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of __________, 1997, between
Fifth Third Bancorp ("the Corporation"), as Sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company,
as Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, and the
Administrative Trustees named therein. The payment of distributions on the
Capital Securities and payments due upon liquidation of the Issuer or redemption
of the Capital Securities, to the extent the Issuer has funds available for the
payment thereof, are guaranteed by the Corporation to the extent set forth in a
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of __________, 1997, between the Corporation and
Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee with respect to the Capital
Securities. The Corporation and the Issuer propose to sell the Capital
Securities to the Underwriters (the "Underwriters") pursuant to a Pricing
Agreement, dated as of __________, 1997, by and among the Underwriters, the
Issuer and the Corporation, which incorporates the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement, dated as of _________, 1997, and the Underwriters wish
to take delivery of the Capital Securities through DTC. Wilmington Trust Company
is acting as transfer agent and registrar with respect to the Capital Securities
(the "Transfer Agent and Registrar").
To induce DTC to accept the Capital Securities as eligible for
deposit at DTC, and to act in accordance with DTC's rules with respect to the
Capital Securities, the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and Registrar make the
following representations to DTC:
B-1
<PAGE> 61
1. Prior to the closing of the sale of the Capital Securities
to the Underwriters on ________, 1997, there shall be deposited with, or held by
the Transfer Agent and Registrar as custodian for, DTC one or more global
certificates (individually and collectively, the "Global Certificate")
registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co., representing an aggregate
of 200,000 Capital Securities and bearing the following legend:
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of
The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to Issuer
or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and
any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in
such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC
(and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is
requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER,
PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON
IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an
interest herein.
2. The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Issuer
provides for the voting by holders (with no provision for revocation of consents
or votes by subsequent holders) of the Capital Securities under certain limited
circumstances. The Issuer shall establish a record date for such purposes and
shall, to the extent possible, give DTC notice of such record date not less than
15 calendar days in advance of such record date.
3. In the event of a stock split, conversion,
recapitalization, reorganization or any other similar transaction resulting in
the cancellation of all or any part of the Capital Securities outstanding, the
Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall send DTC a notice of such event
as soon as possible but, at least 5 business days prior to the effective date of
such event.
4. In the event of any distribution on, or an offering or
issuance of rights with respect to, the Capital Securities outstanding, the
Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall send DTC a notice specifying:
(a) the amount of and conditions, if any, applicable to the payment of any such
distribution or any such offering or issuance of rights; (b) any applicable
expiration or deadline date, or any date by which any action on the part of the
holders of Capital Securities is required; and (c) the date any required notice
is to be mailed by or on behalf of the Issuer to holders of Capital Securities
or published by or on behalf of the Issuer (whether by mail or publication, the
"Publication Date"). Such notice shall be sent to DTC by a secure means (e.g.,
legible telecopy, registered or certified mail, overnight delivery) in a timely
manner designed to assure that such notice is in DTC's possession no later than
the close of business on the business day before the Publication Date. The
Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar will forward such notice either in a
separate secure transmission for each CUSIP number or in a secure transmission
of multiple CUSIP numbers (if applicable) that includes a manifest or list of
each CUSIP number submitted in that transmission. (The party sending such notice
shall have a method to verify subsequently the use of such means and the
timeliness of such notice.) The Publication Date shall be not less than 30
calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days prior to the payment of any such
distribution or any such offering or issuance of rights with respect to the
Capital Securities. After establishing the amount of payment to be made on the
Capital Securities, the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar will notify
DTC's Dividend Department of such payment 5 business days prior to payment date.
Notices to DTC's Dividend Department by telecopy shall be sent to (212)
709-1723. Such notices by mail or by any other means shall be sent to:
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<PAGE> 62
Manager, Announcements
Dividend Department
The Depository Trust Company
7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10004-2695
The Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall confirm
DTC's receipt of such telecopy by telephoning the Dividend Department at (212)
709-1270.
5. In the event of a redemption by the Issuer of the Capital
Securities, notice specifying the terms of the redemption and the Publication
Date of such notice shall be sent by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and
Registrar to DTC not less than 30 calendar days prior to such event by a secure
means in the manner set forth in paragraph 4. Such redemption notice shall be
sent to DTC's Call Notification Department at (516) 227-4164 or (516) 227-4190,
and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by telephoning (516) 227-4070.
Notice by mail or by any other means shall be sent to:
Call Notification Department
The Depository Trust Company
711 Stewart Avenue
Garden City, New York 11530-4719
6. In the event of any invitation to tender the Capital
Securities, notice specifying the terms of the tender and the Publication Date
of such notice shall be sent by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar
to DTC by a secure means and in a timely manner as described in paragraph 4.
Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph and notices of other corporate actions
(including mandatory tenders, exchanges and capital changes), shall be sent,
unless notification to another department is expressly provided for herein, by
telecopy to DTC's Reorganization Department at (212) 709-1093 or (212) 709-1094
and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by telephoning (212) 709-6884, or
by mail or any other means to:
Manager, Reorganization Department
Reorganization Window
The Depository Trust Company
7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10004-2695
7. All notices and payment advices sent to DTC shall contain
the CUSIP number or numbers of the Capital Securities and the accompanying
designation of the Capital Securities, which, as of the date of this letter, is
"Fifth Third Capital Trust I, ___% Capital Securities, Series A".
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<PAGE> 63
8. Distribution payments or other cash payments with respect
to the Capital Securities shall be governed by DTC's current Principal and
Income Payments Rider, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex I. For
purposes of this letter, the term "Agent" used in Annex I shall be deemed to
refer to Wilmington Trust Company or any successor Property Trustee under the
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement.
9. DTC may direct the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and
Registrar to use any other telecopy number or address of DTC as the number or
address to which notices or payments may be sent.
10. In the event of a conversion, redemption, or any other
similar transaction (e.g., tender made and accepted in response to the Issuer's
or the Transfer Agent and Registrar's invitation) necessitating a reduction in
the aggregate number of Capital Securities outstanding evidenced by the Global
Certificate, DTC, in its discretion: (a) may request the Issuer or the Transfer
Agent and Registrar to issue and countersign a new Global Certificate; or (b)
may make an appropriate notation on the Global Certificate indicating the date
and amount of such reduction.
11. DTC may discontinue its services as a securities
depositary with respect to the Capital Securities at any time by giving
reasonable prior written notice to the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and
Registrar (at which time DTC will confirm with the Issuer or the Transfer Agent
and Registrar the aggregate number of Capital Securities deposited with it) and
discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law.
Under such circumstances, the Issuer may determine to make alternative
arrangements for book-entry settlement for the Capital Securities, make
available one or more separate global certificates evidencing Capital Securities
to any Participant having Capital Securities credited to its DTC account, or
issue definitive Capital Securities to the beneficial holders thereof, and in
any such case, DTC agrees to cooperate fully with the Issuer and the Transfer
Agent and Registrar and to return the Global Certificate, duly endorsed for
transfer as directed by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar, together
with any other documents of transfer reasonably requested by the Issuer or the
Transfer Agent and Registrar.
12. In the event that the Issuer determines that beneficial
owners of Capital Securities shall be able to obtain definitive Capital
Securities, the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall notify DTC of
the availability of certificates. In such event, the Issuer or the Transfer
Agent and Registrar shall issue, transfer and exchange certificates in
appropriate amounts, as required by DTC and others, and DTC agrees to cooperate
fully with the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and Registrar and to return the
Global Certificate, duly endorsed for transfer as directed by the Issuer or the
Transfer Agent and Registrar, together with any other documents of transfer
reasonably requested by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
13. This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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<PAGE> 64
Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Transfer Agent and
Registrar to advance funds on behalf of Fifth Third Capital Trust I.
Very truly yours,
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
(As Issuer)
By:__________________________
Name:
Administrative Trustee
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(As Transfer Agent and Registrar)
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED:
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
By:__________________________
Authorized Officer
B-5
<PAGE> 65
Exhibit C
[FORM OF COMMON SECURITIES CERTIFICATE]
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT TO THE DEPOSITOR OR AN
AFFILIATE OF THE DEPOSITOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND
SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT AND ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH A
SIMULTANEOUS DELEGATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE EXPENSE AGREEMENT
REFERRED TO THEREIN
Certificate Number Number of Common Securities
CI-
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
Fifth Third Capital Trust I
___% Common Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)
Fifth Third Capital
Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Issuer Trust"), hereby certifies that [NAME OF HOLDER] (the
"Holder") is the registered owner of common securities of
the Issuer Trust representing common undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Issuer Trust and designated the ___% Common Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities").
Except in accordance with Section 5.11 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below)
the Common Securities are not transferable and any attempted transfer hereof
other than in accordance therewith shall be void. The designations, rights,
privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the
Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common
Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to
the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Issuer Trust, dated as of __________, 1997, as the same may be amended from time
to time (the "Trust Agreement"), among Fifth Third Bancorp, as Depositor,
Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as
Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein, including the
designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. The
Issuer Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without
charge upon written request to the Issuer Trust at its principal place of
business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the
Trust Agreement.
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<PAGE> 66
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Issuer
Trust has executed this certificate this ____ day of _______, 1997.
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
By:________________________________
Name:
Administrative Trustee
C-2
<PAGE> 67
Exhibit D
[FORM OF EXPENSE AGREEMENT]
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES, dated as of _______ __, 1997,
between Fifth Third Bancorp, and Ohio corporation (the "Depositor"), and Fifth
Third Capital Trust I, a Delaware business trust (the "Issuer Trust").
WHEREAS, the Issuer Trust intends to issue its Common Securities (the
"Common Securities") to and acquire Debentures from the Depositor and to issue
and sell ___% Capital Securities, Series A (the "Capital Securities") with such
powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions as are set forth in the
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Issuer Trust, dated as of
__________, 1997 among the Depositor, as depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as
Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, and the
Administrative Trustees named therein, as the same may be amended from time to
time (the "Trust Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Depositor will own all of the Common Securities of the
Trust and will issue the Debentures;
WHEREAS, terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth
in the Trust Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valid consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged:
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1.1. Guarantee by the Depositor. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Depositor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Issuer Trust is now or hereafter
becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as
due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries.
As used herein, "Obligations" means any costs, expenses or liabilities of the
Issuer Trust, other than obligations of the Issuer Trust to pay to holders of
any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the
Trust Securities. This Agreement is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be
enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have
received notice hereof.
SECTION 1.2. Subordination of Guarantee. The guarantee and other
liabilities and obligations of the Depositor under this Agreement shall
constitute unsecured obligations of the Depositor and shall rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the
Indenture) of the Depositor to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Indenture with respect to the Debentures, and the provisions of Article XIII of
the Indenture will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the obligations of the Depositor
hereunder. The obligations of the Depositor hereunder do not constitute Senior
Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Depositor.
SECTION 1.3. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and be
of no further force and effect upon the dissolution of the Issuer Trust,
provided, however, that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall
be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of Capital
Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment of any sums paid under the
Capital Securities, under any
D-1
<PAGE> 68
Obligation, under the Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by the Depositor
and Wilmington Trust Company as guarantee trustee, or under this Agreement for
any reason whatsoever. This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional
and absolute.
SECTION 1.4. Waiver of Notice. The Depositor hereby waives notice of
acceptance of this Agreement and of any Obligation to which it applies or may
apply, and the Depositor hereby waives presentment, demand for payment, protest,
notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other
notices and demands.
SECTION 1.5. No Impairment. The obligations, covenants, agreements and
duties of the Depositor under this Agreement shall in no way be affected or
impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust of all or
any portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other obligation
under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Obligations;
(b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations or any
action on the part of the Issuer Trust granting indulgence or extension of any
kind; or
(c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer Trust or any of the assets of
the Issuer Trust (other than the liquidation of the Issuer Trust in accordance
with the terms thereof).
There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or obtain
the consent of, the Depositor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 1.6. Enforcement. A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement
directly against the Depositor and the Depositor waives any right or remedy to
require that any action be brought against the Issuer Trust or any other person
or entity before proceeding against the Depositor.
SECTION 1.7. Subrogation. The Depositor shall be subrogated to all
rights (if any) of the Issuer Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the
Beneficiaries by the Depositor under this Agreement; provided, however, that the
Depositor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way
of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases
as a result of payment under this Agreement, if, at the time of any such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
SECTION 2.1. Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either
party hereto without the consent of the other, and any purported assignment
without such consent shall be void.
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<PAGE> 69
SECTION 2.2. Binding Effect. All guarantees and agreements contained in
this Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Depositor and shall inure to the benefit of the
Beneficiaries.
SECTION 2.3. Amendment. So long as there remains any Beneficiary or any
Capital Securities are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or
amended in any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the
Capital Securities without the consent of such Beneficiary or the holders of the
Capital Securities, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.4. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be given in writing by
delivering the same against receipt therefor by facsimile transmission
(confirmed by mail), telex or by registered or certified mail, addressed as
follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon receipt of
an answer-back, if sent by telex):
If given to the Depositor:
Fifth Third Bancorp
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
Facsimile No.: (513) 579-4300
Attention: Secretary
If given to the Issuer Trust:
Fifth Third Capital Trust I
c/o Wilmington Trust Company
1100 N. Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Facsimile No.: 302 651-8882
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
SECTION 2.4. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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<PAGE> 70
THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
By:___________________________
Name:
Administrative Trustee
D-4
<PAGE> 71
Exhibit E
[FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE]
[IF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE IS TO BE EVIDENCED BY A
BOOK-ENTRY CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE, INSERT--This Capital Securities
Certificate is a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate within the meaning of
the Trust Agreement hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a
Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Fifth Third Capital Securities
Certificate is exchangeable for Capital Securities Certificates registered in
the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the
limited circumstances described in the Trust Agreement and may not be
transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary
or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the
Depositary, except in the limited circumstances described in the Trust
Agreement.
Unless this Capital Security Certificate is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"),
to Fifth Third Capital Trust I or its agent for registration of transfer,
exchange or payment, and any Capital Security Certificate issued is registered
in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other
entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER,
PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO A PERSON IS WRONGFUL
inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]
E-1
<PAGE> 72
CERTIFICATE NUMBER NUMBER OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
CAI-
CUSIP NO.
CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING CAPITAL SECURITIES
OF
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
___% CAPITAL SECURITIES, SERIES A
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)
Fifth Third Capital
Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Issuer Trust"), hereby certifies that (the
"Holder") is the registered owner of ( ) Capital Securities of
the Issuer Trust representing an undivided preferred beneficial interest in the
assets of the Issuer Trust and designated the Fifth Third Capital Trust I ___%
Capital Securities, Series A (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security)
(the "Capital Securities"). The Capital Securities are transferable on the books
and records of the Issuer Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney,
upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer
as provided in Section 5.5 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The
designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Capital Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and
the Capital Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects
be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement of the Issuer Trust, dated as of __________, 1997, as the same may be
amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), among Fifth Third Bancorp, as
Depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust
Company, as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein,
including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth
therein. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee Agreement
entered into by Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation, and Wilmington Trust
Company, as guarantee trustee, dated as of __________, 1997 (the "Guarantee
Agreement"), to the extent provided therein. The Issuer Trust will furnish a
copy of the Issuer Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement to the Holder
without charge upon written request to the Issuer Trust at its principal place
of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
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<PAGE> 73
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Issuer
Trust has executed this certificate this ____ day of _________, 1997.
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
By:___________________________
Name:
Administrative Trustee
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<PAGE> 74
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital
Security to:
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Issuer
Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: ________________
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Signature: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate)
</TABLE>
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution
(banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to
S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
E-4
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4(j)
S&C Draft of 3/10/97
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP,
as Guarantor
and
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Guarantee Trustee
RELATING TO
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
---------------------------
Dated as of __________, 1997
---------------------------
<PAGE> 2
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Guarantee Agreement
- ------------------- -------------------
<S> <C>
310(a)..........................................................................................4.1(a)
310(b)..........................................................................................4.1(c), 2.8
310(c)..........................................................................................Inapplicable
311(a)..........................................................................................2.2(b)
311(b)..........................................................................................2.2(b)
311(c)..........................................................................................Inapplicable
312(a)..........................................................................................2.2(a)
312(b)..........................................................................................2.2(b)
313.............................................................................................2.3
314(a)..........................................................................................2.4
314(b)..........................................................................................Inapplicable
314(c)..........................................................................................2.5
314(d)..........................................................................................Inapplicable
314(e)..........................................................................................1.1, 2.5, 3.2
314(f)..........................................................................................2.1, 3.2
315(a)..........................................................................................3.1(d)
315(b)..........................................................................................2.7
315(c)..........................................................................................3.1
315(d)..........................................................................................3.1(d)
316(a)..........................................................................................1.1, 2.6, 5.4
316(b)..........................................................................................5.3
316(c)..........................................................................................8.2
317(a)..........................................................................................Inapplicable
317(b)..........................................................................................Inapplicable
318(a)..........................................................................................2.1
318(b)..........................................................................................2.1
318(c)..........................................................................................2.1
</TABLE>
- --------
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee
Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
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<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C>
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions............................................................................... 1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.......................................................... 4
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders........................................................................... 5
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.......................................................... 5
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee................................................. 5
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.......................................... 5
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver................................................................. 5
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.................................................................. 6
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests..................................................................... 6
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee................................................ 6
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee....................................................... 8
SECTION 3.3. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees............................................................. 9
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility........................................................... 10
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee............................ 10
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee................................................................................. 11
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C>
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand............................................................... 11
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.................................................................. 11
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders......................................................................... 12
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment...................................................................... 12
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation............................................................................... 12
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations................................................................... 13
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination............................................................................. 13
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees..................................................................... 13
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination............................................................................... 13
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.................................................................... 14
SECTION 8.2. Amendments................................................................................ 14
SECTION 8.3. Notices................................................................................... 14
SECTION 8.4. Benefit................................................................................... 15
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law............................................................................. 15
SECTION 8.6. Counterparts.............................................................................. 15
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 5
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of __________, 1997, between FIFTH THIRD
BANCORP, an Ohio corporation (the "Guarantor"), having its principal office at
38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the
benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital
Securities (as defined herein) of FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware
statutory business trust (the "Issuer Trust").
RECITALS OF THE CORPORATION
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as
of _______ __, 1997 (the "Trust Agreement"), among Fifth Third Bancorp, as
Depositor, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative
Trustees named therein, the Issuer Trust is issuing $200,000,000 aggregate
Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of its ___% Capital
Securities, Series A (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) (the
"Capital Securities"), representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Issuer Trust and having the terms set forth in the Trust
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Securities will be issued by the Issuer Trust and
the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer
Trust's Common Securities (as defined herein), will be used to purchase the
Debentures (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor, which
Debentures will be deposited with Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee
under the Trust Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as an incentive for the Holders to purchase Capital
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Capital Securities the
Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the
terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of Capital Securities
by each Holder, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for
the benefit of the Holders from time to time.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Guarantee Agreement, except as
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein;
<PAGE> 6
(c) The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to
be followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(d) All accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles;
(e) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section , as the case may be,
of this Guarantee Agreement; and
(f) The words "hereby", "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
words of similar import refer to this Guarantee Agreement as a whole and not to
any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control", when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Guarantor or
the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Guarantor (or any other
committee of the board of directors of the Guarantor performing similar
functions) or a committee designated by the board of directors of the Guarantor
(or such committee), comprised of two or more members of the board of directors
of the Guarantor or officers of the Guarantor, or both.
"Capital Securities" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this
Guarantee Agreement.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust.
"Event of Default" means (i) a default by the Guarantor in any of its
payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement or (ii) a default by the
Guarantor in any other obligation hereunder that remains unremedied for 30 days.
"Guarantee Agreement" means this Guarantee Agreement, as modified,
amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the
Capital Securities, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time; (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in the
Trust Agreement) with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by
the Issuer Trust, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
termination, winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, unless Debentures
are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) with
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<PAGE> 7
respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent that the Issuer Trust shall
have funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets
of the Issuer Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders on
liquidation of the Issuer.
"Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, solely in its
capacity as Guarantee Trustee and not in its individual capacity, until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement, and thereafter means each
such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Guarantor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"Holder" means any Holder (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of any
Capital Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders
of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any request,
notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor,
the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee
Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
__________, 1997, between Fifth Third Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as
trustee, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" has the meaning specified in the preamble to of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities" means,
except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Capital Securities representing
more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) of all Capital Securities then Outstanding (as defined in the Trust
Agreement).
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman or a
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor or the President or a
Vice President of the Guarantor, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer,
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor, and delivered to the
Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to
compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement
shall include:
(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers' Certificate that
such officer has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating
thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
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, in the opinion of such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
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<PAGE> 8
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, company,
limited liability company, trust, business trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any
Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the
Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any
Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer of Corporate Trust
Administration of the Guarantee Trustee and also means, with respect to a
particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of
that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Issuer Trust referred to in the recitals to this Guarantee Agreement, as
modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force
at the date as of which this Guarantee Agreement was executed; provided,
however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such
date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment,
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Vice President," when used with respect to the Corporation, means any
duly appointed vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word
or words added before or after the title "vice president."
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and
shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement
limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c)
thereof, such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of this Guarantee
Agreement modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which
may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to
this Guarantee Agreement as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
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<PAGE> 9
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Guarantee Trustee (a) semiannually, on or before June 30 and December 31 of each
year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders (a "List of Holders") as of a date not
more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at such other times as
the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt
by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more
than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case to the
extent such information is in the possession or control of the Guarantor and has
not otherwise been received by the Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as such.
The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on
receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Section
311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Not later than __________ of each year, commencing __________, 1997,
the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports as are required
by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner
provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall
also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the Holders such documents, reports and information,
if any, as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, in the form, in
the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of
compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section
314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be
given by an officer of the Guarantor pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given
in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities,
waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such
waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any
default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
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<PAGE> 10
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of
an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Holders, notice of any such Event of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee,
unless such Event of Default has been cured before the giving of such notice,
provided that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee
Payment, the Guarantee 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 and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in
good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of
the Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written
notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement shall have obtained actual knowledge, of such Event of
Default.
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.
The Trust Agreement and the Indenture shall be deemed to be
specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause
(i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for
the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee Agreement to any Person except to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as
Guarantee Trustee hereunder. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee
Trustee, as such, hereunder shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee
Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment
hereunder, and such vesting of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the
Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee. The Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement,
and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent
person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
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conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to
relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its
own negligent failure to act or its own wilful misconduct, except that:
(i) Prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of this Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to Section
2.1), and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for
the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively
rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of
the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or
opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to
the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case
of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision
hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically required
to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Guarantee Agreement.
(ii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error
of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee
was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such
judgment was made.
(iii) The Guarantee 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 of not less than a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities relating to
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement.
(iv) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require
the Guarantee 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 the
Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the
repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it
under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
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SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Guarantee Trustee may rely and shall be fully
protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party
or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate unless otherwise prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter
be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take
any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its
part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon
receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly
delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and
the written advice or opinion of such legal counsel with respect to
legal matters 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 accordance with such advice or opinion.
Such legal counsel may be legal counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may be one of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall
have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent
jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee
Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder unless such Holder
shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such adequate security and
indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the
Guarantee Trustee against the costs, expenses (including attorneys'
fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in
complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable
advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided that
nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve
the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of
its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Guarantee Agreement.
(vi) The Guarantee 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,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in
its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or
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perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its
agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible
for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or
attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive
instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking
any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request
instructions from the Holders, (B) may refrain from enforcing such
remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are
received, and (C) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such
instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose
any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or
exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and
authority.
SECTION 3.3. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.
The Guarantor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as
may be agreed by the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee from time to
time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law
in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Guarantee
Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement
(including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad
faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee
Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder.
The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or charge on any
Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this Guarantee
Agreement.
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ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of
at least $50,000,000, and shall be a corporation meeting the
requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant
to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining
authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1 and to the extent
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, 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.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in
the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2.
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions
of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed
or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to
the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall hold office until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or
resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for
prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not
take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and
accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after
delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning
Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any court
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of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to
the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore
paid by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust), as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer Trust may have or
assert, except the defense of payment. The Guarantor's obligation to make a
Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by
the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer Trust to pay such amounts
to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee
Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment,
demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the
Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust or any other Person before proceeding
against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice
of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason
of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise,
of the performance or observance by the Issuer Trust of any express or
implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital
Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer Trust;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust
of all or any portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of
time for payment of Distributions that results from the extension of
any interest payment period on the Debentures as provided in the
Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other
sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension
of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out
of, or in connection with, the Capital Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the
part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right,
privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the
terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the
Issuer Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
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<PAGE> 16
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of
debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer Trust or
any of the assets of the Issuer Trust;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor
(other than payment of the underlying obligation), it being the intent
of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder
shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain the
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement
will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the
Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee
Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement;
and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust
or any other Person.
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment.
This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of
the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer Trust) or upon the distribution of Debentures to Holders as
provided in the Trust Agreement.
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of the Holders
against the Issuer Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the
Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantor
shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be
entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any
amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence,
the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay
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over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer Trust with respect to the Capital
Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee
Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections
(a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement will
constitute unsecured obligations of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the
Indenture) of the Guarantor to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Indenture with respect to the Debentures, and the provisions of Article XIII of
the Indenture will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the obligations of the Guarantor
hereunder. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder do not constitute Senior
Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor.
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall
rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under (i) any similar
guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of
preferred or capital securities issued by any Issuer Trust (as defined in the
Indenture), (ii) the Indenture and the Securities (as defined therein) issued
thereunder; (iii) the Expense Agreement (as defined in the Trust Agreement) and
any similar expense agreements entered into by the Guarantor in connection with
the offering of Capital Securities (as defined in the Indenture) by any Issuer
Trust (as defined in the Indenture), and (iv) any other security, guarantee or
other agreement or obligation that is expressly stated to rank pari passu with
the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement or with any
obligation that ranks pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination.
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) of all Capital Securities, (ii) the
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distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for all of the Capital
Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with
Article IX of the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Issuer Trust.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be
effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder
is required to repay any sums paid with respect to Capital Securities or this
Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital
Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger
or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article VIII of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the successor or assignee agrees in writing to
perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign
its obligations hereunder, and any purported assignment other than in accordance
with this provision shall be void.
SECTION 8.2. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of the
Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of the Capital Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 8.3. Notices.
Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such
notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or telecopy number set
forth below or such other address or telecopy number as the Guarantor may give
notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:
Fifth Third Bancorp
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
Attention: Secretary
Telecopy No.: (513) ________
(b) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the address or telecopy
number set forth below or such other address or telecopy number as the Guarantee
Trustee may give notice to the Guarantor and
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<PAGE> 19
the Holders:
Wilmington Trust Company
1100 N. Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Telecopy No.: (302) 651-8882
with a copy to:
Fifth Third Capital Trust I
Fifth Third Bancorp
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
Attention: Secretary
Telecopy No.: (513) ________
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer Trust.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received
in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 8.4. Benefit.
This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and
is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 8.6. Counterparts.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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<PAGE> 20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Guarantee
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Guarantee Trustee
By:____________________________________
Name:
Title:
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<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 5(a)
March 11, 1997
Fifth Third Bancorp
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Gentlemen:
I am Counsel of Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (the "Corporation"),
and, in that capacity, have acted as counsel for the Corporation in connection
with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement") relating to $200,000,000 principal amount of junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debt Securities") of the Corporation,
$200,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred Securities (the
"Preferred Securities") of Fifth Third Capital Trust I and Fifth Third Capital
Trust II, each of which is or will be a Delaware statutory business trust (each
a "Trust"), and the Guarantees with respect to the Preferred Securities (the
"Guarantees") to be executed and delivered by the Corporation for the benefit of
the holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities. This opinion is being
furnished pursuant to the requirements of Form S-3 and Item 601 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In furnishing this opinion, I, or attorneys under my supervision, have examined
(i) the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus included therein (the
"Prospectus"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection
with which this opinion is to be filed as an Exhibit, (ii) the forms of the
Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities, (iii) the Guarantee Agreements
under which the Guarantees will be created, (iv) the Amended and Restated Trust
Agreements of the Trusts, and (v) such other documents, legal opinions and
precedents, corporate and other records of the Corporation and certificates of
public officials and officers of the Corporation as I have deemed necessary or
appropriate to provide a basis for the opinions set forth herein. In such
examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity
of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to original
documents of all documents submitted to me as certified or photostatic copies.
As to any facts material to such opinion that I did not independently establish
or verify, I have relied upon statements and representations of officers and
other
<PAGE> 2
March 11, 1997
Page 2
representatives of the Corporation and I believe that I am justified in relying
on such statements and representations.
Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:
1. The Corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio;
2. The Registration Statement has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action of the Corporation;
3. When: (i) the Registration Statement relating to the Debt Securities, the
Preferred Securities and the Guarantees has become effective under the Act;
(ii) the Indenture relating to the Debt Securities has been duly executed
and delivered;
(iii) the Guarantee Agreement relating to the Guarantee with respect to
the Preferred Securities of a Trust has been duly executed and delivered;
(iv) the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of such Trust has been duly
executed and delivered;
(v) the terms of the 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 result in a default under or breach of any agreement
or instrument binding upon the Corporation and so as to comply with any
requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having
jurisdiction over the Corporation;
(vi) the terms of the Preferred Securities of such Trust and of their
issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Amended
and Restated Trust Agreement of such Trust so as not to violate any
applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or
instrument binding upon such Trust and so as to comply with any requirement
or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction
over such Trust;
(vii) the Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in
accordance with the Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated in the
Registration Statement; and
(viii) the Preferred Securities have been duly executed and authenticated
in
<PAGE> 3
March 11, 1997
Page 3
accordance with the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of such Trust and
issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement,
the Debt Securities and the Guarantee relating to the Preferred Securities of
such Trust will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
Corporation, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating
to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
The opinion set forth herein is limited to the laws of the State of Ohio and
New York and the Federal laws of the United States as in effect on the date
hereof. As to all matters governed by the laws of the State of New York, I have
relied upon the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, dated the date hereof. I have
not been asked, nor do I undertake to render any opinion with respect to
matters except as expressly set forth herein nor to advise you of any matters
that may hereafter be brought to my attention, nor do I undertake to render any
opinion relating to potential or contemplated statutory or decisional changes in
laws and regulations occurring after the date of this letter.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of my name in the Prospectus under the
heading "Validity of Securities." By giving such consent, I do not thereby
admit that I am within the category of persons whose consents are required
under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Very truly yours,
Paul L. Reynolds
PLR:km
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 5(b)
[Richard, Layton & Finger Letterhead]
March 12, 1997
Fifth Third Capital Trust I and Fifth Third Capital Trust II
c/o Fifth Third Bancorp
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45263
Re: Fifth Third Capital Trust I and Fifth Third Capital Trust II
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Fifth Third Bancorp, an
Ohio corporation (the "Corporation"), and Fifth Third Capital Trust I and Fifth
Third Capital Trust II, each of which is a Delaware business trust (each a
"Trust" and, together, the "Trusts"), in connection with matters set forth
herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our
examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or
copies of the following:
(a) The Certificate of Trust of each Trust, each dated as of March 5,
1997, as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on March 5, 1997;
(b) The Restated Certificate of Trust of each Trust, each dated as of
March 10, 1997 (the documents in paragraphs (a) and (b) being collectively
referred to as the "Certificates"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of
State on March 10, 1997.
(c) The Trust Agreements, each dated as of March 5, 1997, with respect
to each Trust, each between the Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company, a
Delaware banking corporation, as Trustee of each Trust;
(d) The Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form
S-3, including a preliminary prospectus (the "Prospectus"), relating to the
Preferred Securities of a
<PAGE> 2
Fifth Third Capital Trust I and Fifth Third Capital Trust II
March 12, 1997
Page 2
Trust, representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
such Trust (each, a "Preferred Security" and collectively, the "Preferred
Securities"), as filed by the Corporation and the Trusts with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on March 6, 1997;
(e) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, to be entered into
among the Corporation, the trustees of each Trust named therein, and the
holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
each Trust (the "Trust Agreement" of the applicable Trust), filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement; and
(f) A Certificate of Good Standing for each Trust, dated March ,
1997, obtained from the Secretary of State.
Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are
used as defined in the Trust Agreements.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other
than the documents listed above, and we have assumed that there exists no
provision in any document that we have not reviewed that bears upon or is
inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent
factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the
foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the
additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be
true, complete and accurate in all material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the
conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or
forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that each Trust
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties thereto with
respect to the subject matter thereof, including with respect to the creation,
operation and termination of the Trust governed thereby, and that each Trust
Agreement and the Certificates are in full force and effect and have not been
amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due
creation or due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid
existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under
the laws of the jurisdiction governing its creation, organization or formation,
(iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents
examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us
has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its
obligations under, such
<PAGE> 3
Fifth Third Capital Trust I and Fifth Third Capital Trust II
March 12, 1997
Page 3
documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties
thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each Person to
whom a Preferred Security is to be issued by each Trust (collectively, the
"Preferred Security Holders") of a Preferred Security Certificate for such
Preferred Security and the payment for the Preferred Security required by it,
in accordance with the Trust Agreement of such Trust and the Registration
Statement, and (vii) that the Preferred Securities are issued and sold to the
Preferred Security Holders in accordance with the applicable Trust Agreement
and the Registration Statement. We have not participated in the preparation of
the Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding
the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and
express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal
laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only
with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder
which are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of
law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or
appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and
exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. Each Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good
standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act, 12 Del. C.
Section 3801, et seq.
2. The Preferred Securities to be issued to the Preferred Security
Holders have been duly authorized by the applicable Trust Agreement and will be
duly and validly issued and, subject to the qualifications set forth in
paragraph 3 below, fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the applicable Trust.
3. The Preferred Security Holders, as beneficial owners of a
Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended
to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Preferred Security
Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the applicable Trust
Agreement.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In addition,
we hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading "Validity of
Securities" in the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not
thereby admit that we come within the category of Persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
<PAGE> 4
Fifth Third Capital Trust I and Fifth Third Capital Trust II
March 12, 1997
Page 4
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not
be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose.
Very truly yours,
/s/ RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER
-----------------------------
EAM/DKD
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 5(d)
[SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LETTERHEAD]
March 12, 1997
Fifth Third Bancorp,
38 Fountain Square Plaza,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263.
Dear Sirs:
In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933
(the "Act") of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debt Securities") of Fifth Third Bancorp,
an Ohio corporation (the "Corporation"), $200,000,000 aggregate liquidation
amount of Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities" of Fifth Third
Capital I and Fifth Third Capital II, each of which is or will be a Delaware
statutory business trust (each, a "Trust"), and the Guarantees with respect to
the Preferred Securities (the "Guarantees") to be executed and delivered by the
Corporation for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Preferred
Securities, we, as your special counsel, have examined such corporate records,
certificates and other
<PAGE> 2
Fifth Third Bancorp -2-
documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or
appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our
opinion, when:
(i) the Registration Statement relating to the Debt Securities, the
Preferred Securities and the Guarantees has become effective under the Act;
(ii) the Indenture relating to the Debt Securities has been duly
executed and delivered;
(iii) the Guarantee Agreement relating to the Guarantee with respect to
the Preferred Securities of a Trust has been duly executed and delivered;
(iv) the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of such Trust has been
duly executed and delivered;
(v) the terms of the 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 result in a default under or breach of any
agreement or instrument binding upon the Corporation and so as to comply
with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental
body having jurisdiction over the Corporation;
(vi) the terms of the Preferred Securities of such Trust and of their
issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Amended
and Restated Trust Agreement of such Trust so as not to violate any
applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or
instrument binding upon such Trust and so as to comply with any requirement
or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having
jurisdiction over such Trust;
(vii) the Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in
accordance with the Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated in the
Registration Statement; and
<PAGE> 3
Fifth Third Bancorp -3-
(viii) the Preferred Securities have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement of such Trust and issued and sold as contemplated in the
Registration Statement,
the Debt Securities and the Guarantee relating to the Preferred Securities of
such Trust will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
Corporation, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating
to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United
States and the laws of the State of New York and the State of Ohio, and we are
expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
With respect to all matters of Ohio law, we have relied upon the opinion, dated
March 12, 1997, of Paul L. Reynolds, Esq., and our opinion is subject to the
same assumptions, qualifications and limitations with respect to such matters
as are contained in such opinion of Mr. Reynolds.
Also, we have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from
public officials, officers of the Corporation and other sources believed by us
to be responsible.
<PAGE> 4
Fifth Third Bancorp -4-
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the references to us under the heading "Validity
of Securities" in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby
admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
/S/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
-----------------------
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 8
[SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LETTERHEAD]
March 12, 1997
Fifth Third Bancorp
Fifth Third Capital Trust I
Fifth Third Capital Trust II
c/o Fifth Third Bancorp
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As special tax counsel to Fifth Third Capital Trust I, Fifth Third
Capital Trust II (collectively, the "Trusts") and Fifth Third Bancorp in
connection with the issuance of $200,000,000 of Preferred Securities of the
Trusts (the "Securities"), and assuming the operative documents for the
Securities described in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement to which
this opinion is filed as an exhibit (the "Registration Statement") will be
performed in accordance with the terms described therein, we hereby confirm to
you our opinion as set forth under the heading "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences" in the Prospectus Supplement, subject to the limitations set
forth therein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and the reference to us under the heading "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "Validity of Securities" in the
Registration Statement. By giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
-----------------------
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 12
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
($000's)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EARNINGS AS DEFINED
Income before income taxes $ 500,315 $ 430,568 $ 365,336 $ 303,908 $ 251,763
Fixed charges 700,851 613,890 409,512 343,232 362,718
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
TOTAL EARNINGS, AS DEFINED $1,201,166 $1,044,458 $ 774,848 $ 647,140 $ 614,481
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED
Interest expense - deposits $ 530,356 $ 441,305 $ 312,084 $ 279,474 $ 306,396
Interest expense - borrowings 165,513 168,428 93,464 59,925 52,974
1/3 of rental expense 4,982 4,157 3,964 3,833 3,348
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES, AS DEFINED $ 700,851 $ 613,890 $ 409,512 $ 343,232 $ 362,718
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Including interest expense - deposits 1.71 1.70 1.89 1.89 1.69
Excluding interest expense - deposits 3.93 3.49 4.75 5.77 5.47
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 23(a)
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement No. 333-22905 of Fifth Third Bancorp on Form S-3 of our
report dated January 15, 1997, incorporated by reference in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Fifth Third Bancorp for the year ended December 31, 1996 and to
the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is
part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
- -------------------------
Cincinnati, Ohio
March 12, 1997
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 25(a)
Registration No. 333-22905
==============================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
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) X
----
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Delaware 51-0055023
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices)
Cynthia L. Corliss
Vice President and Trust Counsel
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(302) 651-8516
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Ohio 31-0854434
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of Fifth Third Bancorp
(Title of the indenture securities)
===============================================================================
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 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.
Federal Deposit Insurance Co. State Bank Commissioner
Five Penn Center Dover, Delaware
Suite #2901
Philadelphia, PA
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee
and upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor is not an
affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
Eligibility and Qualification.
A. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which includes the
certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust Company to commence
business and the authorization of Wilmington Trust Company to
exercise corporate trust powers.
B. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.
C. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of
Trust Indenture Act.
D. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust
Company.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of
Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 6th day
of March, 1997.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]
Attest: /s/ Donald G. MacKelcan By:/s/ Emmett R. Harmon
------------------------ -----------------------
Assistant Secretary Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
2
<PAGE> 3
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED CHARTER
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON MAY 9, 1987
<PAGE> 4
AMENDED CHARTER
OR
ACT OF INCORPORATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, originally incorporated by an Act of the
General Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the
Delaware Guarantee and Trust Company", approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name
of which company was changed to "WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY" by an amendment filed
in the Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter
or Act of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and
changed by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and
trust companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its
Charter or Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall
in its entirety read as follows:
FIRST: - The name of this corporation is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
SECOND: - The location of its principal office in the State of Delaware
is at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle; the name of its resident agent is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY whose
address is Rodney Square North, in said City. In addition to such
principal office, the said corporation maintains and operates branch
offices in the City of Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, the Town of
Newport, New Castle County, Delaware, at Claymont, New Castle County,
Delaware, at Greenville, New Castle County Delaware, and at Milford
Cross Roads, New Castle County, Delaware, and shall be empowered to
open, maintain and operate branch offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets,
418 Delaware Avenue, 2120 Market Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in
the City of Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, and such other
branch offices or places of business as may be authorized from time to
time by the agency or agencies of the government of the State of
Delaware empowered to confer such authority.
THIRD: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes
proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this Corporation
are to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as fully and to the
same extent as natural persons might or could do and in any part of the
world, viz.:
(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of law or
equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter the seal at
pleasure, to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or otherwise deal in
real and personal estate and property, and to appoint such officers
and agents as the business of the
<PAGE> 5
Corporation shall require, to make by-laws not inconsistent with
the Constitution or laws of the United States or of this State, to
discount bills, notes or other evidences of debt, to receive
deposits of money, or securities for money, to buy gold and silver
bullion and foreign coins, to buy and sell bills of exchange, and
generally to use, exercise and enjoy all the powers, rights,
privileges and franchises incident to a corporation which are
proper or necessary for the transaction of the business of the
Corporation hereby created.
(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any estate
or interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of such property,
real or personal, against any claim or claims, adverse to his
interest therein, and to prepare and give certificates of title for
any lands or premises in the State of Delaware, or elsewhere.
(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the receipt,
collection, custody, investment and management of funds, and the
purchase, sale, management and disposal of property of all
descriptions, and to prepare and execute all papers which may be
necessary or proper in such business.
(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds, leases,
conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of every
description, and to carry on the business of conveyancing in all
its branches.
(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry, plate,
deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property of every sort
and kind, from executors, administrators, guardians, public
officers, courts, receivers, assignees, trustees, and from all
fiduciaries, and from all other persons and individuals, and from
all corporations whether state, municipal, corporate or private,
and to rent boxes, safes, vaults and other receptacles for such
property.
(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of registering,
issuing, certificating, countersigning, transferring or
underwriting the stock, bonds or other obligations of any
corporation, association, state or municipality, and may receive
and manage any sinking fund therefor on such terms as may be agreed
upon between the two parties, and in like manner may act as
Treasurer of any corporation or municipality.
(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage, bond or
other instrument issued by any state, municipality, body politic,
corporation, association or person, either alone or in conjunction
with any other person or persons, corporation or corporations.
2
<PAGE> 6
(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any
contract or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding places
of responsibility or trust; to become surety for any person, or
persons, for the faithful performance of any trust, office, duty,
contract or agreement, either by itself or in conjunction with any
other person, or persons, corporation, or corporations, or in like
manner become surety upon any bond, recognizance, obligation,
judgment, suit, order, or decree to be entered in any court of
record within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now
or hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court in the
State of Delaware or elsewhere.
(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as trustee,
trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy,
executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other trust
capacity in the receiving, holding, managing, and disposing of any
and all estates and property, real, personal or mixed, and to be
appointed as such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian
or bailee by any persons, corporations, court, officer, or
authority, in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and whenever this
Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation, court,
officer or authority such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator,
guardian, bailee, or in any other trust capacity, it shall not be
required to give bond with surety, but its capital stock shall be
taken and held as security for the performance of the duties
devolving upon it by such appointment.
(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the exercise of
any of its powers hereby given, or for the performance of any of
the duties which it may undertake or be called upon to perform, or
for the assumption of any responsibility the said Corporation may
be entitled to receive a proper compensation.
(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages,
debentures, shares of capital stock, and other securities,
obligations, contracts and evidences of indebtedness, of any
private, public or municipal corporation within and without the
State of Delaware, or of the Government of the United States, or of
any state, territory, colony, or possession thereof, or of any
foreign government or country; to receive, collect, receipt for,
and dispose of interest, dividends and income upon and from any of
the bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock,
securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and
other property held and owned by it, and to exercise in respect of
all such bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital
stock, securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of
indebtedness and other property, any and all the rights, powers and
privileges of individual
3
<PAGE> 7
owners thereof, including the right to vote thereon; to invest and
deal in and with any of the moneys of the Corporation upon such
securities and in such manner as it may think fit and proper, and
from time to time to vary or realize such investments; to issue
bonds and secure the same by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages
of or upon the whole or any part of the property held or owned by
the Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and when the
Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion of its
said corporate business of investment and to the extent authorized
by law, to lease, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, pledge,
mortgage and convey real and personal property of any name and
nature and any estate or interest therein.
(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by
the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby expressly provided that
the said Corporation shall also have the following powers:
(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the
world.
(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and franchises and
to undertake the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of
any person, firm, association or corporation, and to pay for the
same in cash, stock of this Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to
hold or in any manner to dispose of the whole or any part of the
property so purchased; to conduct in any lawful manner the whole or
any part of any business so acquired, and to exercise all the
powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct and
management of such business.
(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien, and to
lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner whatever dispose
of property, real, personal or mixed, wherever situated.
(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every
kind with any person, firm, association or corporation, and,
without limit as to amount, to draw, make, accept, endorse,
discount, execute and issue promissory notes, drafts, bills of
exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures, and other negotiable or
transferable instruments.
(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of its
operations and businesses, without restriction to the same extent
as natural persons might or could do, to purchase or otherwise
acquire, to hold, own, to mortgage, sell, convey or otherwise
dispose of, real and personal property, of every class and
description, in any State, District, Territory or Colony of the
United States, and in any foreign country or place.
4
<PAGE> 8
(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and powers
specified and clauses contained in this paragraph shall (except
where otherwise expressed in said paragraph) be nowise limited or
restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other
clause of this or any other paragraph in this charter, but that the
objects, purposes and powers specified in each of the clauses of
this paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes
and powers.
FOURTH: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock which
the Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one million
(41,000,000) shares, consisting of:
(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par value
$10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Preferred Stock");
and
(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock").
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or
more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All shares of
any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular,
except that there may be different dates from which dividends, if any,
thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative. The voting powers and
the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special
rights of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other
series at any time outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of
subparagraph 1 of Paragraph (c) of this Article FOURTH, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to
fix by resolution or resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any
shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers and
the designations, preferences and relative, optional and other special
rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such
series, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the following:
(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which number
may be increased (except where otherwise provided by the Board of
Directors) or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof
then outstanding) from time to time by like action of the Board of
Directors;
(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and conditions on
which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock of such series shall
be paid, the extent of the preference or relation, if any, of such
dividends to the dividends payable on any other class or classes,
or series of the same or other class of
5
<PAGE> 9
stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-
cumulative;
(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series to convert the same into or exchange the same for, shares of
any other class or classes or of any series of the same or any
other class or classes of stock of the Corporation and the terms
and conditions of such conversion or exchange;
(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be subject
to redemption, and the redemption price or prices and the time or
times at which, and the terms and conditions on which, Preferred
Stock of such series may be redeemed.
(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, merger,
consolidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or
winding-up, of the Corporation.
(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase
account, if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of such
series; and
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series of
Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing include the right, voting as a series or by itself or
together with other series of Preferred Stock or all series of
Preferred Stock as a class, to elect one or more directors of the
Corporation if there shall have been a default in the payment of
dividends on any one or more series of Preferred Stock or under
such circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of Directors
may determine.
(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential dividends on
the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section
(b) of this Article FOURTH), if any, shall have been met and after the
Corporation shall have complied with all the requirements, if any, with
respect to the setting aside of sums as sinking funds or redemption or
purchase accounts (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section
(b) of this Article FOURTH), and subject further to any conditions which
may be fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this
Article FOURTH, then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall
be entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount, if any,
(fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this
Article FOURTH), to be distributed to the holders of Preferred
Stock in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding-up, of the
Corporation, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to
6
<PAGE> 10
receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation, tangible
and intangible, of whatever kind available for distribution to
stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares of
Common Stock held by them respectively.
(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the provisions
of such resolution or resolutions as may be adopted by the Board of
Directors pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH, each
holder of Common Stock shall have one vote in respect of each share
of Common Stock held on all matters voted upon by the stockholders.
(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock or of
options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any class or
series of stock or of other securities of the Corporation shall have any
preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any
class or series or any additional shares of any class or series to be
issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the
Corporation of any class or series, or bonds, certificates of
indebtedness, debentures or other securities convertible into or
exchangeable for stock of the Corporation of any class or series, or
carrying any right to purchase stock of any class or series, but any
such unissued stock, additional authorized issue of shares of any class
or series of stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
stock, or carrying any right to purchase stock, may be issued and
disposed of pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors to such
persons, firms, corporations or associations, whether such holders or
others, and upon such terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors in the exercise of its sole discretion.
(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of
Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and
rights of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case, be
as fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in the resolution
or resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in section (b) of
this Article FOURTH and the consent, by class or series vote or
otherwise, of the holders of such of the series of Preferred Stock as
are from time to time outstanding shall not be required for the issuance
by the Board of Directors of any other series of Preferred Stock whether
or not the powers, preferences and rights of such other series shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors as senior to, or on a parity with, the
powers, preferences and rights of such outstanding series, or any of
them; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may provide in the
resolution or resolutions as to any series of Preferred Stock adopted
pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH that the consent of the
holders of a majority (or such greater proportion as shall be therein
fixed) of the outstanding shares of such series voting thereon shall be
required for the issuance of any or all other series of Preferred Stock.
7
<PAGE> 11
(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series of
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for
such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board
of Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and
for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred
Stock may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased
from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
FIFTH: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of directors
constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five nor more than
twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the
whole Board, provided, however, that the number of directors shall not
be reduced so as to shorten the term of any director at the time in
office, and provided further, that the number of directors constituting
the whole Board shall be twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority
of the whole Board.
(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as
nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors
constituting the whole Board permits, with the term of office of one
class expiring each year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in 1982,
directors of the first class shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting, directors of the second
class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the second
succeeding annual meeting and directors of the third class shall be
elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third succeeding
annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board of Directors for any reason,
and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the
directors, may be filled by the Board of Directors, acting by a majority
of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, and any
directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election of
directors. At such election, the stockholders shall elect a successor to
such director to hold office until the next election of the class for
which such director shall have been chosen and until his successor shall
be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the
fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Charter
or Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation), any director
or the entire Board of Directors of the
8
<PAGE> 12
Corporation may be removed at any time without cause, but only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class)
cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.
(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board
of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of
directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in writing,
delivered or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid,
to the Secretary of the Corporation not less than 14 days nor more than
50 days prior to any meeting of the stockholders called for the election
of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days' notice of
the meeting is given to stockholders, such written notice shall be
delivered or mailed, as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation
not later than the close of the seventh day following the day on which
notice of the meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations
which are proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the
Chairman on behalf of the Board.
(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name, age,
business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee
proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of
such nominee and (iii) the number of shares of stock of the Corporation
which are beneficially owned by each such nominee.
(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with
the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so
declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be
disregarded.
(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual
or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken
without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing,
without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.
SIXTH: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agent and servants as
may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to time find
necessary or proper.
SEVENTH: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same
powers, rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations
organized under the Act entitled "An Act Providing a General Corporation
Law", approved March 10, 1899, as from time to time amended.
EIGHTH: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.
9
<PAGE> 13
NINTH: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
TENTH: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority of
the whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute an
Executive Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in said
resolution, or in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and may
exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management
of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall have power to
authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which
may require it.
ELEVENTH: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be liable
for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
TWELFTH: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the
world.
THIRTEENTH: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation by a
vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may make,
alter or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them, provided
however, that any such additional By-Laws, alterations or repeal may be
adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or
more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for
this purpose as one class).
FOURTEENTH: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside
of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time
designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the
Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from
time to time designated by them.
FIFTEENTH: - (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law,
and except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and (c) of
this Article FIFTEENTH:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any Interested
Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation
(whether or not itself an Interested Stockholder), which, after
such merger or consolidation, would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter
defined) of an Interested Stockholder, or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) to or with any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder of any assets of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value
of $1,000,000 or more, or
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<PAGE> 14
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary
(in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any
securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested
Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in
exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination
thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or
more, or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation, or
(E) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or
any similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise
involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly
or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the
outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities
of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or
indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder, or any Affiliate of
any Interested Stockholder,
shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this
Article FIFTEENTH as one class ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote shall be
required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some
lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national
securities exchange or otherwise.
(2) The term "business combination" as used in this Article
FIFTEENTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to any one
or more of clauses (A) through (E) of paragraph 1 of the section
(a).
(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article FIFTEENTH shall
not be applicable to any particular business combination and such
business combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is
required by law and any other provisions of the Charter or Act of
Incorporation of By-Laws if such business combination has been
approved by a majority of the whole Board.
(c) For the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(1) A "person" shall mean any individual firm, corporation or other
entity.
(2) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean, in respect of any business
combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary)
who or which as of the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote on
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<PAGE> 15
such business combination, or immediately prior to the consummation of
any such transaction:
(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than
10% of the Voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within two
years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of not less than 10% of the then outstanding voting
Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any share of
capital stock of the Corporation which were at any time within two
years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Interested
Stockholder, and such assignment or succession shall have occurred
in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not
involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities
Act of 1933.
(3) A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates (as
hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or
(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has
(i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned
through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any
other Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or
upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise.
(5) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings given
those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1981.
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<PAGE> 16
(6) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any
class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect
in December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition
of Investment Stockholder set forth in paragraph (2) of this section
(c), the term "Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a
majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Corporation.
(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty to
determine for the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH on the basis
of information known to them, (1) the number of Voting Shares
beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a person is an
Affiliate or Associate of another, (3) whether a person has an
agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the
matters referred to in paragraph (3) of section (c), or (4) whether
the assets subject to any business combination or the consideration
received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the
Corporation, or any Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value
of $1,00,000 or more.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article FIFTEENTH shall be construed
to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation
imposed by law.
SIXTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in addition to any
other vote that may be required by law, this Charter or Act of
Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) shall be required to amend,
alter or repeal any provision of Articles FIFTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH
or SIXTEENTH of this Charter or Act of Incorporation.
SEVENTEENTH: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable to
the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such exemption from
liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware
General Corporation Laws as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the
Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission
occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification."
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EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON JANUARY 16, 1997
<PAGE> 18
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be held on the third
Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at such
other date, time, or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board of
Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of all stockholders may be called at any
time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 3. Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given by
mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at his
last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of
such meeting.
Section 4. A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the Company
issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any
business, but the holders of a small number of shares may adjourn, from time to
time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or
special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote,
either in person or by proxy, for each shares of stock registered in the
stockholder's name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such
meeting as determined herein.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number and classification of the Board of Directors shall
be as set forth in the Charter of the Bank.
Section 2. No person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72) years
shall be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the Company,
provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any person who was
serving as director of the Company on September 16, 1971.
Section 3. The class of Directors so elected shall hold office for three
years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 4. The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed and
conducted by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office of
the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its
<PAGE> 19
members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the
President.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at
any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President, and
shall be called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 7. A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall be
necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of any
special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or
place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which
shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.
Section 9. In the event of the death, resignation, removal, inability to
act, or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors, although less
than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who shall hold office
for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the
vacancy occurred, and until such director's successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified.
Section 10. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its
election by the stockholders shall appoint an Executive Committee, a Trust
Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, and shall elect from
its own members a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a President who may be
the same person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a
Secretary and a Treasurer, who may be the same person, may appoint at any time
such other committees and elect or appoint such other officers as it may deem
advisable. The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more
Associate Directors.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or
without cause, any member of any Committee appointed by it or any associate
director or officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.
Section 12. The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in
charge of such of the departments or division of the Company as it may deem
advisable.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section I. Executive Committee
(A) The Executive Committee shall be composed of not more than
nine members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members and who
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shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have all the powers of the
Board of Directors when it is not in session to transact all business for and in
behalf of the Company that may be brought before it.
(C) The Executive Committee shall meet at the principal office
of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by
a majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Executive
Committee or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The majority
of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at any time
when a quorum is present.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee shall be
kept and submitted to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
(E) The Executive Committee shall advise and superintend all
investments that may be made of the funds of the Company, and shall direct the
disposal of the same, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Board
of Directors from time to time make.
(F) In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient severity
to prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company
by its directors and officers as contemplated by these By-Laws any two available
members of the Executive Committee as constituted immediately prior to such
disaster shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full conduct and
management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Article III of these By-Laws; and if less than three members of
the Trust Committee is constituted immediately prior to such disaster shall be
available for the transaction of its business, such Executive Committee shall
also be empowered to exercise all of the powers reserved to the Trust Committee
under Article III Section 2 hereof. In the event of the unavailability, at such
time, of a minimum of two members of such Executive Committee, any three
available directors shall constitute the Executive Committee for the full
conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance
with the foregoing provisions of this Section . This By-Law shall be subject to
implementation by Resolutions of the Board of Directors presently existing or
hereafter passed from time to time for that purpose, and any provisions of these
By-Laws (other than this Section ) and any resolutions which are contrary to the
provisions of this Section or to the provisions of any such implementary
Resolutions shall be suspended during such a disaster period until it shall be
determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under this section that it
shall be to the advantage of the Company to resume the conduct and management of
its affairs and business under all of the other provisions of these By-Laws.
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Section 2. Trust Committee
(A) The Trust Committee shall be composed of not more than
thirteen members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors, a majority of
whom shall be members of the Board of Directors and who shall hold office during
the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Trust Committee shall have general supervision over the
Trust Department and the investment of trust funds, in all matters, however,
being subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
(C) The Trust Committee shall meet at the principal office of
the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members or at the call of its chairman. A majority of its
members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Trust Committee shall be
kept and promptly submitted to the Board of Directors.
(E) The Trust Committee shall have the power to appoint
Committees and/or designate officers or employees of the Company to whom
supervision over the investment of trust funds may be delegated when the Trust
Committee is not in session.
Section 3. Audit Committee
(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five members who
shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom
shall be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the
Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision over the
Audit Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the Board of
Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by the officer
in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination of the
Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor employed for
that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining to auditing the
Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever the
majority of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its
business, and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. Compensation Committee
(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not more
than
4
<PAGE> 22
five (5) members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members who are not officers of the Company and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise upon all
matters of policy concerning the Company brought to its attention by the
management and from time to time review the management of the Company, major
organizational matters, including salaries and employee benefits and
specifically shall administer the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
(C) Meetings of the Compensation Committee may be called at any
time by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, or the President of the Company.
Section 5. Associate Directors
(A) Any person who has served as a director may be elected by
the Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the pleasure of
the Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend all
directors meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought to
the Board, with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An associate
director will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the Company, with the
exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Compensation
Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee
(A) In the absence or disqualification of any member of any
Committee created under Article III of the By-Laws of this Company, the member
or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting,
whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another
member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such
absence or disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all
meetings of the Board and shall have such further authority and powers and shall
perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time confer and
direct. He shall also exercise such powers and perform such duties as may from
time to time be agreed upon between himself and the President of the Company.
Section 2. The Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the
Board of
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<PAGE> 23
Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which the
Chairman of the Board shall not be present and shall have such further authority
and powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the
Chairman of the Board may from time to time confer and direct.
Section 3. The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining to
the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute or assigned
to him by the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the Board the
President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President as
designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal
directions of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors, and shall
at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and
operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.
Section 5. There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however denominated
by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all the duties of the
Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the President and such other powers
and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of
Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the President
and by the officer in charge of the department or division to which they are
assigned.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the
Committees thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings and
to recording the same in the minute books of the Company. In addition to the
other notice requirements of these By-Laws and as may be practicable under the
circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance
of the scheduled date of any other meeting. He shall have custody of the
corporate seal and shall affix the same to any documents requiring such
corporate seal and to attest the same.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over all assets
and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible for all
monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper records
of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all the transactions of the
Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the Company
and shall report to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of the
condition of the Company, and perform such other duties as may be assigned to
him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee.
Section 8. There may be a Controller who shall exercise general
supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting,
and shall render to the Board of Directors at appropriate times a report
relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company.
6
<PAGE> 24
There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller officers
however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and such
duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.
Section 9. The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in
charge of the Audit Division of the Company with such title as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible only to
the Board of Directors.
There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit Officers,
however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and such
duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Division.
Section 10. There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank to
all Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from time
to time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office
Assistant Secretary of this Company and who may perform such duties as may be
prescribed by the officer in charge of the department or division to whom they
are assigned.
Section 11. The powers and duties of all other officers of the Company
shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Chairman of the
Board of Directors or the President and the officer in charge of the department
or division to which they are assigned.
ARTICLE V
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
Section 1. Shares of stock shall be transferrable on the books of the
Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall
be recorded.
Section 2. Certificate of stock shall bear the signature of the
President or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors
and countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and
the seal of the corporation shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall
recite that the stock represented thereby is transferrable only upon the books
of the Company by the holder thereof or his attorney, upon surrender of the
certificate properly endorsed. Any certificate of stock surrendered to the
Company shall be cancelled at the time of transfer, and before a new certificate
or certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof. Duplicate certificates of stock
shall be issued only upon giving such security as may be satisfactory to the
Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to fix in
advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of
7
<PAGE> 25
any dividend, or to any allotment or rights, or to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or in connection
with obtaining the consent of stockholders for any purpose, which record date
shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days proceeding the date of any
meeting of stockholders or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date
for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or
exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with
obtaining such consent.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
Section 1. The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the following
form:
Between two concentric circles the words "Wilmington Trust
Company" within the inner circle the words "Wilmington,
Delaware."
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President, however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power
and authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and
the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to
attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds,
conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes,
mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or
in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other
fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every method of appointment or
by whatever person, corporation, court officer or authority in the State of
Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific authority, ratification, approval
or confirmation by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and any
and all such instruments shall have the same force and validity as although
expressly authorized by the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Committee.
8
<PAGE> 26
ARTICLE IX
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. Directors and associate directors of the Company, other than
salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or
fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who serve as
members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company, shall be
paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of committees as
the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and directors and
associate directors may be employed by the Company for such special services as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and shall be paid for
such special services so performed reasonable compensation as may be determined
by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. (A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of
the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, 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, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust,
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably
incurred by such person. The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(B) The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred in
defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however,
that the payment of expenses incurred by a Director officer in his capacity as a
Director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall
be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director or officer to repay
all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article or otherwise.
(C) If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses,
under this Article X is not paid in full within ninety days after a written
claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may file suit
to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in
part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any
such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving
9
<PAGE> 27
that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification of payment
of expenses under applicable law.
(D) The rights conferred on any person by this Article X shall
not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter
acquire under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of Incorporation,
these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or
otherwise.
(E) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of
this Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of
any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such
repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole
or in part, and any new By-Law or By-Laws adopted at any regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of all the members
of the Board of Directors then in office.
10
<PAGE> 28
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 321(b) CONSENT
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations
by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: March 6, 1997 By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
--------------------
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 29
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE
This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings banks with
state publication requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking
authorities. Refer to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state
publication requirements.
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY of WILMINGTON
------------------------------------- ---------------------
Name of Bank City
in the State of DELAWARE, at the close of business on December 31, 1996.
ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Thousands of dollars
<S> <C> <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and
coins.............................................. 213,895
Interest-bearing balances.......................... 0
Held-to-maturity securities................................ 465,818
Available-for-sale securities.............................. 752,297
Federal funds sold......................................... 95,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell............ 39,190
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income........... 3,634,003
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses......... 51,847
LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve............. 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
allowance, and reserve ............................ 3,582,156
Assets held in trading accounts............................ 0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)... 89,129
Other real estate owned.................................... 3,520
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
companies.................................................. 52
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances
outstanding................................................ 0
Intangible assets.......................................... 4,593
Other assets............................................... 114,300
Total assets............................................... 5,359,950
</TABLE>
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE> 30
<TABLE>
LIABILITIES
<S> <C> <C>
Deposits:
In domestic offices........................ 3,749,697
Noninterest-bearing ............... 852,790
Interest-bearing................... 2,896,907
Federal funds purchased.................... 77,825
Securities sold under agreements to
repurchase................................. 192,295
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury... 53,526
Trading liabilities........................ 0
Other borrowed money:...................... ///////
With original maturity of one year
or less............................ 714,000
With original maturity of more than
one year........................... 43,000
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under
capitalized leases......................... 0
Bank's liability on acceptances executed
and outstanding............................ 0
Subordinated notes and debentures.......... 0
Other liabilities.......................... 98,756
Total liabilities.......................... 4,929,099
Limited-life preferred stock and related
surplus.................................... 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EQUITY CAPITAL
<S> <C>
Perpetual preferred stock and related
surplus..................................... 0
Common Stock................................ 500
Surplus..................................... 62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves...... 367,371
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on
available-for-sale securities .............. 862
Total equity capital........................ 430,851
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred
stock, and equity capital................... 5,359,950
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 25(b)
Registration No. 333-22905
===============================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
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) X
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Delaware 51-0055023
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices)
Cynthia L. Corliss
Vice President and Trust Counsel
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(302) 651-8516
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
CAPITAL TRUST I
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Ohio 31-0854434
Delaware To Be Applied For
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Preferred Securities of Capital Trust I
(Title of the indenture securities)
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 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.
Federal Deposit Insurance Co. State Bank Commissioner
Five Penn Center Dover, Delaware
Suite #2901
Philadelphia, PA
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee
and upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor is not an
affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
Eligibility and Qualification.
A. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which includes the
certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust Company to commence
business and the authorization of Wilmington Trust Company to
exercise corporate trust powers.
B. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.
C. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of
Trust Indenture Act.
D. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust
Company.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of
Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 6th day
of March, 1997.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]
Attest: /s/ Donald G. MacKelcan By:/s/ Emmett R. Harmon
------------------------ ---------------------
Assistant Secretary Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
2
<PAGE> 3
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED CHARTER
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON MAY 9, 1987
<PAGE> 4
AMENDED CHARTER
OR
ACT OF INCORPORATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, originally incorporated by an Act of the
General Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the
Delaware Guarantee and Trust Company", approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name
of which company was changed to "WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY" by an amendment filed
in the Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter
or Act of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and
changed by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and
trust companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its
Charter or Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall
in its entirety read as follows:
FIRST: - The name of this corporation is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
SECOND: - The location of its principal office in the State of Delaware
is at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle; the name of its resident agent is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY whose
address is Rodney Square North, in said City. In addition to such
principal office, the said corporation maintains and operates branch
offices in the City of Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, the Town of
Newport, New Castle County, Delaware, at Claymont, New Castle County,
Delaware, at Greenville, New Castle County Delaware, and at Milford
Cross Roads, New Castle County, Delaware, and shall be empowered to
open, maintain and operate branch offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets,
418 Delaware Avenue, 2120 Market Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in
the City of Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, and such other
branch offices or places of business as may be authorized from time to
time by the agency or agencies of the government of the State of
Delaware empowered to confer such authority.
THIRD: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes
proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this Corporation
are to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as fully and to the
same extent as natural persons might or could do and in any part of the
world, viz.:
(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of law or
equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter the seal at
pleasure, to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or otherwise deal in
real and personal estate and property, and to appoint such officers
and agents as the business of the
<PAGE> 5
Corporation shall require, to make by-laws not inconsistent with
the Constitution or laws of the United States or of this State, to
discount bills, notes or other evidences of debt, to receive
deposits of money, or securities for money, to buy gold and silver
bullion and foreign coins, to buy and sell bills of exchange, and
generally to use, exercise and enjoy all the powers, rights,
privileges and franchises incident to a corporation which are
proper or necessary for the transaction of the business of the
Corporation hereby created.
(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any estate
or interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of such property,
real or personal, against any claim or claims, adverse to his
interest therein, and to prepare and give certificates of title for
any lands or premises in the State of Delaware, or elsewhere.
(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the receipt,
collection, custody, investment and management of funds, and the
purchase, sale, management and disposal of property of all
descriptions, and to prepare and execute all papers which may be
necessary or proper in such business.
(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds, leases,
conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of every
description, and to carry on the business of conveyancing in all
its branches.
(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry, plate,
deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property of every sort
and kind, from executors, administrators, guardians, public
officers, courts, receivers, assignees, trustees, and from all
fiduciaries, and from all other persons and individuals, and from
all corporations whether state, municipal, corporate or private,
and to rent boxes, safes, vaults and other receptacles for such
property.
(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of registering,
issuing, certificating, countersigning, transferring or
underwriting the stock, bonds or other obligations of any
corporation, association, state or municipality, and may receive
and manage any sinking fund therefor on such terms as may be agreed
upon between the two parties, and in like manner may act as
Treasurer of any corporation or municipality.
(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage, bond or
other instrument issued by any state, municipality, body politic,
corporation, association or person, either alone or in conjunction
with any other person or persons, corporation or corporations.
2
<PAGE> 6
(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any
contract or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding places
of responsibility or trust; to become surety for any person, or
persons, for the faithful performance of any trust, office, duty,
contract or agreement, either by itself or in conjunction with any
other person, or persons, corporation, or corporations, or in like
manner become surety upon any bond, recognizance, obligation,
judgment, suit, order, or decree to be entered in any court of
record within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now
or hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court in the
State of Delaware or elsewhere.
(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as trustee,
trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy,
executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other trust
capacity in the receiving, holding, managing, and disposing of any
and all estates and property, real, personal or mixed, and to be
appointed as such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian
or bailee by any persons, corporations, court, officer, or
authority, in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and whenever this
Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation, court,
officer or authority such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator,
guardian, bailee, or in any other trust capacity, it shall not be
required to give bond with surety, but its capital stock shall be
taken and held as security for the performance of the duties
devolving upon it by such appointment.
(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the exercise of
any of its powers hereby given, or for the performance of any of
the duties which it may undertake or be called upon to perform, or
for the assumption of any responsibility the said Corporation may
be entitled to receive a proper compensation.
(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages,
debentures, shares of capital stock, and other securities,
obligations, contracts and evidences of indebtedness, of any
private, public or municipal corporation within and without the
State of Delaware, or of the Government of the United States, or of
any state, territory, colony, or possession thereof, or of any
foreign government or country; to receive, collect, receipt for,
and dispose of interest, dividends and income upon and from any of
the bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock,
securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and
other property held and owned by it, and to exercise in respect of
all such bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital
stock, securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of
indebtedness and other property, any and all the rights, powers and
privileges of individual
3
<PAGE> 7
owners thereof, including the right to vote thereon; to invest and
deal in and with any of the moneys of the Corporation upon such
securities and in such manner as it may think fit and proper, and
from time to time to vary or realize such investments; to issue
bonds and secure the same by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages
of or upon the whole or any part of the property held or owned by
the Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and when the
Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion of its
said corporate business of investment and to the extent authorized
by law, to lease, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, pledge,
mortgage and convey real and personal property of any name and
nature and any estate or interest therein.
(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by
the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby expressly provided that
the said Corporation shall also have the following powers:
(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the
world.
(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and franchises and
to undertake the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of
any person, firm, association or corporation, and to pay for the
same in cash, stock of this Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to
hold or in any manner to dispose of the whole or any part of the
property so purchased; to conduct in any lawful manner the whole or
any part of any business so acquired, and to exercise all the
powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct and
management of such business.
(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien, and to
lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner whatever dispose
of property, real, personal or mixed, wherever situated.
(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every
kind with any person, firm, association or corporation, and,
without limit as to amount, to draw, make, accept, endorse,
discount, execute and issue promissory notes, drafts, bills of
exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures, and other negotiable or
transferable instruments.
(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of its
operations and businesses, without restriction to the same extent
as natural persons might or could do, to purchase or otherwise
acquire, to hold, own, to mortgage, sell, convey or otherwise
dispose of, real and personal property, of every class and
description, in any State, District, Territory or Colony of the
United States, and in any foreign country or place.
4
<PAGE> 8
(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and powers
specified and clauses contained in this paragraph shall (except
where otherwise expressed in said paragraph) be nowise limited or
restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other
clause of this or any other paragraph in this charter, but that the
objects, purposes and powers specified in each of the clauses of
this paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes
and powers.
FOURTH: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock which
the Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one million
(41,000,000) shares, consisting of:
(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par value
$10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Preferred Stock");
and
(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock").
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or
more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All shares of
any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular,
except that there may be different dates from which dividends, if any,
thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative. The voting powers and
the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special
rights of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other
series at any time outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of
subparagraph 1 of Paragraph (c) of this Article FOURTH, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to
fix by resolution or resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any
shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers and
the designations, preferences and relative, optional and other special
rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such
series, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the following:
(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which number
may be increased (except where otherwise provided by the Board of
Directors) or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof
then outstanding) from time to time by like action of the Board of
Directors;
(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and conditions on
which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock of such series shall
be paid, the extent of the preference or relation, if any, of such
dividends to the dividends payable on any other class or classes,
or series of the same or other class of
5
<PAGE> 9
stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or
non-cumulative;
(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series to convert the same into or exchange the same for, shares of
any other class or classes or of any series of the same or any
other class or classes of stock of the Corporation and the terms
and conditions of such conversion or exchange;
(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be subject
to redemption, and the redemption price or prices and the time or
times at which, and the terms and conditions on which, Preferred
Stock of such series may be redeemed.
(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, merger,
consolidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or
winding-up, of the Corporation.
(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase
account, if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of such
series; and
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series of
Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing include the right, voting as a series or by itself or
together with other series of Preferred Stock or all series of
Preferred Stock as a class, to elect one or more directors of the
Corporation if there shall have been a default in the payment of
dividends on any one or more series of Preferred Stock or under
such circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of Directors
may determine.
(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential dividends on
the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section
(b) of this Article FOURTH), if any, shall have been met and after the
Corporation shall have complied with all the requirements, if any, with
respect to the setting aside of sums as sinking funds or redemption or
purchase accounts (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section
(b) of this Article FOURTH), and subject further to any conditions which
may be fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this
Article FOURTH, then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall
be entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount, if any,
(fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this
Article FOURTH), to be distributed to the holders of Preferred
Stock in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding-up, of the
Corporation, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to
6
<PAGE> 10
receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation, tangible
and intangible, of whatever kind available for distribution to
stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares of
Common Stock held by them respectively.
(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the provisions
of such resolution or resolutions as may be adopted by the Board of
Directors pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH, each
holder of Common Stock shall have one vote in respect of each share
of Common Stock held on all matters voted upon by the stockholders.
(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock or of
options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any class or
series of stock or of other securities of the Corporation shall have any
preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any
class or series or any additional shares of any class or series to be
issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the
Corporation of any class or series, or bonds, certificates of
indebtedness, debentures or other securities convertible into or
exchangeable for stock of the Corporation of any class or series, or
carrying any right to purchase stock of any class or series, but any
such unissued stock, additional authorized issue of shares of any class
or series of stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
stock, or carrying any right to purchase stock, may be issued and
disposed of pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors to such
persons, firms, corporations or associations, whether such holders or
others, and upon such terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors in the exercise of its sole discretion.
(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of
Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and
rights of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case, be
as fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in the resolution
or resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in section (b) of
this Article FOURTH and the consent, by class or series vote or
otherwise, of the holders of such of the series of Preferred Stock as
are from time to time outstanding shall not be required for the issuance
by the Board of Directors of any other series of Preferred Stock whether
or not the powers, preferences and rights of such other series shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors as senior to, or on a parity with, the
powers, preferences and rights of such outstanding series, or any of
them; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may provide in the
resolution or resolutions as to any series of Preferred Stock adopted
pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH that the consent of the
holders of a majority (or such greater proportion as shall be therein
fixed) of the outstanding shares of such series voting thereon shall be
required for the issuance of any or all other series of Preferred Stock.
7
<PAGE> 11
(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series of
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for
such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board
of Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and
for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred
Stock may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased
from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
FIFTH: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of directors
constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five nor more than
twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the
whole Board, provided, however, that the number of directors shall not
be reduced so as to shorten the term of any director at the time in
office, and provided further, that the number of directors constituting
the whole Board shall be twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority
of the whole Board.
(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as
nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors
constituting the whole Board permits, with the term of office of one
class expiring each year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in 1982,
directors of the first class shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting, directors of the second
class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the second
succeeding annual meeting and directors of the third class shall be
elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third succeeding
annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board of Directors for any reason,
and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the
directors, may be filled by the Board of Directors, acting by a majority
of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, and any
directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election of
directors. At such election, the stockholders shall elect a successor to
such director to hold office until the next election of the class for
which such director shall have been chosen and until his successor shall
be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the
fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Charter
or Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation), any director
or the entire Board of Directors of the
8
<PAGE> 12
Corporation may be removed at any time without cause, but only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class)
cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.
(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board
of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of
directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in writing,
delivered or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid,
to the Secretary of the Corporation not less than 14 days nor more than
50 days prior to any meeting of the stockholders called for the election
of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days' notice of
the meeting is given to stockholders, such written notice shall be
delivered or mailed, as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation
not later than the close of the seventh day following the day on which
notice of the meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations
which are proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the
Chairman on behalf of the Board.
(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name, age,
business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee
proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of
such nominee and (iii) the number of shares of stock of the Corporation
which are beneficially owned by each such nominee.
(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with
the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so
declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be
disregarded.
(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual
or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken
without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing,
without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.
SIXTH: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agent and servants as
may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to time find
necessary or proper.
SEVENTH: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same
powers, rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations
organized under the Act entitled "An Act Providing a General Corporation
Law", approved March 10, 1899, as from time to time amended.
EIGHTH: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.
9
<PAGE> 13
NINTH: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
TENTH: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority of
the whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute an
Executive Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in said
resolution, or in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and may
exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management
of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall have power to
authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which
may require it.
ELEVENTH: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be liable
for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
TWELFTH: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the
world.
THIRTEENTH: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation by a
vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may make,
alter or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them, provided
however, that any such additional By-Laws, alterations or repeal may be
adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or
more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for
this purpose as one class).
FOURTEENTH: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside
of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time
designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the
Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from
time to time designated by them.
FIFTEENTH: - (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law,
and except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and (c) of
this Article FIFTEENTH:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any Interested
Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation
(whether or not itself an Interested Stockholder), which, after
such merger or consolidation, would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter
defined) of an Interested Stockholder, or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) to or with any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder of any assets of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value
of $1,000,000 or more, or
10
<PAGE> 14
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary
(in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any
securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested
Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in
exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination
thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or
more, or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation, or
(E) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or
any similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise
involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly
or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the
outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities
of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or
indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder, or any Affiliate of
any Interested Stockholder,
shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this
Article FIFTEENTH as one class ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote shall be
required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some
lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national
securities exchange or otherwise.
(2) The term "business combination" as used in this Article
FIFTEENTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to any one
or more of clauses (A) through (E) of paragraph 1 of the section
(a).
(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article FIFTEENTH shall
not be applicable to any particular business combination and such
business combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is
required by law and any other provisions of the Charter or Act of
Incorporation of By-Laws if such business combination has been
approved by a majority of the whole Board.
(c) For the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(1) A "person" shall mean any individual firm, corporation or other
entity.
(2) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean, in respect of any business
combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary)
who or which as of the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote on
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<PAGE> 15
such business combination, or immediately prior to the consummation of
any such transaction:
(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than
10% of the Voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within two
years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of not less than 10% of the then outstanding voting
Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any share of
capital stock of the Corporation which were at any time within two
years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Interested
Stockholder, and such assignment or succession shall have occurred
in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not
involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities
Act of 1933.
(3) A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates (as
hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or
(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has
(i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned
through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any
other Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or
upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise.
(5) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings given
those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1981.
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<PAGE> 16
(6) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any
class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect
in December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition
of Investment Stockholder set forth in paragraph (2) of this section
(c), the term "Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a
majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Corporation.
(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty to
determine for the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH on the basis
of information known to them, (1) the number of Voting Shares
beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a person is an
Affiliate or Associate of another, (3) whether a person has an
agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the
matters referred to in paragraph (3) of section (c), or (4) whether
the assets subject to any business combination or the consideration
received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the
Corporation, or any Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value
of $1,00,000 or more.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article FIFTEENTH shall be construed
to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation
imposed by law.
SIXTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in addition to any
other vote that may be required by law, this Charter or Act of
Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) shall be required to amend,
alter or repeal any provision of Articles FIFTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH
or SIXTEENTH of this Charter or Act of Incorporation.
SEVENTEENTH: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable to
the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such exemption from
liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware
General Corporation Laws as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the
Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission
occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification."
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EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON JANUARY 16, 1997
<PAGE> 18
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be held on the third
Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at such
other date, time, or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board of
Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of all stockholders may be called at any
time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 3. Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given by
mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at his
last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of
such meeting.
Section 4. A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the Company
issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any
business, but the holders of a small number of shares may adjourn, from time to
time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or
special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote,
either in person or by proxy, for each shares of stock registered in the
stockholder's name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such
meeting as determined herein.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number and classification of the Board of Directors shall
be as set forth in the Charter of the Bank.
Section 2. No person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72) years
shall be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the Company,
provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any person who was
serving as director of the Company on September 16, 1971.
Section 3. The class of Directors so elected shall hold office for three
years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 4. The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed and
conducted by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office of
the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its
<PAGE> 19
members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the
President.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at
any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President, and
shall be called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 7. A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall be
necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of any
special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or
place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which
shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.
Section 9. In the event of the death, resignation, removal, inability to
act, or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors, although less
than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who shall hold office
for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the
vacancy occurred, and until such director's successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified.
Section 10. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its
election by the stockholders shall appoint an Executive Committee, a Trust
Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, and shall elect from
its own members a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a President who may be
the same person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a
Secretary and a Treasurer, who may be the same person, may appoint at any time
such other committees and elect or appoint such other officers as it may deem
advisable. The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more
Associate Directors.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or
without cause, any member of any Committee appointed by it or any associate
director or officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.
Section 12. The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in
charge of such of the departments or division of the Company as it may deem
advisable.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section I. Executive Committee
(A) The Executive Committee shall be composed of not more than
nine members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members and who
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shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have all the powers of the
Board of Directors when it is not in session to transact all business for and in
behalf of the Company that may be brought before it.
(C) The Executive Committee shall meet at the principal office
of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by
a majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Executive
Committee or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The majority
of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at any time
when a quorum is present.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee shall be
kept and submitted to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
(E) The Executive Committee shall advise and superintend all
investments that may be made of the funds of the Company, and shall direct the
disposal of the same, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Board
of Directors from time to time make.
(F) In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient severity
to prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company
by its directors and officers as contemplated by these By-Laws any two available
members of the Executive Committee as constituted immediately prior to such
disaster shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full conduct and
management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Article III of these By-Laws; and if less than three members of
the Trust Committee is constituted immediately prior to such disaster shall be
available for the transaction of its business, such Executive Committee shall
also be empowered to exercise all of the powers reserved to the Trust Committee
under Article III Section 2 hereof. In the event of the unavailability, at such
time, of a minimum of two members of such Executive Committee, any three
available directors shall constitute the Executive Committee for the full
conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance
with the foregoing provisions of this Section. This By-Law shall be subject to
implementation by Resolutions of the Board of Directors presently existing or
hereafter passed from time to time for that purpose, and any provisions of these
By-Laws (other than this Section) and any resolutions which are contrary to the
provisions of this Section or to the provisions of any such implementary
Resolutions shall be suspended during such a disaster period until it shall be
determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under this section that it
shall be to the advantage of the Company to resume the conduct and management of
its affairs and business under all of the other provisions of these By-Laws.
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Section 2. Trust Committee
(A) The Trust Committee shall be composed of not more than
thirteen members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors, a majority of
whom shall be members of the Board of Directors and who shall hold office during
the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Trust Committee shall have general supervision over the
Trust Department and the investment of trust funds, in all matters, however,
being subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
(C) The Trust Committee shall meet at the principal office of
the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members or at the call of its chairman. A majority of its
members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Trust Committee shall be
kept and promptly submitted to the Board of Directors.
(E) The Trust Committee shall have the power to appoint
Committees and/or designate officers or employees of the Company to whom
supervision over the investment of trust funds may be delegated when the Trust
Committee is not in session.
Section 3. Audit Committee
(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five members who
shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom
shall be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the
Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision over the
Audit Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the Board of
Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by the officer
in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination of the
Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor employed for
that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining to auditing the
Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever the
majority of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its
business, and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. Compensation Committee
(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not more
than
4
<PAGE> 22
five (5) members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members who are not officers of the Company and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise upon all
matters of policy concerning the Company brought to its attention by the
management and from time to time review the management of the Company, major
organizational matters, including salaries and employee benefits and
specifically shall administer the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
(C) Meetings of the Compensation Committee may be called at any
time by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, or the President of the Company.
Section 5. Associate Directors
(A) Any person who has served as a director may be elected by
the Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the pleasure of
the Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend all
directors meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought to
the Board, with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An associate
director will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the Company, with the
exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Compensation
Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee
(A) In the absence or disqualification of any member of any
Committee created under Article III of the By-Laws of this Company, the member
or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting,
whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another
member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such
absence or disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all
meetings of the Board and shall have such further authority and powers and shall
perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time confer and
direct. He shall also exercise such powers and perform such duties as may from
time to time be agreed upon between himself and the President of the Company.
Section 2. The Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the
Board of
5
<PAGE> 23
Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which the
Chairman of the Board shall not be present and shall have such further authority
and powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the
Chairman of the Board may from time to time confer and direct.
Section 3. The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining to
the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute or assigned
to him by the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the Board the
President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President as
designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal
directions of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors, and shall
at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and
operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.
Section 5. There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however denominated
by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all the duties of the
Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the President and such other powers
and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of
Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the President
and by the officer in charge of the department or division to which they are
assigned.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the
Committees thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings and
to recording the same in the minute books of the Company. In addition to the
other notice requirements of these By-Laws and as may be practicable under the
circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance
of the scheduled date of any other meeting. He shall have custody of the
corporate seal and shall affix the same to any documents requiring such
corporate seal and to attest the same.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over all assets
and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible for all
monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper records
of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all the transactions of the
Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the Company
and shall report to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of the
condition of the Company, and perform such other duties as may be assigned to
him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee.
Section 8. There may be a Controller who shall exercise general
supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting,
and shall render to the Board of Directors at appropriate times a report
relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company.
6
<PAGE> 24
There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller officers
however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and such
duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.
Section 9. The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in
charge of the Audit Division of the Company with such title as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible only to
the Board of Directors.
There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit Officers,
however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and such
duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Division.
Section 10. There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank to
all Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from time
to time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office
Assistant Secretary of this Company and who may perform such duties as may be
prescribed by the officer in charge of the department or division to whom they
are assigned.
Section 11. The powers and duties of all other officers of the Company
shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Chairman of the
Board of Directors or the President and the officer in charge of the department
or division to which they are assigned.
ARTICLE V
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
Section 1. Shares of stock shall be transferrable on the books of the
Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall
be recorded.
Section 2. Certificate of stock shall bear the signature of the
President or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors
and countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and
the seal of the corporation shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall
recite that the stock represented thereby is transferrable only upon the books
of the Company by the holder thereof or his attorney, upon surrender of the
certificate properly endorsed. Any certificate of stock surrendered to the
Company shall be cancelled at the time of transfer, and before a new certificate
or certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof. Duplicate certificates of stock
shall be issued only upon giving such security as may be satisfactory to the
Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to fix in
advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of
7
<PAGE> 25
any dividend, or to any allotment or rights, or to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or in connection
with obtaining the consent of stockholders for any purpose, which record date
shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days proceeding the date of any
meeting of stockholders or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date
for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or
exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with
obtaining such consent.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
Section 1. The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the following
form:
Between two concentric circles the words "Wilmington Trust
Company" within the inner circle the words "Wilmington,
Delaware."
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President, however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power
and authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and
the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to
attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds,
conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes,
mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or
in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other
fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every method of appointment or
by whatever person, corporation, court officer or authority in the State of
Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific authority, ratification, approval
or confirmation by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and any
and all such instruments shall have the same force and validity as although
expressly authorized by the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Committee.
8
<PAGE> 26
ARTICLE IX
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. Directors and associate directors of the Company, other than
salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or
fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who serve as
members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company, shall be
paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of committees as
the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and directors and
associate directors may be employed by the Company for such special services as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and shall be paid for
such special services so performed reasonable compensation as may be determined
by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. (A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of
the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, 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, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust,
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably
incurred by such person. The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(B) The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred in
defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however,
that the payment of expenses incurred by a Director officer in his capacity as a
Director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall
be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director or officer to repay
all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article or otherwise.
(C) If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses,
under this Article X is not paid in full within ninety days after a written
claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may file suit
to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in
part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any
such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving
9
<PAGE> 27
that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification of payment
of expenses under applicable law.
(D) The rights conferred on any person by this Article X shall
not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter
acquire under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of Incorporation,
these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or
otherwise.
(E) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of
this Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of
any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such
repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole
or in part, and any new By-Law or By-Laws adopted at any regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of all the members
of the Board of Directors then in office.
10
<PAGE> 28
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 321(b) CONSENT
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations
by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: March 6, 1997 By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
--------------------
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 29
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE
This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings banks with
state publication requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking
authorities. Refer to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state
publication requirements.
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY of WILMINGTON
---------------------------------- ---------------------
Name of Bank City
in the State of DELAWARE , at the close of business on December 31, 1996.
ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Thousands of dollars
<S> <C> <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins .......................... 213,895
Interest-bearing balances .................................................... 0
Held-to-maturity securities .......................................................... 465,818
Available-for-sale securities ........................................................ 752,297
Federal funds sold ................................................................... 95,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell ...................................... 39,190
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income ........................ 3,634,003
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ...................... 51,847
LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve .......................... 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve ............. 3,582,156
Assets held in trading accounts ...................................................... 0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ............................. 89,129
Other real estate owned .............................................................. 3,520
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies .................. 52
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ......................... 0
Intangible assets .................................................................... 4,593
Other assets ......................................................................... 114,300
Total assets ......................................................................... 5,359,950
</TABLE>
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE> 30
LIABILITIES
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Deposits:
In domestic offices ........................................................ 3,749,697
Noninterest-bearing .................................. 852,790
Interest-bearing ..................................... 2,896,907
Federal funds purchased .................................................... 77,825
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ............................. 192,295
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ................................... 53,526
Trading liabilities ........................................................ 0
Other borrowed money: ...................................................... ///////
With original maturity of one year or less ......................... 714,000
With original maturity of more than one year ....................... 43,000
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases ............. 0
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ................... 0
Subordinated notes and debentures .......................................... 0
Other liabilities .......................................................... 98,756
Total liabilities .......................................................... 4,929,099
Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus ........................... 0
</TABLE>
EQUITY CAPITAL
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ............................. 0
Common Stock .............................................................. 500
Surplus ................................................................... 62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves .................................... 367,371
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities .... 862
Total equity capital ...................................................... 430,851
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital ....... 5,359,950
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 25(c)
Registration No. 333-22905
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
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) X
---
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Delaware 51-0055023
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices)
Cynthia L. Corliss
Vice President and Trust Counsel
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(302) 651-8516
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
CAPITAL TRUST II
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Ohio 31-0854434
Delaware To Be Applied For
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Preferred Securities of Capital Trust II
(Title of the indenture securities)
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 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.
Federal Deposit Insurance Co. State Bank Commissioner
Five Penn Center Dover, Delaware
Suite #2901
Philadelphia, PA
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee
and upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor is not an
affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
Eligibility and Qualification.
A. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which includes the
certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust Company to commence
business and the authorization of Wilmington Trust Company to
exercise corporate trust powers.
B. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.
C. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of
Trust Indenture Act.
D. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust
Company.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of
Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 6th day
of March, 1997.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]
Attest:/s/ Donald G. MacKelcan By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
----------------------- ----------------------
Assistant Secretary Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
2
<PAGE> 3
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED CHARTER
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON MAY 9, 1987
<PAGE> 4
AMENDED CHARTER
OR
ACT OF INCORPORATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, originally incorporated by an Act of the
General Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the
Delaware Guarantee and Trust Company", approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name
of which company was changed to "WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY" by an amendment filed
in the Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter
or Act of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and
changed by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and
trust companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its
Charter or Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall
in its entirety read as follows:
FIRST: - The name of this corporation is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
SECOND: - The location of its principal office in the State of Delaware
is at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle; the name of its resident agent is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY whose
address is Rodney Square North, in said City. In addition to such
principal office, the said corporation maintains and operates branch
offices in the City of Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, the Town of
Newport, New Castle County, Delaware, at Claymont, New Castle County,
Delaware, at Greenville, New Castle County Delaware, and at Milford
Cross Roads, New Castle County, Delaware, and shall be empowered to
open, maintain and operate branch offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets,
418 Delaware Avenue, 2120 Market Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in
the City of Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, and such other
branch offices or places of business as may be authorized from time to
time by the agency or agencies of the government of the State of
Delaware empowered to confer such authority.
THIRD: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes
proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this Corporation
are to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as fully and to the
same extent as natural persons might or could do and in any part of the
world, viz.:
(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of law or
equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter the seal at
pleasure, to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or otherwise deal in
real and personal estate and property, and to appoint such officers
and agents as the business of the
<PAGE> 5
Corporation shall require, to make by-laws not inconsistent with
the Constitution or laws of the United States or of this State, to
discount bills, notes or other evidences of debt, to receive
deposits of money, or securities for money, to buy gold and silver
bullion and foreign coins, to buy and sell bills of exchange, and
generally to use, exercise and enjoy all the powers, rights,
privileges and franchises incident to a corporation which are
proper or necessary for the transaction of the business of the
Corporation hereby created.
(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any estate
or interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of such property,
real or personal, against any claim or claims, adverse to his
interest therein, and to prepare and give certificates of title for
any lands or premises in the State of Delaware, or elsewhere.
(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the receipt,
collection, custody, investment and management of funds, and the
purchase, sale, management and disposal of property of all
descriptions, and to prepare and execute all papers which may be
necessary or proper in such business.
(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds, leases,
conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of every
description, and to carry on the business of conveyancing in all
its branches.
(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry, plate,
deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property of every sort
and kind, from executors, administrators, guardians, public
officers, courts, receivers, assignees, trustees, and from all
fiduciaries, and from all other persons and individuals, and from
all corporations whether state, municipal, corporate or private,
and to rent boxes, safes, vaults and other receptacles for such
property.
(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of registering,
issuing, certificating, countersigning, transferring or
underwriting the stock, bonds or other obligations of any
corporation, association, state or municipality, and may receive
and manage any sinking fund therefor on such terms as may be agreed
upon between the two parties, and in like manner may act as
Treasurer of any corporation or municipality.
(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage, bond or
other instrument issued by any state, municipality, body politic,
corporation, association or person, either alone or in conjunction
with any other person or persons, corporation or corporations.
2
<PAGE> 6
(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any
contract or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding places
of responsibility or trust; to become surety for any person, or
persons, for the faithful performance of any trust, office, duty,
contract or agreement, either by itself or in conjunction with any
other person, or persons, corporation, or corporations, or in like
manner become surety upon any bond, recognizance, obligation,
judgment, suit, order, or decree to be entered in any court of
record within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now
or hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court in the
State of Delaware or elsewhere.
(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as trustee,
trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy,
executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other trust
capacity in the receiving, holding, managing, and disposing of any
and all estates and property, real, personal or mixed, and to be
appointed as such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian
or bailee by any persons, corporations, court, officer, or
authority, in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and whenever this
Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation, court,
officer or authority such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator,
guardian, bailee, or in any other trust capacity, it shall not be
required to give bond with surety, but its capital stock shall be
taken and held as security for the performance of the duties
devolving upon it by such appointment.
(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the exercise of
any of its powers hereby given, or for the performance of any of
the duties which it may undertake or be called upon to perform, or
for the assumption of any responsibility the said Corporation may
be entitled to receive a proper compensation.
(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages,
debentures, shares of capital stock, and other securities,
obligations, contracts and evidences of indebtedness, of any
private, public or municipal corporation within and without the
State of Delaware, or of the Government of the United States, or of
any state, territory, colony, or possession thereof, or of any
foreign government or country; to receive, collect, receipt for,
and dispose of interest, dividends and income upon and from any of
the bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock,
securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and
other property held and owned by it, and to exercise in respect of
all such bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital
stock, securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of
indebtedness and other property, any and all the rights, powers and
privileges of individual
3
<PAGE> 7
owners thereof, including the right to vote thereon; to invest and
deal in and with any of the moneys of the Corporation upon such
securities and in such manner as it may think fit and proper, and
from time to time to vary or realize such investments; to issue
bonds and secure the same by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages
of or upon the whole or any part of the property held or owned by
the Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and when the
Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion of its
said corporate business of investment and to the extent authorized
by law, to lease, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, pledge,
mortgage and convey real and personal property of any name and
nature and any estate or interest therein.
(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by
the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby expressly provided that
the said Corporation shall also have the following powers:
(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the
world.
(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and franchises and
to undertake the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of
any person, firm, association or corporation, and to pay for the
same in cash, stock of this Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to
hold or in any manner to dispose of the whole or any part of the
property so purchased; to conduct in any lawful manner the whole or
any part of any business so acquired, and to exercise all the
powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct and
management of such business.
(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien, and to
lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner whatever dispose
of property, real, personal or mixed, wherever situated.
(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every
kind with any person, firm, association or corporation, and,
without limit as to amount, to draw, make, accept, endorse,
discount, execute and issue promissory notes, drafts, bills of
exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures, and other negotiable or
transferable instruments.
(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of its
operations and businesses, without restriction to the same extent
as natural persons might or could do, to purchase or otherwise
acquire, to hold, own, to mortgage, sell, convey or otherwise
dispose of, real and personal property, of every class and
description, in any State, District, Territory or Colony of the
United States, and in any foreign country or place.
4
<PAGE> 8
(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and powers
specified and clauses contained in this paragraph shall (except
where otherwise expressed in said paragraph) be nowise limited or
restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other
clause of this or any other paragraph in this charter, but that the
objects, purposes and powers specified in each of the clauses of
this paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes
and powers.
FOURTH: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock which
the Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one million
(41,000,000) shares, consisting of:
(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par value
$10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Preferred Stock");
and
(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock").
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or
more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All shares of
any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular,
except that there may be different dates from which dividends, if any,
thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative. The voting powers and
the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special
rights of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other
series at any time outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of
subparagraph 1 of Paragraph (c) of this Article FOURTH, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to
fix by resolution or resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any
shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers and
the designations, preferences and relative, optional and other special
rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such
series, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the following:
(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which number
may be increased (except where otherwise provided by the Board of
Directors) or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof
then outstanding) from time to time by like action of the Board of
Directors;
(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and conditions on
which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock of such series shall
be paid, the extent of the preference or relation, if any, of such
dividends to the dividends payable on any other class or classes,
or series of the same or other class of
5
<PAGE> 9
stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-
cumulative;
(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series to convert the same into or exchange the same for, shares of
any other class or classes or of any series of the same or any
other class or classes of stock of the Corporation and the terms
and conditions of such conversion or exchange;
(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be subject
to redemption, and the redemption price or prices and the time or
times at which, and the terms and conditions on which, Preferred
Stock of such series may be redeemed.
(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, merger,
consolidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or
winding-up, of the Corporation.
(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase
account, if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of such
series; and
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series of
Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing include the right, voting as a series or by itself or
together with other series of Preferred Stock or all series of
Preferred Stock as a class, to elect one or more directors of the
Corporation if there shall have been a default in the payment of
dividends on any one or more series of Preferred Stock or under
such circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of Directors
may determine.
(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential dividends on
the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section
(b) of this Article FOURTH), if any, shall have been met and after the
Corporation shall have complied with all the requirements, if any, with
respect to the setting aside of sums as sinking funds or redemption or
purchase accounts (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section
(b) of this Article FOURTH), and subject further to any conditions which
may be fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this
Article FOURTH, then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall
be entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount, if any,
(fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this
Article FOURTH), to be distributed to the holders of Preferred
Stock in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding-up, of the
Corporation, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to
6
<PAGE> 10
receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation, tangible
and intangible, of whatever kind available for distribution to
stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares of
Common Stock held by them respectively.
(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the provisions
of such resolution or resolutions as may be adopted by the Board of
Directors pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH, each
holder of Common Stock shall have one vote in respect of each share
of Common Stock held on all matters voted upon by the stockholders.
(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock or of
options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any class or
series of stock or of other securities of the Corporation shall have any
preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any
class or series or any additional shares of any class or series to be
issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the
Corporation of any class or series, or bonds, certificates of
indebtedness, debentures or other securities convertible into or
exchangeable for stock of the Corporation of any class or series, or
carrying any right to purchase stock of any class or series, but any
such unissued stock, additional authorized issue of shares of any class
or series of stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
stock, or carrying any right to purchase stock, may be issued and
disposed of pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors to such
persons, firms, corporations or associations, whether such holders or
others, and upon such terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors in the exercise of its sole discretion.
(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of
Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and
rights of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case, be
as fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in the resolution
or resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in section (b) of
this Article FOURTH and the consent, by class or series vote or
otherwise, of the holders of such of the series of Preferred Stock as
are from time to time outstanding shall not be required for the issuance
by the Board of Directors of any other series of Preferred Stock whether
or not the powers, preferences and rights of such other series shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors as senior to, or on a parity with, the
powers, preferences and rights of such outstanding series, or any of
them; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may provide in the
resolution or resolutions as to any series of Preferred Stock adopted
pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH that the consent of the
holders of a majority (or such greater proportion as shall be therein
fixed) of the outstanding shares of such series voting thereon shall be
required for the issuance of any or all other series of Preferred Stock.
7
<PAGE> 11
(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series of
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for
such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board
of Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and
for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred
Stock may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased
from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
FIFTH: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of directors
constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five nor more than
twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the
whole Board, provided, however, that the number of directors shall not
be reduced so as to shorten the term of any director at the time in
office, and provided further, that the number of directors constituting
the whole Board shall be twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority
of the whole Board.
(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as
nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors
constituting the whole Board permits, with the term of office of one
class expiring each year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in 1982,
directors of the first class shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting, directors of the second
class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the second
succeeding annual meeting and directors of the third class shall be
elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third succeeding
annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board of Directors for any reason,
and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the
directors, may be filled by the Board of Directors, acting by a majority
of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, and any
directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election of
directors. At such election, the stockholders shall elect a successor to
such director to hold office until the next election of the class for
which such director shall have been chosen and until his successor shall
be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the
fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Charter
or Act of Incorporation or the ByLaws of the Corporation), any director
or the entire Board of Directors of the
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Corporation may be removed at any time without cause, but only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class)
cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.
(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board
of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of
directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in writing,
delivered or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid,
to the Secretary of the Corporation not less than 14 days nor more than
50 days prior to any meeting of the stockholders called for the election
of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days' notice of
the meeting is given to stockholders, such written notice shall be
delivered or mailed, as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation
not later than the close of the seventh day following the day on which
notice of the meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations
which are proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the
Chairman on behalf of the Board.
(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name, age,
business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee
proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of
such nominee and (iii) the number of shares of stock of the Corporation
which are beneficially owned by each such nominee.
(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with
the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so
declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be
disregarded.
(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual
or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken
without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing,
without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.
SIXTH: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agent and servants as
may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to time find
necessary or proper.
SEVENTH: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same
powers, rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations
organized under the Act entitled "An Act Providing a General Corporation
Law", approved March 10, 1899, as from time to time amended.
EIGHTH: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.
9
<PAGE> 13
NINTH: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
TENTH: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority of
the whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute an
Executive Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in said
resolution, or in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and may
exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management
of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall have power to
authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which
may require it.
ELEVENTH: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be liable
for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
TWELFTH: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the
world.
THIRTEENTH: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation by a
vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may make,
alter or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them, provided
however, that any such additional By-Laws, alterations or repeal may be
adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or
more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for
this purpose as one class).
FOURTEENTH: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside
of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time
designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the
Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from
time to time designated by them.
FIFTEENTH: - (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law,
and except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and (c) of
this Article FIFTEENTH:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any Interested
Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation
(whether or not itself an Interested Stockholder), which, after
such merger or consolidation, would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter
defined) of an Interested Stockholder, or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) to or with any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder of any assets of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value
of $1,000,000 or more, or
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<PAGE> 14
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary
(in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any
securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested
Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in
exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination
thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or
more, or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation, or
(E) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or
any similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise
involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly
or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the
outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities
of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or
indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder, or any Affiliate of
any Interested Stockholder,
shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this
Article FIFTEENTH as one class ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote shall be
required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some
lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national
securities exchange or otherwise.
(2) The term "business combination" as used in this Article
FIFTEENTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to any one
or more of clauses (A) through (E) of paragraph 1 of the section
(a).
(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article FIFTEENTH shall
not be applicable to any particular business combination and such
business combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is
required by law and any other provisions of the Charter or Act of
Incorporation of By-Laws if such business combination has been
approved by a majority of the whole Board.
(c) For the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(1) A "person" shall mean any individual firm, corporation or other
entity.
(2) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean, in respect of any business
combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary)
who or which as of the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote on
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<PAGE> 15
such business combination, or immediately prior to the consummation of
any such transaction:
(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than
10% of the Voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within two
years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of not less than 10% of the then outstanding voting
Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any share of
capital stock of the Corporation which were at any time within two
years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Interested
Stockholder, and such assignment or succession shall have occurred
in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not
involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities
Act of 1933.
(3) A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates (as
hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or
(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has
(i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned
through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any
other Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or
upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise.
(5) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings given
those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1981.
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<PAGE> 16
(6) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any
class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect
in December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition
of Investment Stockholder set forth in paragraph (2) of this section
(c), the term "Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a
majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Corporation.
(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty to
determine for the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH on the basis
of information known to them, (1) the number of Voting Shares
beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a person is an
Affiliate or Associate of another, (3) whether a person has an
agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the
matters referred to in paragraph (3) of section (c), or (4) whether
the assets subject to any business combination or the consideration
received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the
Corporation, or any Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value
of $1,00,000 or more.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article FIFTEENTH shall be construed
to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation
imposed by law.
SIXTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in addition to any
other vote that may be required by law, this Charter or Act of
Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) shall be required to amend,
alter or repeal any provision of Articles FIFTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH
or SIXTEENTH of this Charter or Act of Incorporation.
SEVENTEENTH: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable to
the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such exemption from
liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware
General Corporation Laws as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the
Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission
occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification."
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EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON JANUARY 16, 1997
<PAGE> 18
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be held on the
third Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at
such other date, time, or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board
of Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of all stockholders may be called at any
time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 3. Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given
by mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at
his last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of
such meeting.
Section 4. A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the
Company issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any
business, but the holders of a small number of shares may adjourn, from time to
time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or
special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote,
either in person or by proxy, for each shares of stock registered in the
stockholder's name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such
meeting as determined herein.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number and classification of the Board of Directors
shall be as set forth in the Charter of the Bank.
Section 2. No person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72)
years shall be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the Company,
provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any person who was
serving as director of the Company on September 16, 1971.
Section 3. The class of Directors so elected shall hold office for
three years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 4. The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed
and conducted by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office
of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by
a majority of its
<PAGE> 19
members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the
President.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called
at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President, and
shall be called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 7. A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall
be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of
any special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or
place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which
shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.
Section 9. In the event of the death, resignation, removal,
inability to act, or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors,
although less than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who
shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors
in which the vacancy occurred, and until such director's successor shall have
been duly elected and qualified.
Section 10. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its
election by the stockholders shall appoint an Executive Committee, a Trust
Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, and shall elect from
its own members a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a President who may be
the same person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a
Secretary and a Treasurer, who may be the same person, may appoint at any time
such other committees and elect or appoint such other officers as it may deem
advisable. The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more
Associate Directors.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or
without cause, any member of any Committee appointed by it or any associate
director or officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.
Section 12. The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in
charge of such of the departments or division of the Company as it may deem
advisable.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section I. Executive Committee
(A) The Executive Committee shall be composed of not
more than nine members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its
own members and who
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shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have all the powers of
the Board of Directors when it is not in session to transact all business for
and in behalf of the Company that may be brought before it.
(C) The Executive Committee shall meet at the principal
office of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be
determined by a majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the
Executive Committee or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be held
at any time when a quorum is present.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee
shall be kept and submitted to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
(E) The Executive Committee shall advise and superintend
all investments that may be made of the funds of the Company, and shall direct
the disposal of the same, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the
Board of Directors from time to time make.
(F) In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient
severity to prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of
the Company by its directors and officers as contemplated by these By-Laws any
two available members of the Executive Committee as constituted immediately
prior to such disaster shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full
conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance
with the provisions of Article III of these By-Laws; and if less than three
members of the Trust Committee is constituted immediately prior to such disaster
shall be available for the transaction of its business, such Executive Committee
shall also be empowered to exercise all of the powers reserved to the Trust
Committee under Article III Section 2 hereof. In the event of the
unavailability, at such time, of a minimum of two members of such Executive
Committee, any three available directors shall constitute the Executive
Committee for the full conduct and management of the affairs and business of the
Company in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section. This By-Law
shall be subject to implementation by Resolutions of the Board of Directors
presently existing or hereafter passed from time to time for that purpose, and
any provisions of these By-Laws (other than this Section) and any resolutions
which are contrary to the provisions of this Section or to the provisions of any
such implementary Resolutions shall be suspended during such a disaster period
until it shall be determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under
this section that it shall be to the advantage of the Company to resume the
conduct and management of its affairs and business under all of the other
provisions of these By-Laws.
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Section 2. Trust Committee
(A) The Trust Committee shall be composed of not more
than thirteen members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors, a
majority of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors and who shall hold
office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Trust Committee shall have general supervision
over the Trust Department and the investment of trust funds, in all matters,
however, being subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
(C) The Trust Committee shall meet at the principal
office of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be
determined by a majority of its members or at the call of its chairman. A
majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Trust Committee shall
be kept and promptly submitted to the Board of Directors.
(E) The Trust Committee shall have the power to appoint
Committees and/or designate officers or employees of the Company to whom
supervision over the investment of trust funds may be delegated when the Trust
Committee is not in session.
Section 3. Audit Committee
(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members,
none of whom shall be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision
over the Audit Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the
Board of Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by
the officer in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination
of the Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor
employed for that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of
Directors with respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining
to auditing the Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever
the majority of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of
its business, and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. Compensation Committee
(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not
more than
4
<PAGE> 22
five (5) members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members who are not officers of the Company and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise
upon all matters of policy concerning the Company brought to its attention by
the management and from time to time review the management of the Company, major
organizational matters, including salaries and employee benefits and
specifically shall administer the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
(C) Meetings of the Compensation Committee may be called
at any time by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, or the President of the Company.
Section 5. Associate Directors
(A) Any person who has served as a director may be
elected by the Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend
all directors meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought
to the Board, with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An
associate director will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the
Company, with the exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and
Compensation Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee
(A) In the absence or disqualification of any member of
any Committee created under Article III of the By-Laws of this Company, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of
any such absence or disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at
all meetings of the Board and shall have such further authority and powers and
shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time confer
and direct. He shall also exercise such powers and perform such duties as may
from time to time be agreed upon between himself and the President of the
Company.
Section 2. The Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the
Board of
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<PAGE> 23
Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which the
Chairman of the Board shall not be present and shall have such further authority
and powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the
Chairman of the Board may from time to time confer and direct.
Section 3. The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining
to the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute or
assigned to him by the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the
Board the President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the
Board.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President
as designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal
directions of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors, and shall
at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and
operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.
Section 5. There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however
denominated by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all the
duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the President and such
other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the
Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the
President and by the officer in charge of the department or division to which
they are assigned.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the
Committees thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings and
to recording the same in the minute books of the Company. In addition to the
other notice requirements of these By-Laws and as may be practicable under the
circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance
of the scheduled date of any other meeting. He shall have custody of the
corporate seal and shall affix the same to any documents requiring such
corporate seal and to attest the same.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over all
assets and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible
for all monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper
records of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all the transactions
of the Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the
Company and shall report to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of
the condition of the Company, and perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee.
Section 8. There may be a Controller who shall exercise general
supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting,
and shall render to the Board of Directors at appropriate times a report
relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company.
6
<PAGE> 24
There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller
officers however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and
such duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.
Section 9. The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in
charge of the Audit Division of the Company with such title as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible only to
the Board of Directors.
There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit
Officers, however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and
such duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Division.
Section 10. There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank
to all Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from
time to time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office
Assistant Secretary of this Company and who may perform such duties as may be
prescribed by the officer in charge of the department or division to whom they
are assigned.
Section 11. The powers and duties of all other officers of the
Company shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject
to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Chairman of
the Board of Directors or the President and the officer in charge of the
department or division to which they are assigned.
ARTICLE V
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
Section 1. Shares of stock shall be transferrable on the books of
the Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock
shall be recorded.
Section 2. Certificate of stock shall bear the signature of the
President or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors
and countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and
the seal of the corporation shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall
recite that the stock represented thereby is transferrable only upon the books
of the Company by the holder thereof or his attorney, upon surrender of the
certificate properly endorsed. Any certificate of stock surrendered to the
Company shall be cancelled at the time of transfer, and before a new certificate
or certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof. Duplicate certificates of stock
shall be issued only upon giving such security as may be satisfactory to the
Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to
fix in advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled
to notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of
7
<PAGE> 25
any dividend, or to any allotment or rights, or to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or in connection
with obtaining the consent of stockholders for any purpose, which record date
shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days proceeding the date of any
meeting of stockholders or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date
for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or
exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with
obtaining such consent.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
Section 1. The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the
following form:
Between two concentric circles the words "Wilmington
Trust Company" within the inner circle the words
"Wilmington, Delaware."
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar
year.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President, however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power
and authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and
the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to
attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds,
conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes,
mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or
in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other
fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every method of appointment or
by whatever person, corporation, court officer or authority in the State of
Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific authority, ratification, approval
or confirmation by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and any
and all such instruments shall have the same force and validity as although
expressly authorized by the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Committee.
8
<PAGE> 26
ARTICLE IX
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. Directors and associate directors of the Company, other
than salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria
or fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who
serve as members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company,
shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of
committees as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and
directors and associate directors may be employed by the Company for such
special services as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and
shall be paid for such special services so performed reasonable compensation as
may be determined by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. (A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of
the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, 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, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust,
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably
incurred by such person. The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(B) The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred in
defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however,
that the payment of expenses incurred by a Director officer in his capacity as a
Director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall
be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director or officer to repay
all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article or otherwise.
(C) If a claim for indemnification or payment of
expenses, under this Article X is not paid in full within ninety days after a
written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may
file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole
or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim.
In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving
9
<PAGE> 27
that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification of payment
of expenses under applicable law.
(D) The rights conferred on any person by this Article X
shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of
Incorporation, these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
Directors or otherwise.
(E) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing
provisions of this Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection
hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the
time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in
whole or in part, and any new By-Law or By-Laws adopted at any regular or
special meeting of the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of all the
members of the Board of Directors then in office.
10
<PAGE> 28
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 321(b) CONSENT
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations
by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: March 6, 1997 By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
_______________________
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 29
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE
This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings banks with
state publication requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking
authorities. Refer to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state
publication requirements.
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY of WILMINGTON
- -------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Name of Bank City
in the State of DELAWARE , at the close of business on December 31, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS
Thousands of dollars
<S> <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins ............... 213,895
Interest-bearing balances ......................................... 0
Held-to-maturity securities ................................................... 465,818
Available-for-sale securities ................................................. 752,297
Federal funds sold ............................................................ 95,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell ............................... 39,190
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income ........... 3,634,003
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ......... 51,847
LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve ............. 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve .. 3,582,156
Assets held in trading accounts ............................................... 0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ...................... 89,129
Other real estate owned ....................................................... 3,520
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ........... 52
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding .................. 0
Intangible assets ............................................................. 4,593
Other assets .................................................................. 114,300
Total assets .................................................................. 5,359,950
</TABLE>
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE> 30
LIABILITIES
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Deposits:
In domestic offices ............................................................ 3,749,697
Noninterest-bearing ................ 852,790
Interest-bearing ................... 2,896,907
Federal funds purchased ........................................................ 77,825
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ................................. 192,295
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ....................................... 53,526
Trading liabilities ............................................................ 0
Other borrowed money: .......................................................... ///////
With original maturity of one year or less ......................... 714,000
With original maturity of more than one year ....................... 43,000
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases ................. 0
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ....................... 0
Subordinated notes and debentures .............................................. 0
Other liabilities .............................................................. 98,756
Total liabilities .............................................................. 4,929,099
Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus ............................... 0
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus .................................. 0
Common Stock ................................................................... 500
Surplus ........................................................................ 62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves ......................................... 367,371
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities ......... 862
Total equity capital ........................................................... 430,851
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital ............ 5,359,950
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 25(d)
Registration No. 333-22905
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
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) /X/
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Delaware 51-0055023
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices)
Cynthia L. Corliss
Vice President and Trust Counsel
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(302) 651-8516
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Ohio 31-0854434
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Fifth Third Bancorp Guarantee with respect to
Preferred Securities of Capital Trust I
(Title of the indenture securities)
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 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.
Federal Deposit Insurance Co. State Bank Commissioner
Five Penn Center Dover, Delaware
Suite #2901
Philadelphia, PA
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust
powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the
trustee and upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor
is not an affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
Eligibility and Qualification.
A. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which
includes the certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust
Company to commence business and the authorization of
Wilmington Trust Company to exercise corporate trust powers.
B. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.
C. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section
321(b) of Trust Indenture Act.
D. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust
Company.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of
Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 6th day
of March, 1997.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]
Attest: /s/ Donald G. MacKelcan By:/s/ Emmett R. Harmon
___________________________ _____________________________
Assistant Secretary Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
2
<PAGE> 3
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED CHARTER
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON MAY 9, 1987
<PAGE> 4
AMENDED CHARTER
OR
ACT OF INCORPORATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, originally incorporated by an Act of the
General Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the
Delaware Guarantee and Trust Company", approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name
of which company was changed to "WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY" by an amendment filed
in the Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter
or Act of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and
changed by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and
trust companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its
Charter or Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall
in its entirety read as follows:
FIRST: - The name of this corporation is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
SECOND: - The location of its principal office in the State of
Delaware is at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle; the name of its resident agent is WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY whose address is Rodney Square North, in said City. In
addition to such principal office, the said corporation maintains
and operates branch offices in the City of Newark, New Castle
County, Delaware, the Town of Newport, New Castle County, Delaware,
at Claymont, New Castle County, Delaware, at Greenville, New Castle
County Delaware, and at Milford Cross Roads, New Castle County,
Delaware, and shall be empowered to open, maintain and operate
branch offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets, 418 Delaware Avenue,
2120 Market Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in the City of
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, and such other branch
offices or places of business as may be authorized from time to time
by the agency or agencies of the government of the State of Delaware
empowered to confer such authority.
THIRD: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes
proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this
Corporation are to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as
fully and to the same extent as natural persons might or could do
and in any part of the world, viz.:
(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of
law or equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter
the seal at pleasure, to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or
otherwise deal in real and personal estate and property, and
to appoint such officers and agents as the business of the
<PAGE> 5
Corporation shall require, to make by-laws not inconsistent
with the Constitution or laws of the United States or of
this State, to discount bills, notes or other evidences of
debt, to receive deposits of money, or securities for money,
to buy gold and silver bullion and foreign coins, to buy and
sell bills of exchange, and generally to use, exercise and
enjoy all the powers, rights, privileges and franchises
incident to a corporation which are proper or necessary for
the transaction of the business of the Corporation hereby
created.
(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any
estate or interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of
such property, real or personal, against any claim or
claims, adverse to his interest therein, and to prepare and
give certificates of title for any lands or premises in the
State of Delaware, or elsewhere.
(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the
receipt, collection, custody, investment and management of
funds, and the purchase, sale, management and disposal of
property of all descriptions, and to prepare and execute all
papers which may be necessary or proper in such business.
(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds,
leases, conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of
every description, and to carry on the business of
conveyancing in all its branches.
(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry,
plate, deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property
of every sort and kind, from executors, administrators,
guardians, public officers, courts, receivers, assignees,
trustees, and from all fiduciaries, and from all other
persons and individuals, and from all corporations whether
state, municipal, corporate or private, and to rent boxes,
safes, vaults and other receptacles for such property.
(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of
registering, issuing, certificating, countersigning,
transferring or underwriting the stock, bonds or other
obligations of any corporation, association, state or
municipality, and may receive and manage any sinking fund
therefor on such terms as may be agreed upon between the two
parties, and in like manner may act as Treasurer of any
corporation or municipality.
(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage,
bond or other instrument issued by any state, municipality,
body politic, corporation, association or person, either
alone or in conjunction with any other person or persons,
corporation or corporations.
2
<PAGE> 6
(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any
contract or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding
places of responsibility or trust; to become surety for any
person, or persons, for the faithful performance of any
trust, office, duty, contract or agreement, either by itself
or in conjunction with any other person, or persons,
corporation, or corporations, or in like manner become
surety upon any bond, recognizance, obligation, judgment,
suit, order, or decree to be entered in any court of record
within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now
or hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court
in the State of Delaware or elsewhere.
(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as
trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee
in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or
in any other trust capacity in the receiving, holding,
managing, and disposing of any and all estates and property,
real, personal or mixed, and to be appointed as such
trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee
in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian or bailee
by any persons, corporations, court, officer, or authority,
in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and whenever this
Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation,
court, officer or authority such trustee, trustee in
bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy,
executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other
trust capacity, it shall not be required to give bond with
surety, but its capital stock shall be taken and held as
security for the performance of the duties devolving upon it
by such appointment.
(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the
exercise of any of its powers hereby given, or for the
performance of any of the duties which it may undertake or
be called upon to perform, or for the assumption of any
responsibility the said Corporation may be entitled to
receive a proper compensation.
(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages,
debentures, shares of capital stock, and other securities,
obligations, contracts and evidences of indebtedness, of any
private, public or municipal corporation within and without
the State of Delaware, or of the Government of the United
States, or of any state, territory, colony, or possession
thereof, or of any foreign government or country; to
receive, collect, receipt for, and dispose of interest,
dividends and income upon and from any of the bonds,
mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock,
securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of
indebtedness and other property held and owned by it, and to
exercise in respect of all such bonds, mortgages,
debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities,
obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other
property, any and all the rights, powers and privileges of
individual
3
<PAGE> 7
owners thereof, including the right to vote thereon; to
invest and deal in and with any of the moneys of the
Corporation upon such securities and in such manner as it
may think fit and proper, and from time to time to vary or
realize such investments; to issue bonds and secure the same
by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages of or upon the
whole or any part of the property held or owned by the
Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and when
the Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion
of its said corporate business of investment and to the
extent authorized by law, to lease, purchase, hold, sell,
assign, transfer, pledge, mortgage and convey real and
personal property of any name and nature and any estate or
interest therein.
(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers
conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby
expressly provided that the said Corporation shall also have the
following powers:
(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the
same extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any
part of the world.
(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and
franchises and to undertake the whole or any part of the
assets and liabilities of any person, firm, association or
corporation, and to pay for the same in cash, stock of this
Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to hold or in any manner to
dispose of the whole or any part of the property so
purchased; to conduct in any lawful manner the whole or any
part of any business so acquired, and to exercise all the
powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct and
management of such business.
(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien,
and to lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner
whatever dispose of property, real, personal or mixed,
wherever situated.
(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of
every kind with any person, firm, association or
corporation, and, without limit as to amount, to draw, make,
accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory
notes, drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds,
debentures, and other negotiable or transferable
instruments.
(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of
its operations and businesses, without restriction to the
same extent as natural persons might or could do, to
purchase or otherwise acquire, to hold, own, to mortgage,
sell, convey or otherwise dispose of, real and personal
property, of every class and description, in any State,
District, Territory or Colony of the United States, and in
any foreign country or place.
4
<PAGE> 8
(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and
powers specified and clauses contained in this paragraph
shall (except where otherwise expressed in said paragraph)
be nowise limited or restricted by reference to or inference
from the terms of any other clause of this or any other
paragraph in this charter, but that the objects, purposes
and powers specified in each of the clauses of this
paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes
and powers.
FOURTH: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock
which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one
million (41,000,000) shares, consisting of:
(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par
value $10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as
"Preferred Stock"); and
(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par
value $1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Common
Stock").
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one
or more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board
of Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All
shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every
particular, except that there may be different dates from which
dividends, if any, thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative.
The voting powers and the preferences and relative, participating,
optional and other special rights of each such series, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may
differ from those of any and all other series at any time
outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of subparagraph 1 of
Paragraph (c) of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors of the
Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to fix by
resolution or resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any
shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers
and the designations, preferences and relative, optional and other
special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
of such series, including, but without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the following:
(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares
of Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which
number may be increased (except where otherwise provided by
the Board of Directors) or decreased (but not below the
number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time
by like action of the Board of Directors;
(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and
conditions on which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock
of such series shall be paid, the extent of the preference
or relation, if any, of such dividends to the dividends
payable on any other class or classes, or series of the same
or other class of
5
<PAGE> 9
stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or
non-cumulative;
(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of
such series to convert the same into or exchange the same
for, shares of any other class or classes or of any series
of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the
Corporation and the terms and conditions of such conversion
or exchange;
(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be
subject to redemption, and the redemption price or prices
and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions
on which, Preferred Stock of such series may be redeemed.
(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of
such series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
merger, consolidation, distribution or sale of assets,
dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation.
(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase
account, if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of
such series; and
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series
of Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing include the right, voting as a
series or by itself or together with other series of
Preferred Stock or all series of Preferred Stock as a class,
to elect one or more directors of the Corporation if there
shall have been a default in the payment of dividends on any
one or more series of Preferred Stock or under such
circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of
Directors may determine.
(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential
dividends on the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the
provisions of section (b) of this Article FOURTH), if any, shall
have been met and after the Corporation shall have complied with all
the requirements, if any, with respect to the setting aside of sums
as sinking funds or redemption or purchase accounts (fixed in
accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH), and subject further to any conditions which may be fixed in
accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH, then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount,
if any, (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section
(b) of this Article FOURTH), to be distributed to the
holders of Preferred Stock in the event of voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, distribution or sale of assets,
dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation, the holders
of the Common Stock shall be entitled to
6
<PAGE> 10
receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation,
tangible and intangible, of whatever kind available for
distribution to stockholders ratably in proportion to the
number of shares of Common Stock held by them respectively.
(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the
provisions of such resolution or resolutions as may be
adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to section (b) of
this Article FOURTH, each holder of Common Stock shall have
one vote in respect of each share of Common Stock held on
all matters voted upon by the stockholders.
(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock
or of options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any
class or series of stock or of other securities of the Corporation
shall have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any
unissued stock of any class or series or any additional shares of
any class or series to be issued by reason of any increase of the
authorized capital stock of the Corporation of any class or series,
or bonds, certificates of indebtedness, debentures or other
securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock of the
Corporation of any class or series, or carrying any right to
purchase stock of any class or series, but any such unissued stock,
additional authorized issue of shares of any class or series of
stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock, or
carrying any right to purchase stock, may be issued and disposed of
pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors to such persons,
firms, corporations or associations, whether such holders or others,
and upon such terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors in the exercise of its sole discretion.
(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of
Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and
rights of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case,
be as fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in the
resolution or resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in
section (b) of this Article FOURTH and the consent, by class or
series vote or otherwise, of the holders of such of the series of
Preferred Stock as are from time to time outstanding shall not be
required for the issuance by the Board of Directors of any other
series of Preferred Stock whether or not the powers, preferences and
rights of such other series shall be fixed by the Board of Directors
as senior to, or on a parity with, the powers, preferences and
rights of such outstanding series, or any of them; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may provide in the resolution
or resolutions as to any series of Preferred Stock adopted pursuant
to section (b) of this Article FOURTH that the consent of the
holders of a majority (or such greater proportion as shall be
therein fixed) of the outstanding shares of such series voting
thereon shall be required for the issuance of any or all other
series of Preferred Stock.
7
<PAGE> 11
(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series
of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and
for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the
Board of Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such
terms and for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of
Directors.
(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred
Stock may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased
from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
FIFTH: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of
directors constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five
nor more than twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a
majority of the whole Board, provided, however, that the number of
directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any
director at the time in office, and provided further, that the
number of directors constituting the whole Board shall be
twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority of the whole Board.
(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as
nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors
constituting the whole Board permits, with the term of office of one
class expiring each year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in
1982, directors of the first class shall be elected to hold office
for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting, directors
of the second class shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting and directors of
the third class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring
at the third succeeding annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board
of Directors for any reason, and any newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in the directors, may be filled by the
Board of Directors, acting by a majority of the directors then in
office, although less than a quorum, and any directors so chosen
shall hold office until the next annual election of directors. At
such election, the stockholders shall elect a successor to such
director to hold office until the next election of the class for
which such director shall have been chosen and until his successor
shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of
directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding
the fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this
Charter or Act of Incorporation or the ByLaws of the Corporation),
any director or the entire Board of Directors of the
8
<PAGE> 12
Corporation may be removed at any time without cause, but only by
the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this
purpose as one class) cast at a meeting of the stockholders called
for that purpose.
(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the
Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the
election of directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in
writing, delivered or mailed by first class United States mail,
postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation not less than
14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of the
stockholders called for the election of directors; provided,
however, that if less than 21 days' notice of the meeting is given
to stockholders, such written notice shall be delivered or mailed,
as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than
the close of the seventh day following the day on which notice of
the meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations which
are proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the
Chairman on behalf of the Board.
(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name,
age, business address and, if known, residence address of each
nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or
employment of such nominee and (iii) the number of shares of stock
of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by each such
nominee.
(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine
and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in
accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should so
determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
nomination shall be disregarded.
(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any
annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be
taken without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in
writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any action is
specifically denied.
SIXTH: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agent and
servants as may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to
time find necessary or proper.
SEVENTH: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same
powers, rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations
organized under the Act entitled "An Act Providing a General
Corporation Law", approved March 10, 1899, as from time to time
amended.
EIGHTH: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.
9
<PAGE> 13
NINTH: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
TENTH: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority
of the whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute
an Executive Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in
said resolution, or in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and
may exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall
have power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to
all papers which may require it.
ELEVENTH: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be
liable for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
TWELFTH: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the
world.
THIRTEENTH: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation
by a vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may
make, alter or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them,
provided however, that any such additional By-Laws, alterations or
repeal may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of
two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class).
FOURTEENTH: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside
of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time
designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the
Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be
from time to time designated by them.
FIFTEENTH: - (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by
law, and except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and
(c) of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any
Interested Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any
other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested
Stockholder), which, after such merger or consolidation,
would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an
Interested Stockholder, or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) to or with any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder of any assets of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate fair
market value of $1,000,000 or more, or
10
<PAGE> 14
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary to any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of
any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities
or other property (or a combination thereof) having an
aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation
or dissolution of the Corporation, or
(E) any reclassification of securities (including any
reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the
Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the
Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any similar
transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise
involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect,
directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate
share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or
convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested
Stockholder, or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder,
shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this
Article FIFTEENTH as one class ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote shall be
required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some
lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national
securities exchange or otherwise.
(2) The term "business combination" as used in this
Article FIFTEENTH shall mean any transaction which is
referred to any one or more of clauses (A) through (E) of
paragraph 1 of the section (a).
(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article FIFTEENTH
shall not be applicable to any particular business
combination and such business combination shall require only
such affirmative vote as is required by law and any other
provisions of the Charter or Act of Incorporation of By-Laws
if such business combination has been approved by a majority
of the whole Board.
(c) For the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(1) A "person" shall mean any individual firm, corporation or other
entity.
(2) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean, in respect of any business
combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any
Subsidiary) who or which as of the record date for the determination
of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote on
11
<PAGE> 15
such business combination, or immediately prior to the consummation
of any such transaction:
(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more
than 10% of the Voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time
within two years prior thereto was the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of not less than 10% of the then
outstanding voting Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any
share of capital stock of the Corporation which were at any
time within two years prior thereto beneficially owned by
any Interested Stockholder, and such assignment or
succession shall have occurred in the course of a
transaction or series of transactions not involving a public
offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and
Associates (as hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly
or indirectly, or
(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates
has (i) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time),
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or
upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other person with which such first mentioned person or
any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of any shares of capital stock
of the Corporation.
(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned
through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any
other Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement,
or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or
otherwise.
(5) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
given those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December
31, 1981.
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<PAGE> 16
(6) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a majority of
any class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as in effect in December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Corporation; provided, however, that for the
purposes of the definition of Investment Stockholder set forth in
paragraph (2) of this section (c), the term "Subsidiary" shall mean
only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity
security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.
(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty
to determine for the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH on
the basis of information known to them, (1) the number of
Voting Shares beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a
person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (3) whether
a person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with
another as to the matters referred to in paragraph (3) of
section (c), or (4) whether the assets subject to any
business combination or the consideration received for the
issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation, or
any Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value of
$1,00,000 or more.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article FIFTEENTH shall be
construed to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any
fiduciary obligation imposed by law.
SIXTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or
Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in
addition to any other vote that may be required by law, this Charter
or Act of Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class)
shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of
Articles FIFTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH or SIXTEENTH of this Charter
or Act of Incorporation.
SEVENTEENTH: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable
to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such
exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted
under the Delaware General Corporation Laws as the same exists or
may hereafter be amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph
shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a
Director of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect
to any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such
repeal or modification."
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<PAGE> 17
EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON JANUARY 16, 1997
<PAGE> 18
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be held on the
third Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at
such other date, time, or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board
of Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of all stockholders may be called at any
time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 3. Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given
by mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at
his last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of
such meeting.
Section 4. A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the
Company issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any
business, but the holders of a small number of shares may adjourn, from time to
time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or
special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote,
either in person or by proxy, for each shares of stock registered in the
stockholder's name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such
meeting as determined herein.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number and classification of the Board of Directors
shall be as set forth in the Charter of the Bank.
Section 2. No person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72)
years shall be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the Company,
provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any person who was
serving as director of the Company on September 16, 1971.
Section 3. The class of Directors so elected shall hold office for
three years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 4. The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed
and conducted by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office
of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by
a majority of its
<PAGE> 19
members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the
President.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called
at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President, and
shall be called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 7. A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall
be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of
any special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or
place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which
shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.
Section 9. In the event of the death, resignation, removal,
inability to act, or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors,
although less than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who
shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors
in which the vacancy occurred, and until such director's successor shall have
been duly elected and qualified.
Section 10. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its
election by the stockholders shall appoint an Executive Committee, a Trust
Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, and shall elect from
its own members a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a President who may be
the same person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a
Secretary and a Treasurer, who may be the same person, may appoint at any time
such other committees and elect or appoint such other officers as it may deem
advisable. The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more
Associate Directors.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or
without cause, any member of any Committee appointed by it or any associate
director or officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.
Section 12. The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in
charge of such of the departments or division of the Company as it may deem
advisable.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section I. Executive Committee
(A) The Executive Committee shall be composed of not
more than nine members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its
own members and who
2
<PAGE> 20
shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have all the powers of
the Board of Directors when it is not in session to transact all business for
and in behalf of the Company that may be brought before it.
(C) The Executive Committee shall meet at the principal
office of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be
determined by a majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the
Executive Committee or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be held
at any time when a quorum is present.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee
shall be kept and submitted to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
(E) The Executive Committee shall advise and superintend
all investments that may be made of the funds of the Company, and shall direct
the disposal of the same, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the
Board of Directors from time to time make.
(F) In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient
severity to prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of
the Company by its directors and officers as contemplated by these By-Laws any
two available members of the Executive Committee as constituted immediately
prior to such disaster shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full
conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance
with the provisions of Article III of these By-Laws; and if less than three
members of the Trust Committee is constituted immediately prior to such disaster
shall be available for the transaction of its business, such Executive Committee
shall also be empowered to exercise all of the powers reserved to the Trust
Committee under Article III Section 2 hereof. In the event of the
unavailability, at such time, of a minimum of two members of such Executive
Committee, any three available directors shall constitute the Executive
Committee for the full conduct and management of the affairs and business of the
Company in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section. This By-Law
shall be subject to implementation by Resolutions of the Board of Directors
presently existing or hereafter passed from time to time for that purpose, and
any provisions of these By-Laws (other than this Section) and any resolutions
which are contrary to the provisions of this Section or to the provisions of any
such implementary Resolutions shall be suspended during such a disaster period
until it shall be determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under
this section that it shall be to the advantage of the Company to resume the
conduct and management of its affairs and business under all of the other
provisions of these By-Laws.
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<PAGE> 21
Section 2. Trust Committee
(A) The Trust Committee shall be composed of not more
than thirteen members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors, a
majority of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors and who shall hold
office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Trust Committee shall have general supervision
over the Trust Department and the investment of trust funds, in all matters,
however, being subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
(C) The Trust Committee shall meet at the principal
office of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be
determined by a majority of its members or at the call of its chairman. A
majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Trust Committee shall
be kept and promptly submitted to the Board of Directors.
(E) The Trust Committee shall have the power to appoint
Committees and/or designate officers or employees of the Company to whom
supervision over the investment of trust funds may be delegated when the Trust
Committee is not in session.
Section 3. Audit Committee
(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members,
none of whom shall be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision
over the Audit Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the
Board of Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by
the officer in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination
of the Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor
employed for that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of
Directors with respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining
to auditing the Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever
the majority of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of
its business, and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. Compensation Committee
(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not
more than
4
<PAGE> 22
five (5) members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members who are not officers of the Company and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise
upon all matters of policy concerning the Company brought to its attention by
the management and from time to time review the management of the Company, major
organizational matters, including salaries and employee benefits and
specifically shall administer the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
(C) Meetings of the Compensation Committee may be called
at any time by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, or the President of the Company.
Section 5. Associate Directors
(A) Any person who has served as a director may be
elected by the Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend
all directors meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought
to the Board, with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An
associate director will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the
Company, with the exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and
Compensation Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee
(A) In the absence or disqualification of any member of
any Committee created under Article III of the By-Laws of this Company, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of
any such absence or disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at
all meetings of the Board and shall have such further authority and powers and
shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time confer
and direct. He shall also exercise such powers and perform such duties as may
from time to time be agreed upon between himself and the President of the
Company.
Section 2. The Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the
Board of
5
<PAGE> 23
Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which the
Chairman of the Board shall not be present and shall have such further authority
and powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the
Chairman of the Board may from time to time confer and direct.
Section 3. The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining
to the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute or
assigned to him by the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the
Board the President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the
Board.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President
as designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal
directions of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors, and shall
at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and
operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.
Section 5. There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however
denominated by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all the
duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the President and such
other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the
Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the
President and by the officer in charge of the department or division to which
they are assigned.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the
Committees thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings and
to recording the same in the minute books of the Company. In addition to the
other notice requirements of these By-Laws and as may be practicable under the
circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance
of the scheduled date of any other meeting. He shall have custody of the
corporate seal and shall affix the same to any documents requiring such
corporate seal and to attest the same.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over all
assets and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible
for all monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper
records of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all the transactions
of the Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the
Company and shall report to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of
the condition of the Company, and perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee.
Section 8. There may be a Controller who shall exercise general
supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting,
and shall render to the Board of Directors at appropriate times a report
relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company.
6
<PAGE> 24
There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller
officers however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and
such duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.
Section 9. The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in
charge of the Audit Division of the Company with such title as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible only to
the Board of Directors.
There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit
Officers, however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and
such duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Division.
Section 10. There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank
to all Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from
time to time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office
Assistant Secretary of this Company and who may perform such duties as may be
prescribed by the officer in charge of the department or division to whom they
are assigned.
Section 11. The powers and duties of all other officers of the
Company shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject
to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Chairman of
the Board of Directors or the President and the officer in charge of the
department or division to which they are assigned.
ARTICLE V
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
Section 1. Shares of stock shall be transferrable on the books of
the Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock
shall be recorded.
Section 2. Certificate of stock shall bear the signature of the
President or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors
and countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and
the seal of the corporation shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall
recite that the stock represented thereby is transferrable only upon the books
of the Company by the holder thereof or his attorney, upon surrender of the
certificate properly endorsed. Any certificate of stock surrendered to the
Company shall be cancelled at the time of transfer, and before a new certificate
or certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof. Duplicate certificates of stock
shall be issued only upon giving such security as may be satisfactory to the
Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to
fix in advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled
to notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of
7
<PAGE> 25
any dividend, or to any allotment or rights, or to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or in connection
with obtaining the consent of stockholders for any purpose, which record date
shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days proceeding the date of any
meeting of stockholders or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date
for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or
exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with
obtaining such consent.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
Section 1. The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the
following form:
Between two concentric circles the words "Wilmington
Trust Company" within the inner circle the words
"Wilmington, Delaware."
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar
year.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President, however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power
and authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and
the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to
attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds,
conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes,
mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or
in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other
fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every method of appointment or
by whatever person, corporation, court officer or authority in the State of
Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific authority, ratification, approval
or confirmation by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and any
and all such instruments shall have the same force and validity as although
expressly authorized by the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Committee.
8
<PAGE> 26
ARTICLE IX
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. Directors and associate directors of the Company, other
than salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria
or fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who
serve as members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company,
shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of
committees as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and
directors and associate directors may be employed by the Company for such
special services as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and
shall be paid for such special services so performed reasonable compensation as
may be determined by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. (A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of
the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, 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, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust,
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably
incurred by such person. The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(B) The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred in
defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however,
that the payment of expenses incurred by a Director officer in his capacity as a
Director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall
be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director or officer to repay
all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article or otherwise.
(C) If a claim for indemnification or payment of
expenses, under this Article X is not paid in full within ninety days after a
written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may
file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole
or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim.
In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving
9
<PAGE> 27
that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification of payment
of expenses under applicable law.
(D) The rights conferred on any person by this Article X
shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of
Incorporation, these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
Directors or otherwise.
(E) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing
provisions of this Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection
hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the
time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in
whole or in part, and any new By-Law or By-Laws adopted at any regular or
special meeting of the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of all the
members of the Board of Directors then in office.
10
<PAGE> 28
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 321(b) CONSENT
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations
by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: March 6, 1997 By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
________________________
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 29
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE
This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings banks with
state publication requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking
authorities. Refer to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state
publication requirements.
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY of WILMINGTON
______________________________________________________ _______________________
Name of Bank City
in the State of DELAWARE , at the close of business on December 31, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS
Thousands of dollars
<S> <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins ............... 213,895
Interest-bearing balances ......................................... 0
Held-to-maturity securities ................................................... 465,818
Available-for-sale securities ................................................. 752,297
Federal funds sold ............................................................ 95,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell ............................... 39,190
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income ........... 3,634,003
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ......... 51,847
LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve ............. 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve .. 3,582,156
Assets held in trading accounts ............................................... 0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ...................... 89,129
Other real estate owned ....................................................... 3,520
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ........... 52
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding .................. 0
Intangible assets ............................................................. 4,593
Other assets .................................................................. 114,300
Total assets .................................................................. 5,359,950
</TABLE>
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE> 30
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LIABILITIES
<S> <C>
Deposits:
In domestic offices ........................................................ 3,749,697
Noninterest-bearing ................ 852,790
Interest-bearing ................... 2,896,907
Federal funds purchased .................................................... 77,825
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ............................. 192,295
Demand notes issued to the U S Treasury ................................... 53,526
Trading liabilities ........................................................ 0
Other borrowed money: ...................................................... ///////
With original maturity of one year or less ..................... 714,000
With original maturity of more than one year ................... 43,000
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases ............. 0
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ................... 0
Subordinated notes and debentures .......................................... 0
Other liabilities .......................................................... 98,756
Total liabilities .......................................................... 4,929,099
Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus ........................... 0
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus .............................. 0
Common Stock ............................................................... 500
Surplus .................................................................... 62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves ..................................... 367,371
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities ..... 862
Total equity capital ....................................................... 430,851
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital ........ 5,359,950
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 25(e)
Registration No. 333-22905
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
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) X
___
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Delaware 51-0055023
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices)
Cynthia L. Corliss
Vice President and Trust Counsel
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(302) 651-8516
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Ohio 31-0854434
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
38 Fountain Square Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Fifth Third Bancorp Guarantee with respect to
Preferred Securities of Capital Trust II
(Title of the indenture securities)
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 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.
Federal Deposit Insurance Co. State Bank Commissioner
Five Penn Center Dover, Delaware
Suite #2901
Philadelphia, PA
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust
powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the
trustee and upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor
is not an affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
Eligibility and Qualification.
A. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which
includes the certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust
Company to commence business and the authorization of
Wilmington Trust Company to exercise corporate trust powers.
B. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.
C. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section
321(b) of Trust Indenture Act.
D. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust
Company.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of
Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 6th day
of March, 1997.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]
Attest: /s/ Donald G. MacKelcan By:/s/ Emmett R. Harmon
___________________________ ____________________________
Assistant Secretary Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
2
<PAGE> 3
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED CHARTER
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON MAY 9, 1987
<PAGE> 4
AMENDED CHARTER
OR
ACT OF INCORPORATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, originally incorporated by an Act of the
General Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the
Delaware Guarantee and Trust Company", approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name
of which company was changed to "WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY" by an amendment filed
in the Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter
or Act of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and
changed by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and
trust companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its
Charter or Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall
in its entirety read as follows:
FIRST: - The name of this corporation is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
SECOND: - The location of its principal office in the State of
Delaware is at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle; the name of its resident agent is WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY whose address is Rodney Square North, in said City. In
addition to such principal office, the said corporation maintains
and operates branch offices in the City of Newark, New Castle
County, Delaware, the Town of Newport, New Castle County, Delaware,
at Claymont, New Castle County, Delaware, at Greenville, New Castle
County Delaware, and at Milford Cross Roads, New Castle County,
Delaware, and shall be empowered to open, maintain and operate
branch offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets, 418 Delaware Avenue,
2120 Market Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in the City of
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, and such other branch
offices or places of business as may be authorized from time to time
by the agency or agencies of the government of the State of Delaware
empowered to confer such authority.
THIRD: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes
proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this
Corporation are to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as
fully and to the same extent as natural persons might or could do
and in any part of the world, viz.:
(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of
law or equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter
the seal at pleasure, to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or
otherwise deal in real and personal estate and property, and
to appoint such officers and agents as the business of the
<PAGE> 5
Corporation shall require, to make by-laws not inconsistent
with the Constitution or laws of the United States or of
this State, to discount bills, notes or other evidences of
debt, to receive deposits of money, or securities for money,
to buy gold and silver bullion and foreign coins, to buy and
sell bills of exchange, and generally to use, exercise and
enjoy all the powers, rights, privileges and franchises
incident to a corporation which are proper or necessary for
the transaction of the business of the Corporation hereby
created.
(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any
estate or interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of
such property, real or personal, against any claim or
claims, adverse to his interest therein, and to prepare and
give certificates of title for any lands or premises in the
State of Delaware, or elsewhere.
(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the
receipt, collection, custody, investment and management of
funds, and the purchase, sale, management and disposal of
property of all descriptions, and to prepare and execute all
papers which may be necessary or proper in such business.
(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds,
leases, conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of
every description, and to carry on the business of
conveyancing in all its branches.
(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry,
plate, deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property
of every sort and kind, from executors, administrators,
guardians, public officers, courts, receivers, assignees,
trustees, and from all fiduciaries, and from all other
persons and individuals, and from all corporations whether
state, municipal, corporate or private, and to rent boxes,
safes, vaults and other receptacles for such property.
(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of
registering, issuing, certificating, countersigning,
transferring or underwriting the stock, bonds or other
obligations of any corporation, association, state or
municipality, and may receive and manage any sinking fund
therefor on such terms as may be agreed upon between the two
parties, and in like manner may act as Treasurer of any
corporation or municipality.
(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage,
bond or other instrument issued by any state, municipality,
body politic, corporation, association or person, either
alone or in conjunction with any other person or persons,
corporation or corporations.
2
<PAGE> 6
(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any
contract or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding
places of responsibility or trust; to become surety for any
person, or persons, for the faithful performance of any
trust, office, duty, contract or agreement, either by itself
or in conjunction with any other person, or persons,
corporation, or corporations, or in like manner become
surety upon any bond, recognizance, obligation, judgment,
suit, order, or decree to be entered in any court of record
within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now
or hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court
in the State of Delaware or elsewhere.
(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as
trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee
in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or
in any other trust capacity in the receiving, holding,
managing, and disposing of any and all estates and property,
real, personal or mixed, and to be appointed as such
trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee
in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian or bailee
by any persons, corporations, court, officer, or authority,
in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and whenever this
Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation,
court, officer or authority such trustee, trustee in
bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy,
executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other
trust capacity, it shall not be required to give bond with
surety, but its capital stock shall be taken and held as
security for the performance of the duties devolving upon it
by such appointment.
(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the
exercise of any of its powers hereby given, or for the
performance of any of the duties which it may undertake or
be called upon to perform, or for the assumption of any
responsibility the said Corporation may be entitled to
receive a proper compensation.
(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages,
debentures, shares of capital stock, and other securities,
obligations, contracts and evidences of indebtedness, of any
private, public or municipal corporation within and without
the State of Delaware, or of the Government of the United
States, or of any state, territory, colony, or possession
thereof, or of any foreign government or country; to
receive, collect, receipt for, and dispose of interest,
dividends and income upon and from any of the bonds,
mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock,
securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of
indebtedness and other property held and owned by it, and to
exercise in respect of all such bonds, mortgages,
debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities,
obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other
property, any and all the rights, powers and privileges of
individual
3
<PAGE> 7
owners thereof, including the right to vote thereon; to
invest and deal in and with any of the moneys of the
Corporation upon such securities and in such manner as it
may think fit and proper, and from time to time to vary or
realize such investments; to issue bonds and secure the same
by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages of or upon the
whole or any part of the property held or owned by the
Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and when
the Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion
of its said corporate business of investment and to the
extent authorized by law, to lease, purchase, hold, sell,
assign, transfer, pledge, mortgage and convey real and
personal property of any name and nature and any estate or
interest therein.
(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers
conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby
expressly provided that the said Corporation shall also have the
following powers:
(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the
same extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any
part of the world.
(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and
franchises and to undertake the whole or any part of the
assets and liabilities of any person, firm, association or
corporation, and to pay for the same in cash, stock of this
Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to hold or in any manner to
dispose of the whole or any part of the property so
purchased; to conduct in any lawful manner the whole or any
part of any business so acquired, and to exercise all the
powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct and
management of such business.
(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien,
and to lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner
whatever dispose of property, real, personal or mixed,
wherever situated.
(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of
every kind with any person, firm, association or
corporation, and, without limit as to amount, to draw, make,
accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory
notes, drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds,
debentures, and other negotiable or transferable
instruments.
(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of
its operations and businesses, without restriction to the
same extent as natural persons might or could do, to
purchase or otherwise acquire, to hold, own, to mortgage,
sell, convey or otherwise dispose of, real and personal
property, of every class and description, in any State,
District, Territory or Colony of the United States, and in
any foreign country or place.
4
<PAGE> 8
(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and
powers specified and clauses contained in this paragraph
shall (except where otherwise expressed in said paragraph)
be nowise limited or restricted by reference to or inference
from the terms of any other clause of this or any other
paragraph in this charter, but that the objects, purposes
and powers specified in each of the clauses of this
paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes
and powers.
FOURTH: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock
which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one
million (41,000,000) shares, consisting of:
(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par
value $10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as
"Preferred Stock"); and
(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par
value $1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Common
Stock").
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one
or more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board
of Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All
shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every
particular, except that there may be different dates from which
dividends, if any, thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative.
The voting powers and the preferences and relative, participating,
optional and other special rights of each such series, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may
differ from those of any and all other series at any time
outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of subparagraph 1 of
Paragraph (c) of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors of the
Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to fix by
resolution or resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any
shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers
and the designations, preferences and relative, optional and other
special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
of such series, including, but without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the following:
(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares
of Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which
number may be increased (except where otherwise provided by
the Board of Directors) or decreased (but not below the
number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time
by like action of the Board of Directors;
(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and
conditions on which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock
of such series shall be paid, the extent of the preference
or relation, if any, of such dividends to the dividends
payable on any other class or classes, or series of the same
or other class of
5
<PAGE> 9
stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or
non-cumulative;
(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of
such series to convert the same into or exchange the same
for, shares of any other class or classes or of any series
of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the
Corporation and the terms and conditions of such conversion
or exchange;
(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be
subject to redemption, and the redemption price or prices
and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions
on which, Preferred Stock of such series may be redeemed.
(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of
such series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
merger, consolidation, distribution or sale of assets,
dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation.
(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase
account, if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of
such series; and
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series
of Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing include the right, voting as a
series or by itself or together with other series of
Preferred Stock or all series of Preferred Stock as a class,
to elect one or more directors of the Corporation if there
shall have been a default in the payment of dividends on any
one or more series of Preferred Stock or under such
circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of
Directors may determine.
(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential
dividends on the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the
provisions of section (b) of this Article FOURTH), if any, shall
have been met and after the Corporation shall have complied with all
the requirements, if any, with respect to the setting aside of sums
as sinking funds or redemption or purchase accounts (fixed in
accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH), and subject further to any conditions which may be fixed in
accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH, then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount,
if any, (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section
(b) of this Article FOURTH), to be distributed to the
holders of Preferred Stock in the event of voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, distribution or sale of assets,
dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation, the holders
of the Common Stock shall be entitled to
6
<PAGE> 10
receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation,
tangible and intangible, of whatever kind available for
distribution to stockholders ratably in proportion to the
number of shares of Common Stock held by them respectively.
(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the
provisions of such resolution or resolutions as may be
adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to section (b) of
this Article FOURTH, each holder of Common Stock shall have
one vote in respect of each share of Common Stock held on
all matters voted upon by the stockholders.
(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock
or of options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any
class or series of stock or of other securities of the Corporation
shall have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any
unissued stock of any class or series or any additional shares of
any class or series to be issued by reason of any increase of the
authorized capital stock of the Corporation of any class or series,
or bonds, certificates of indebtedness, debentures or other
securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock of the
Corporation of any class or series, or carrying any right to
purchase stock of any class or series, but any such unissued stock,
additional authorized issue of shares of any class or series of
stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock, or
carrying any right to purchase stock, may be issued and disposed of
pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors to such persons,
firms, corporations or associations, whether such holders or others,
and upon such terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors in the exercise of its sole discretion.
(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of
Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and
rights of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case,
be as fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in the
resolution or resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in
section (b) of this Article FOURTH and the consent, by class or
series vote or otherwise, of the holders of such of the series of
Preferred Stock as are from time to time outstanding shall not be
required for the issuance by the Board of Directors of any other
series of Preferred Stock whether or not the powers, preferences and
rights of such other series shall be fixed by the Board of Directors
as senior to, or on a parity with, the powers, preferences and
rights of such outstanding series, or any of them; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may provide in the resolution
or resolutions as to any series of Preferred Stock adopted pursuant
to section (b) of this Article FOURTH that the consent of the
holders of a majority (or such greater proportion as shall be
therein fixed) of the outstanding shares of such series voting
thereon shall be required for the issuance of any or all other
series of Preferred Stock.
7
<PAGE> 11
(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series
of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and
for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the
Board of Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such
terms and for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of
Directors.
(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred
Stock may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased
from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
FIFTH: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of
directors constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five
nor more than twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a
majority of the whole Board, provided, however, that the number of
directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any
director at the time in office, and provided further, that the
number of directors constituting the whole Board shall be
twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority of the whole Board.
(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as
nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors
constituting the whole Board permits, with the term of office of one
class expiring each year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in
1982, directors of the first class shall be elected to hold office
for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting, directors
of the second class shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting and directors of
the third class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring
at the third succeeding annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board
of Directors for any reason, and any newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in the directors, may be filled by the
Board of Directors, acting by a majority of the directors then in
office, although less than a quorum, and any directors so chosen
shall hold office until the next annual election of directors. At
such election, the stockholders shall elect a successor to such
director to hold office until the next election of the class for
which such director shall have been chosen and until his successor
shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of
directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding
the fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this
Charter or Act of Incorporation or the ByLaws of the Corporation),
any director or the entire Board of Directors of the
8
<PAGE> 12
Corporation may be removed at any time without cause, but only by
the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this
purpose as one class) cast at a meeting of the stockholders called
for that purpose.
(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the
Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the
election of directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in
writing, delivered or mailed by first class United States mail,
postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation not less than
14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of the
stockholders called for the election of directors; provided,
however, that if less than 21 days' notice of the meeting is given
to stockholders, such written notice shall be delivered or mailed,
as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than
the close of the seventh day following the day on which notice of
the meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations which
are proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the
Chairman on behalf of the Board.
(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name,
age, business address and, if known, residence address of each
nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or
employment of such nominee and (iii) the number of shares of stock
of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by each such
nominee.
(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine
and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in
accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should so
determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
nomination shall be disregarded.
(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any
annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be
taken without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in
writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any action is
specifically denied.
SIXTH: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agent and
servants as may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to
time find necessary or proper.
SEVENTH: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same
powers, rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations
organized under the Act entitled "An Act Providing a General
Corporation Law", approved March 10, 1899, as from time to time
amended.
EIGHTH: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.
9
<PAGE> 13
NINTH: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
TENTH: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority
of the whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute
an Executive Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in
said resolution, or in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and
may exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall
have power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to
all papers which may require it.
ELEVENTH: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be
liable for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
TWELFTH: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the
world.
THIRTEENTH: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation
by a vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may
make, alter or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them,
provided however, that any such additional By-Laws, alterations or
repeal may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of
two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class).
FOURTEENTH: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside
of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time
designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the
Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be
from time to time designated by them.
FIFTEENTH: - (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by
law, and except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and
(c) of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any
Interested Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any
other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested
Stockholder), which, after such merger or consolidation,
would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an
Interested Stockholder, or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) to or with any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder of any assets of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate fair
market value of $1,000,000 or more, or
10
<PAGE> 14
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary to any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of
any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities
or other property (or a combination thereof) having an
aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation
or dissolution of the Corporation, or
(E) any reclassification of securities (including any
reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the
Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the
Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any similar
transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise
involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect,
directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate
share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or
convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested
Stockholder, or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder,
shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this
Article FIFTEENTH as one class ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote shall be
required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some
lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national
securities exchange or otherwise.
(2) The term "business combination" as used in this
Article FIFTEENTH shall mean any transaction which is
referred to any one or more of clauses (A) through (E) of
paragraph 1 of the section (a).
(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article FIFTEENTH
shall not be applicable to any particular business
combination and such business combination shall require only
such affirmative vote as is required by law and any other
provisions of the Charter or Act of Incorporation of By-Laws
if such business combination has been approved by a majority
of the whole Board.
(c) For the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(1) A "person" shall mean any individual firm, corporation or other
entity.
(2) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean, in respect of any business
combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any
Subsidiary) who or which as of the record date for the determination
of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote on
11
<PAGE> 15
such business combination, or immediately prior to the consummation
of any such transaction:
(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more
than 10% of the Voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time
within two years prior thereto was the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of not less than 10% of the then
outstanding voting Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any
share of capital stock of the Corporation which were at any
time within two years prior thereto beneficially owned by
any Interested Stockholder, and such assignment or
succession shall have occurred in the course of a
transaction or series of transactions not involving a public
offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and
Associates (as hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly
or indirectly, or
(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates
has (i) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time),
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or
upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other person with which such first mentioned person or
any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of any shares of capital stock
of the Corporation.
(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned
through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any
other Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement,
or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or
otherwise.
(5) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
given those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December
31, 1981.
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<PAGE> 16
(6) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a majority of
any class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as in effect in December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Corporation; provided, however, that for the
purposes of the definition of Investment Stockholder set forth in
paragraph (2) of this section (c), the term "Subsidiary" shall mean
only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity
security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.
(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty
to determine for the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH on
the basis of information known to them, (1) the number of
Voting Shares beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a
person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (3) whether
a person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with
another as to the matters referred to in paragraph (3) of
section (c), or (4) whether the assets subject to any
business combination or the consideration received for the
issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation, or
any Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value of
$1,00,000 or more.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article FIFTEENTH shall be
construed to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any
fiduciary obligation imposed by law.
SIXTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or
Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in
addition to any other vote that may be required by law, this Charter
or Act of Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class)
shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of
Articles FIFTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH or SIXTEENTH of this Charter
or Act of Incorporation.
SEVENTEENTH: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable
to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such
exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted
under the Delaware General Corporation Laws as the same exists or
may hereafter be amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph
shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a
Director of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect
to any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such
repeal or modification."
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<PAGE> 17
EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON JANUARY 16, 1997
<PAGE> 18
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be held on the
third Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at
such other date, time, or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board
of Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of all stockholders may be called at any
time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 3. Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given
by mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at
his last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of
such meeting.
Section 4. A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the
Company issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any
business, but the holders of a small number of shares may adjourn, from time to
time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or
special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote,
either in person or by proxy, for each shares of stock registered in the
stockholder's name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such
meeting as determined herein.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number and classification of the Board of Directors
shall be as set forth in the Charter of the Bank.
Section 2. No person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72)
years shall be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the Company,
provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any person who was
serving as director of the Company on September 16, 1971.
Section 3. The class of Directors so elected shall hold office for
three years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 4. The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed
and conducted by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office
of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by
a majority of its
<PAGE> 19
members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the
President.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called
at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President, and
shall be called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 7. A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall
be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of
any special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or
place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which
shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.
Section 9. In the event of the death, resignation, removal,
inability to act, or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors,
although less than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who
shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors
in which the vacancy occurred, and until such director's successor shall have
been duly elected and qualified.
Section 10. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its
election by the stockholders shall appoint an Executive Committee, a Trust
Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, and shall elect from
its own members a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a President who may be
the same person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a
Secretary and a Treasurer, who may be the same person, may appoint at any time
such other committees and elect or appoint such other officers as it may deem
advisable. The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more
Associate Directors.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or
without cause, any member of any Committee appointed by it or any associate
director or officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.
Section 12. The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in
charge of such of the departments or division of the Company as it may deem
advisable.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section I. Executive Committee
(A) The Executive Committee shall be composed of not
more than nine members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its
own members and who
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<PAGE> 20
shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have all the powers of
the Board of Directors when it is not in session to transact all business for
and in behalf of the Company that may be brought before it.
(C) The Executive Committee shall meet at the principal
office of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be
determined by a majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the
Executive Committee or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be held
at any time when a quorum is present.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee
shall be kept and submitted to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
(E) The Executive Committee shall advise and superintend
all investments that may be made of the funds of the Company, and shall direct
the disposal of the same, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the
Board of Directors from time to time make.
(F) In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient
severity to prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of
the Company by its directors and officers as contemplated by these By-Laws any
two available members of the Executive Committee as constituted immediately
prior to such disaster shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full
conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance
with the provisions of Article III of these By-Laws; and if less than three
members of the Trust Committee is constituted immediately prior to such disaster
shall be available for the transaction of its business, such Executive Committee
shall also be empowered to exercise all of the powers reserved to the Trust
Committee under Article III Section 2 hereof. In the event of the
unavailability, at such time, of a minimum of two members of such Executive
Committee, any three available directors shall constitute the Executive
Committee for the full conduct and management of the affairs and business of the
Company in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section. This By-Law
shall be subject to implementation by Resolutions of the Board of Directors
presently existing or hereafter passed from time to time for that purpose, and
any provisions of these By-Laws (other than this Section) and any resolutions
which are contrary to the provisions of this Section or to the provisions of any
such implementary Resolutions shall be suspended during such a disaster period
until it shall be determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under
this section that it shall be to the advantage of the Company to resume the
conduct and management of its affairs and business under all of the other
provisions of these By-Laws.
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<PAGE> 21
Section 2. Trust Committee
(A) The Trust Committee shall be composed of not more
than thirteen members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors, a
majority of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors and who shall hold
office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Trust Committee shall have general supervision
over the Trust Department and the investment of trust funds, in all matters,
however, being subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
(C) The Trust Committee shall meet at the principal
office of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be
determined by a majority of its members or at the call of its chairman. A
majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Trust Committee shall
be kept and promptly submitted to the Board of Directors.
(E) The Trust Committee shall have the power to appoint
Committees and/or designate officers or employees of the Company to whom
supervision over the investment of trust funds may be delegated when the Trust
Committee is not in session.
Section 3. Audit Committee
(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members,
none of whom shall be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision
over the Audit Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the
Board of Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by
the officer in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination
of the Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor
employed for that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of
Directors with respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining
to auditing the Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever
the majority of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of
its business, and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. Compensation Committee
(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not
more than
4
<PAGE> 22
five (5) members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members who are not officers of the Company and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise
upon all matters of policy concerning the Company brought to its attention by
the management and from time to time review the management of the Company, major
organizational matters, including salaries and employee benefits and
specifically shall administer the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
(C) Meetings of the Compensation Committee may be called
at any time by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, or the President of the Company.
Section 5. Associate Directors
(A) Any person who has served as a director may be
elected by the Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend
all directors meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought
to the Board, with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An
associate director will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the
Company, with the exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and
Compensation Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee
(A) In the absence or disqualification of any member of
any Committee created under Article III of the By-Laws of this Company, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of
any such absence or disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at
all meetings of the Board and shall have such further authority and powers and
shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time confer
and direct. He shall also exercise such powers and perform such duties as may
from time to time be agreed upon between himself and the President of the
Company.
Section 2. The Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the
Board of
5
<PAGE> 23
Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which the
Chairman of the Board shall not be present and shall have such further authority
and powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the
Chairman of the Board may from time to time confer and direct.
Section 3. The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining
to the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute or
assigned to him by the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the
Board the President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the
Board.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President
as designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal
directions of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors, and shall
at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and
operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.
Section 5. There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however
denominated by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all the
duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the President and such
other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the
Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the
President and by the officer in charge of the department or division to which
they are assigned.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the
Committees thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings and
to recording the same in the minute books of the Company. In addition to the
other notice requirements of these By-Laws and as may be practicable under the
circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance
of the scheduled date of any other meeting. He shall have custody of the
corporate seal and shall affix the same to any documents requiring such
corporate seal and to attest the same.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over all
assets and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible
for all monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper
records of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all the transactions
of the Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the
Company and shall report to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of
the condition of the Company, and perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee.
Section 8. There may be a Controller who shall exercise general
supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting,
and shall render to the Board of Directors at appropriate times a report
relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company.
6
<PAGE> 24
There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller
officers however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and
such duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.
Section 9. The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in
charge of the Audit Division of the Company with such title as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible only to
the Board of Directors.
There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit
Officers, however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and
such duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Division.
Section 10. There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank
to all Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from
time to time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office
Assistant Secretary of this Company and who may perform such duties as may be
prescribed by the officer in charge of the department or division to whom they
are assigned.
Section 11. The powers and duties of all other officers of the
Company shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject
to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Chairman of
the Board of Directors or the President and the officer in charge of the
department or division to which they are assigned.
ARTICLE V
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
Section 1. Shares of stock shall be transferrable on the books of
the Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock
shall be recorded.
Section 2. Certificate of stock shall bear the signature of the
President or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors
and countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and
the seal of the corporation shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall
recite that the stock represented thereby is transferrable only upon the books
of the Company by the holder thereof or his attorney, upon surrender of the
certificate properly endorsed. Any certificate of stock surrendered to the
Company shall be cancelled at the time of transfer, and before a new certificate
or certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof. Duplicate certificates of stock
shall be issued only upon giving such security as may be satisfactory to the
Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to
fix in advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled
to notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of
7
<PAGE> 25
any dividend, or to any allotment or rights, or to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or in connection
with obtaining the consent of stockholders for any purpose, which record date
shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days proceeding the date of any
meeting of stockholders or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date
for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or
exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with
obtaining such consent.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
Section 1. The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the
following form:
Between two concentric circles the words "Wilmington
Trust Company" within the inner circle the words
"Wilmington, Delaware."
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar
year.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President, however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power
and authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and
the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to
attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds,
conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes,
mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or
in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other
fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every method of appointment or
by whatever person, corporation, court officer or authority in the State of
Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific authority, ratification, approval
or confirmation by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and any
and all such instruments shall have the same force and validity as although
expressly authorized by the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Committee.
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<PAGE> 26
ARTICLE IX
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. Directors and associate directors of the Company, other
than salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria
or fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who
serve as members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company,
shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of
committees as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and
directors and associate directors may be employed by the Company for such
special services as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and
shall be paid for such special services so performed reasonable compensation as
may be determined by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. (A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of
the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, 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, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust,
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably
incurred by such person. The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(B) The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred in
defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however,
that the payment of expenses incurred by a Director officer in his capacity as a
Director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall
be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director or officer to repay
all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article or otherwise.
(C) If a claim for indemnification or payment of
expenses, under this Article X is not paid in full within ninety days after a
written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may
file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole
or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim.
In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving
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<PAGE> 27
that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification of payment
of expenses under applicable law.
(D) The rights conferred on any person by this Article X
shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of
Incorporation, these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
Directors or otherwise.
(E) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing
provisions of this Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection
hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the
time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in
whole or in part, and any new By-Law or By-Laws adopted at any regular or
special meeting of the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of all the
members of the Board of Directors then in office.
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<PAGE> 28
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 321(B) CONSENT
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations
by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: March 6, 1997 By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
________________________
Name: Emmett R. Harmon
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 29
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE
This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings
banks with state publication requirements. It has not been approved
by any state banking authorities. Refer to your appropriate state
banking authorities for your state publication requirements.
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY of WILMINGTON
__________________________________________________________ __________________
Name of Bank City
in the State of DELAWARE , at the close of business on December 31, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS
Thousands of dollars
<S> <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins ................... 213,895
Interest-bearing balances ............................................. 0
Held-to-maturity securities ....................................................... 465,818
Available-for-sale securities ..................................................... 752,297
Federal funds sold ................................................................ 95,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell ................................... 39,190
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income ........... 3,634,003
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ......... 51,847
LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve ............. 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve ...... 3,582,156
Assets held in trading accounts ................................................... 0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) .......................... 89,129
Other real estate owned ........................................................... 3,520
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ............... 52
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ...................... 0
Intangible assets ................................................................. 4,593
Other assets ...................................................................... 114,300
Total assets ...................................................................... 5,359,950
</TABLE>
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE> 30
LIABILITIES
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Deposits:
In domestic offices ......................................................... 3,749,697
Noninterest-bearing ................ 852,790
Interest-bearing ................... 2,896,907
Federal funds purchased ..................................................... 77,825
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase .............................. 192,295
Demand notes issued to the U S Treasury .................................... 53,526
Trading liabilities ......................................................... 0
Other borrowed money: ....................................................... ///////
With original maturity of one year or less ...................... 714,000
With original maturity of more than one year .................... 43,000
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases .............. 0
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .................... 0
Subordinated notes and debentures ........................................... 0
Other liabilities ........................................................... 98,756
Total liabilities ........................................................... 4,929,099
Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus ............................ 0
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ............................... 0
Common Stock ................................................................ 500
Surplus ..................................................................... 62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves ...................................... 367,371
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities ...... 862
Total equity capital ........................................................ 430,851
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital ......... 5,359,950
</TABLE>
2
